Saints of the Week

Saint Martin of Tours

Feast Day: 11th November

Virtue: Generosity

Martin was born to pagan parents in what is now Hungary around the year 316 and was

 raised in Italy. The son of a Roman officer he was forced to serve in the army at the age of 15. He was baptized at 18.

On a cold day, the legend goes, Martin met a poor man, almost naked trembling and begging from people who passed by. Martin had nothing but weapons and clothes. He drew his sword cut his coat into two pieces and gave one to the beggar. That night in his sleep Martin saw Christ dressed in the half of the garment he had given away.

At 23, Martin became a disciple of St Hilary of Poitiers, France, and was ordained a priest. He preached throughout the countryside for ten years.

The people of Tours demanded that he become their bishop. He became the most celebrated Bishop of the 4th century and one of the great Saints of France. He died in 397.

 Saint Gertrude

Virtue: Prayer

Feast Day: 16th November

Gertude was born at Eisleben in Saxony. At the age of 5, she was placed in the care of the Benedictine nuns at Rodalsdorf and later became a nun in the same monastery.

Gertrude was elected Abbess in 1251. The following year she was obliged to take charge of the monastery of Helfta, to which she moved with her nuns. Gertrude enjoyed a good education. She wrote and composed in Latin and was well versed in sacred literature.

The life of this Saint was not filled with stirring events and striking actions. Yet it was one of great spiritual activity. It was a mystical life of the cloister, a life hidden with Christ in God.

Gertrude wrote a series of prayers that became very popular. Through her writing, she spread devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Gertude was characterized by great devotion to the sacred Humanity of our lord in His Passion and in the blessed Eucharist as well as a tender love for the Blessed Virgin. She died in 1302.