Pastor's Column St. Martin, Veterans Day and November 11
November 11 is Veterans Day. It is the day we Americans honor all military veterans who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces𠅋oth living and deceased, in times of war and peace. Originally established as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, it was renamed in 1954. We are grateful for the service and sacrifices of our veterans.
November 11 is also on the Christian calendar as St. Martin’s Day, commemorating Martin, a Roman Calvary officer born around 316 AD, who later converted to Christianity during the reign of Constantine, eventually becoming the Bishop of Tours.
The Reformer, Martin Luther (born November 10, 1483), was baptized the following day, November 11––St. Martin’s Day–𠄺nd was named after the saint.
But did you know that there is an association between Veterans Day and St. Martin, and that it has to do with military chaplains, making the date of November 11 especially meaningful?
Legend has it that while serving in the middle of winter during a bitterly cold period the soldier Martin came upon a poor, naked beggar. With Christ-like compassion he removed his own cloak and with his sword divided it in half, giving one half of it to the man. By doing so, he saved the beggar from freezing.
The legend continues that a few weeks later the same man appeared to Martin in a dream. He revealed himself as Christ. Christ, who was once naked (Matthew 25:36 ESV, “I was naked and you clothed me”). Christ, who made the complete sacrifice of Himself on the cross for us sinful beggars that we may be saved.
And there is more! Long after Martin died his cloak, or capa in Latin, was saved and thereafter carried into battle. The priest who looked after the capa was known as the cappellanus. This pastor served the soldiers by giving spiritual care as he accompanied them. He preached, prayed, and comforted them. He was unarmed and went at his own great risk.
In this story we see Christ’s presence and example of self-sacrificial love of neighbor. In any act of Christian charity, we see Christ.
Our word 𠇌haplain” comes from the word capellanus. St. Martin came to be associated with military chaplains by his cloak. Military chaplains also offer the same self-sacrificial love that Martin once showed a beggar. Our modern-day military chaplains make that same sacrifice, as we also remember on this day.
In the story of St. Martin, Christ is also shown in our midst. He makes us able to love our neighbor because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We are grateful to all our veterans, and we give thanks to God for providing chaplains to care for them.
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