He may be the first conscientious objector in recorded history. Martin of Tours (316-397) aspired to begin the catechumen (apprentice) process to join a Christian church at the tender age of ten, contrary to his parent’s wishes. As a decorated military officer, his father had plans for his son to continue his military legacy, so he enlisted fifteen-year-old Martin in the military. He became a distinguished cavalry officer in the Roman army. One of his contemporaries, Severus, recounts a story about Martin at age eighteen, travelling with military companions and coming upon a beggar, shivering in the winter cold. Martin took his sword and cut his cloak in two, giving half of it to the freezing beggar. Christ appeared to him in a subsequent dream, wearing the cloak he had given to the beggar.
Martin interpreted his dreams as a summons to be baptized and quit his command. He announced before a climactic battle in Gaul (France), “I am a soldier of Christ. It is not lawful for me to fight.” When his commanding officer accused him of cowardice, he volunteered to lead the army into battle unarmed. Envoys from the opposition offered terms of peace, the battle was averted, and Martin was discharged from active service. He became a monk and returned home to tell his parents of his newfound faith. His mother came to faith in Christ, but his father was adamantly opposed to it.
Martin later traveled to Tours (France) to aid a sick friend, but it was all a set up by the church to consecrate Martin as bishop. Though he was reluctant to accept the priestly assignment, he carried out his duties with consummate devotion and skill. Martin sensed from the dream that Christ did not simply want his cloak; he wanted the one who wore the cloak. Christ wanted him!
The Lord who wanted Martin desires us also. Will we give ourselves to Christ wholly and completely? This prayer attributed to Martin was offered near the end of his tenure as Bishop of Tours: