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If you’ve ever been out on the streets in Germany on a Nov. 11 evening, you’ve most likely seen crowds of children marching through the streets carrying lanterns and chanting. It’s what we do on St. Martin’s Day, and a beloved childhood memory for most of my fellow Germans as well as myself. St. Martin was a Roman soldier born in modern-day Hungary between 316 and 336 A.D. who spent most of his adult life in France and eventually was baptized and became a monk. There are various legends surrounding his life, but one of the most prevalent – and...

November 11, 2016 Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop Reading 1 2 Jn 4-9 [Chosen Lady:]I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truthjust as we were commanded by the Father.But now, Lady, I ask you,not as though I were writing a new commandmentbut the one we have had from the beginning:let us love one another.For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning,in which you should walk. Many deceivers have gone out into the world,those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as...

Original title too long - BREAKING: Honduras Arrests Five Syrians With Fake Greek Passports Heading To U.S.A. – Three More Arrested In St. Maarten Two separate incidents with common attributes. Two independent groups of Syrian males traveling on fake Greek passports trying to gain entry into the U.S. The first group of three was identified/captured in Saint Maarten after a flight from Haiti. The second group of five were identified/captured in Honduras. Group #2 – Honduran authorities have detained five Syrian nationals who were trying to reach the United States using stolen Greek passports, but there are no signs of...

Several schools in Germany have canceled an annual Christian celebration named after Saint Martin and replaced it with the more generic and secular festival of lights in consideration of the feelings of thousands of Muslims who have migrated to the country in recent days. On top of that, numerous Dusseldorf daycare centers have outright abolished the celebration altogether, due to consideration for the refugees, Infowars reported, citing the Epoch Times.

 SAINT MARTIN IPope and Martyr(†655)Saint Martin, who occupied the Roman See from 649 to 655, was a native of Toscany, and became celebrated amid the clergy of Rome for his learning and his sanctity. When he was elected Pope, Rome echoed with cries of joy; the clergy, the Senate and the people gave witness to their great satisfaction, and the emperor approved this happy choice. He did not disappoint the hopes of the Church; piety towards God and charity to the poor were his two rules of life. He repaired churches falling into ruin and restored peace between divergent factions,...

November 11, 2005Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, bishop Psalm: Friday 48 Reading IWis 13:1-9 All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God,and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is,and from studying the works did not discern the artisan;But either fire, or wind, or the swift air,or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water,or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods.Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods,let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than...

ST. MARTIN I 649 - 654 AD  The man chosen to face the storm raised by the Emperor Constans was Martin from Todi, of noble birth, learned, experienced, and above all a man of solid virtue. He had served as ambassador to Constantinople and had had dealings with the Byzantine bureaucracy over the question of the deposition of Pyrrhus. He was to need all his experience and all his virtue to face the imperial fury.Scarcely had Martin been consecrated on July S, 649, when he was bombarded with appeals to make a downright condemnation of Monothelism and a ringing declaration...

November 3, 2004Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Reading IPhil 2:12-18 My beloved, obedient as you have always been,not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,work out your salvation with fear and trembling.For God is the one who, for his good purpose,works in you both to desire and to work.Do everything without grumbling or questioning,that you may be blameless and innocent,children of God without blemishin the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,among whom you shine like lights in the world,as you hold on to the word of life,so that my...

November 11, 2003Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, bisho Psalm: Tuesday 48 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IWis2:23–3:9 God formed man to be imperishable;the image of his own nature he made them.But by the envy of the Devil, death entered the world,and they who are in his possession experience it. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;and their passing away was thought an afflictionand their going forth from us, utter destruction.But they are in peace.For if before men,...

November 3, 2003Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Monday 47 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IRom 11:29-36 Brothers and sisters:The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercybecause of their disobedience,so they have now disobeyed in order that,by virtue of the mercy shown to you,they too may now receive mercy.For God delivered all to disobedience,that he might have mercy upon all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For who has...