St. Martin, while still a young Roman soldier in France, is remembered for a deeply moving act of charity. One freezing winter evening, he encountered a poor beggar trembling from the cold.
Having nothing else to offer, Martin took his military cloak, cut it in half with his sword, and gave one part to the beggar.
That very night, Christ appeared to Martin in a dream, wearing the half of the cloak he had given away, and said to the angels: “Martin, though not yet baptized, has clothed me with this cloak.”
This miracle transformed Martin’s life — he was baptized, became a priest and later bishop, and is venerated as one of the greatest saints of mercy and compassion.
