Jamie Wood's List: Sulpicius Severus, Life of St Martin

• I had determined, my like-minded brother, to keep private, and confine within the walls of my own house, the little treatise which I had written concerning the life of St. Martin. I did so, as I am not gifted with much talent, and shrank from the criticisms of the world, lest (as I think will be the case) my somewhat unpolished style should displease my readers, and I should be deemed highly worthy of general reprehension for having too boldly laid hold of a subject which ought to have been reserved for truly eloquent writers.

  • Plain style - and rest of this paragraph
• I thought it disgraceful that the excellences of so great a man should remain concealed

  • publicity/ fame of Martin
• MOST men being vainly devoted to the pursuit of worldly glory, have, as they imagined, acquired a memorial of their own names from this source; viz. devoting their pens to the embellishment of the lives of famous men. This course, although it did not secure for them a lasting reputation, still has undoubtedly brought them some fulfilment of the hope they cherished. It has done so, both by preserving their own memory, though to no purpose, and because, through their having presented to the world the examples of great men, no small emulation has been excited in the bosoms of their readers.

  • writing to set up example
• For this reason, I think I will accomplish something well worth the necessary pains, if I write the life of a most holy man, which shall serve in future as an example to others; by which, indeed, the readers shall be roused to the pursuit of true knowledge, and heavenly warfare, and divine virtue. In so doing, we have regard also to our own advantage, so that we may look for, not a vain remembrance among men, but an eternal reward from God. For, although we ourselves have not lived in such a manner that we can serve for an example to others, nevertheless, we have made it our endeavor that he should not remain unknown who was a man worthy of imitation.

  • example of Martin
• His parents were, according to the judgment of the world, of no mean rank, but were heathens

  • rank of parents
• His mind, however, being always engaged on matters pertaining to the monasteries or the Church
• And even to him, changing places as it were, he often acted as though, while really master, he had been inferior; to such a degree that, for the most part, he drew off his [servant's] boots and cleaned them with his own hand; while they took their meals together, the real master, however, generally acting the part of servant.

  • acting as an inferior - servant role
• This he did, for instance, by aiding those who were in trouble, by furnishing assistance to the wretched, by supporting the needy, by clothing the naked, while he reserved nothing for himself from his military pay except what was necessary for his daily sustenance.

  • money to the poor - sponsorship
• He had nothing except the cloak in which he was clad, for he had already parted with the rest of his garments for similar purposes. Taking, therefore, his sword with which he was girt, he divided his cloak into two equal parts, and gave one part to the poor man, while he again clothed himself with the remainder.

  • donation to the poor
• After  this vision the sainted man was not puffed up with human glory, but,  acknowledging the goodness of God in what had been done, and being now  of the age of twenty years, he hastened to receive baptism. He did  not, however, all at once, retire from military service, yielding to  the entreaties of his tribune, whom he admitted to be his familiar  tent-companion.[11] For the tribune  promised that, after the period of his office had expired, he too  would retire from the world. Martin, kept back by the expectation of  this event, continued, although but in name, to act the part of a  soldier, for nearly two years after he had received baptism.

  • baptism not a transformation - he remained a soldier
• FROM that time quitting military service, Martin earnestly sought after the society of Hilarius, bishop of the city Pictava,[14] whose faith in the things of God was then regarded as of high renown, and in universal esteem. For some time Martin made his abode with him. Now, this same Hilarius, having instituted him in the office of the diaconate, endeavored still more closely to attach him to himself, and to bind him by leading him to take part in Divine service. But when he constantly refused, crying out that he was unworthy, Hilarius, as being a man of deep penetration, perceived that he could only be constrained in this way, if he should lay that sort of office upon him, in discharging which there should seem to be a kind of injury done him. He therefore appointed him to be an exorcist. Martin did not refuse this appointment, from the fear that he might seem to have looked down upon it as somewhat humble.

  • Martin seeks contact with famous bishop, Hilary
    Hilary tries to ordain Martin - makes him exorcist
    Position of exorcist, could be seen as 'beneath' Martin - status
• And then entering on a discourse concerning Evangelical truth, he preached the word of God to the robber. Why should I delay stating the result? The robber believed; and, after expressing his respect for Martin, he restored him to the way

  • preaching leads to conversion
• he set free his mother from the errors of heathenism, though his father continued to cleave to its evils. However, he saved many by his example.
• After this, when the Arian heresy had spread through the whole world, and was especially powerful in Illyria, and when he, almost single-handed, was fighting most strenuously against the treachery of the priests, and had been subjected to many punishments (for he was publicly scourged, and at last was compelled to leave the city), again betaking himself to Italy, and having found the Church in the two divisions of Gaul in a distracted condition through the departure also of the holy Hilarius, whom the violence of the heretics had driven into exile, he established a monastery for himself at Milan. There, too, Auxentius, the originator and leader of the Arians, bitterly persecuted him; and, after he had assailed him with many injuries, violently expelled him from the city.

  • Arian controversy - religious conflict
• he withdrew to the island Gallinaria,[16] with a certain presbyter as his companion, a man of distinguished excellences.

  • Martin's companion/ entourage
• through penitence on the part of the king, permission to return had been granted to holy Hilarius

  • king gives permission to Hilary to return
• he established for himself a monastery not far from the town.

  • founds monastery
• At this time a certain catechumen joined him, being desirous of becoming instructed in the doctrines[17] and habits of the most holy man.

  • catechumen wants instruction
• while the whole multitude looked on

  • multitude as an audience; plus earlier in this paragraph
• Martin was called upon to undertake the episcopate of the church at Tours

  • M wanted as bishop of Tours
• Multitudes of the citizens having previously been posted by the road on which he traveled, he is thus under a kind of guard escorted to the city. An incredible number of people not only from that town, but also from the neighboring cities, had, in a wonderful manner, assembled to give their votes.[22] There was but one wish among all, there were the same prayers, and there was the same fixed opinion to the effect that Martin was most worthy of the episcopate, and that the church would be happy with such a priest. A few persons, however, and among these some of the bishops, who had been summoned to appoint a chief priest, were impiously offering resistance, asserting forsooth that Martin's person was contemptible, that he was unworthy of the episcopate, that he was a man despicable in countenance, that his clothing was mean, and his hair disgusting. This madness of theirs was ridiculed by the people of sounder judgment, inasmuch as such objectors only proclaimed the illustrious character of the man, while they sought to slander him. Nor truly was it allowed them to do anything else, than what the people, following the Divine will, desired[23] to be accomplished. Among the bishops, however, who had been present, a certain one of the name Defensor is said to have specially offered opposition; and on this account it was observed that he was at the time severely censured in the reading from the prophets. For when it so happened that the reader, whose duty it was to read in public that day, being blocked out by the people, failed to appear, the officials falling into confusion, while they waited for him who never came, one of those standing by, laying hold of the Psalter, seized upon the first verse which presented itself to him. Now, the Psalm ran thus: "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise because of thine enemies, that thou mightest destroy the enemy and the avenger."[24] On these words being read, a shout was raised by the people, and the opposite party were confounded. It was believed that this Psalm had been chosen by Divine ordination, that Defensor[25] might hear a testimony to his own work, because the praise of the Lord was perfected out of the mouth of babes and sucklings in the case of Martin, while the enemy was at the same time both pointed out and destroyed.

  • Martins' election; opposition between bishops and the people of the city
• Full alike of dignity and courtesy, he kept up the position of a bishop properly, yet in such a way as not to lay aside the objects and virtues of a monk.

  • M = a bishop and a monk - observes both properly
• There were altogether eighty disciples, who were being disciplined after the example of the saintly master. No one there had anything which was called his own; all things were possessed in common. It was not allowed either to buy or to sell anything, as is the custom among most monks.

  • M's monastery
• No art was practiced there, except that of transcribers

  • transcription - learning
• even this was assigned to the brethren of younger years, while the elders spent their time in prayer. Rarely did any one of them go beyond the cell, unless when they assembled at the place of prayer. They all took their food together, after the hour of fasting was past. No one used wine, except when illness compelled them to do so. Most of them were clothed in garments of camels' hair.[26] Any dress approaching to softness[27] was there deemed criminal, and this must be thought the more remarkable, because many among them were such as are deemed of noble rank. These, though far differently brought up, had forced themselves down to this degree of humility and patient endurance, and we have seen numbers of these afterwards made bishops.

  • differences between old and young monks; distinction between those with wealthy upbringing and not
    Some of the monks went on to become bishops.
• not lending his authority to the opinion of the multitude

  • authority
• thus he delivered the people from the error of that superstition.

  • M overturns superstition
• But when the saintly man discovered that they were simply a band of peasants celebrating funeral rites, and not sacrifices to the gods

  • Paganism versus popular religion- and earlier in paragraph
• Martin carefully instructed them

  • instruction/ teaching
• promises that he would do what had been asked.

  • negotiation not imposition
• crowd of heathen agreed to the condition named; for they held the loss of their tree a small matter, if only they got the enemy of their religion buried beneath its fall. Accordingly, since that pine-tree was hanging over in one direction, so that there was no doubt to what side it would fall on being cut, Martin, having been bound, is, in accordance with the decision of these pagans, placed in that spot where, as no one doubted, the tree was about to fall. They began, therefore, to cut down their own tree, with great glee and joyfulness, while there was at some distance a great multitude of wondering spectators. And now the pine-tree began to totter, and to threaten its[28] own ruin by falling. The monks at a distance

  • different groups: heathens/ monks/ spectators
• For wherever he destroyed heathen temples, there he used immediately to build either churches or monasteries.

  • appropriating heathen worship sites
• a multitude of the heathen resisted him to such a degree that he was driven back not without bodily injury

  • resistance from pagans
• a multitude of rustic heathen rushed upon him in a frenzy of rage.

  • pagan resistance
• Very frequently,  too, when the pagans were addressing him to the effect that he would  not overthrow their temples, he so soothed and conciliated the minds  of the heathen by his holy discourse that, the light of truth having  been revealed to them, they themselves overthrew their own temples.

  • preaching effects conversion
• There, while the people were looking on, and in the presence of many other bishops

  • bishops and crowd as the audience
• At last, constrained by the bishops standing by to go as requested, he went down to the home of the girl. An immense crowd was waiting at the doors

  • bishops and crowds of people are the audience for this actions/ excellence
• in the presence of the people

  • the people
• spread this report among the people, in order that by the fear thus excited, Martin might have to flee from the city

  • it is bad if Martin has to leave the city - cf. Meridan fathers
• with large crowds attending him

  • large crowds accompany his attival - adventus-like
• a pre-eminent virtue for priestly firmness not to have yielded to royal flattery), when a number of bishops from various parts had assembled to the Emperor Maximus, a man of fierce character, and at that time elated with the victory he had won in the civil wars, and when the disgraceful flattery of all around the emperor was generally remarked, while the priestly dignity had, with degenerate submissiveness, taken a second place to the royal retinue, in Martin alone, apostolic authority continued to assert itself. For even if he had to make suit to the sovereign for some things, he commanded rather than entreated him; and although often invited, he kept away from his entertainments, saying that he could not take a place at the table of one who, out of two emperors, had deprived one of his kingdom, and the other of his life.

  • eipscopal versus royal authority
• Martin, overcome either by his reasoning or his entreaties, came to the royal banquet. The king was wonderfully pleased because he had gained this point. Moreover, there were guests present who had been invited as if to a festival; men of the highest and most illustrious rank,--the prefect, who was also consul, named Evodius, one of the most righteous men that ever lived; two courtiers possessed of the greatest power, the brother and uncle of the king, while between these two, the presbyter of Martin had taken his place; but he himself occupied a seat which was set quite close to the king. About the middle of the banquet, according to custom, one of the servants presented a goblet to the king. He orders it rather to be given to the very holy bishop, expecting and hoping that he should then receive the cup from his right hand. But Martin, when he had drunk, handed the goblet to his own presbyter, as thinking no one worthier to drink next to himself, and holding that it would, not be right for him to prefer either the king himself, or those who were next the king, to the presbyter. And the emperor, as well as all those who were then present, admired this conduct so much, that this very thing, by which they had been undervalued, gave them pleasure. The report then ran through the whole palace that Martin had done, at the king's dinner, what no bishop had dared to do at the banquets of the lowest judges.

  • episcopal/ priestly authority versus royal - M suggesting equality
• Moreover, some of the brethren bore witness that they had heard a demon reproaching Martin in abusive terms, and asking why he had taken back, on their subsequent repentance, certain of the brethren who had, some time previously, lost their baptism by falling into various errors.

  • forgiveness - those in error are accepted back
• Clarus by name, a most noble youth, who afterwards became a presbyter, and who is now, through his happy departure from this world, numbered among the saints. He, leaving all others, betook himself to Martin, and in a short time became distinguished for the most exalted faith, and for all sorts of excellence. Now, it came to pass that, when he had erected an abode for himself not far from the monastery of the bishop, and many brethren were staying with him,

  • noble young man, came to Martin, followers around him at his abode
• a certain youth, Anatolius by name, having, under the profession of a monk, falsely assumed every appearance of humility and innocence, came to him, and lived for some time on the common store along with the rest. Then, as time went on, he began to affirm that angels were in the habit of talking with him. As no one gave any credit to his words, he urged a number of the brethren to believe by certain signs. At length he went to such a length as to declare that angels passed between him and God; and now he wished that he should be regarded as one of the prophets.

  • false prophet excites the people
• IT was found, again, that about the same time there was a young man in Spain, who, having by many signs obtained for himself authority among the people, was puffed up to such a pitch that he gave himself out as being Elias. And when multitudes had too readily believed this, he went on to say that he was actually Christ; and he succeeded so well even in this delusion that a certain bishop named Rufus worshiped him as being the Lord. For so doing, we have seen this bishop at a later date deprived of his office. Many of the brethren have also informed me that at the same time one arose in the East, who boasted that he was John. We may infer from this, since false prophets of such a kind have appeared

  • false prophets/ leaders in Spain and the East - authority over bishops and people
• FOR since I, having long heard accounts of his faith, life and virtues, burned with a desire of knowing him, I undertook what was to me a pleasant journey for the purpose of seeing him. At the same time, because already my mind was inflamed with the desire of writing his life, I obtained my information partly from himself, in so far as I could venture to question him, and partly from those who had lived with him, or well knew the facts of the case.

  • fame and writing
    S's research
• Unworthy me! (in fact, I hardly dare acknowledge it), that he should have deigned to admit me to fellowship with him

  • S into M's 'fellowship'
• the authority he unconsciously exerted

  • M's authority
• that distinguished man Paulinus, of whom I have made mention above. Martin declared of him that, by parting with his great possessions and following Christ, as he did, he showed himself almost the only one who in these times had fully obeyed the precepts of the Gospel. He insisted strongly that that was the man who should be made the object of our imitation, adding that the present age was fortunate in possessing such a model of faith and virtue. For Paulinus, being rich and having many possessions, by selling them all and giving them to the poor according to the expressed will of the Lord, had, he said, made possible by actual proof what appeared impossible of accomplishment.

  • Paulinus of Nola and giving away property
• What power and dignity there were in Martin's words and conversation! How active he was, how practical, and how prompt and ready in solving questions connected with Scripture

  • M's eloquence and knowledge of scripture
• Still, it is remarkable that in a man who had no claim to be called learned, even this attribute [of high intelligence] was not wanting.

  • Learning
• He displayed indeed such marvelous patience in the endurance of injuries, that even when he was chief[41] priest, he allowed himself to be wronged by the lowest clerics with impunity; nor did he either remove them from the office on account of such conduct, or, as far as in him lay, repel them from a place in his affection.

  • Martin's patience with his followers/ inferiors
• some of his calumniators, although very few, some of his maligners, I say, were reported to be no others than bishops!

  • Martin's detractors are bishops - disunity

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