Happy Independence Day. In the excitement, remember this is St. Martin of Tours’ day. Martin was a humble servant leader, and one of the great links in the chain from the Celtic Christians back via Gaul (France) to Cassian, Irenaeus, Polycarp and John the Loved. From “Great Celtic Christians,” vol. 4 of Ray Simpson’s “Celtic Prayer Book”:
Martin was born in 316, and happened upon a Christian meeting at age 10. Fascinated, he resolved to join the early Desert monks when he came of age at 17. His father, however, was career military and had named his son after Mars, the God of war. He arranged for Martin to be kidnapped into the military at age 16. So there he was for the next 25 years…
‘O God, we pray for young people who are forced into service of any kind against their will;
Those who fight in wars or work in trades they do not believe in.
Those who, in order to keep others happy, violate their own aptitudes or ideals.’
Jul 04
Martin of Tours’ Day
See also:
- 20/05/2013 - From the Prayer Chaplain
- 13/05/2013 - From the Prayer Chapalin
- 07/05/2013 - From the Prayer Chaplain
- 30/04/2013 - From the Prayer Chaplain
- 23/04/2013 - From the Prayer Chaplain