November messenger article
“MARTINMAS”
We call it Indian summer. Shakespeare called it Saint Martin’s summer: “Expect Saint Martin’s summer, halcyon days (Henry VI).” It’s the unexpected warm weather that sometimes comes after autumn’s cool days and frosty nights have already set in.
As the legend goes, on a very cold and bleak November morning, a young soldier named Martin was passing under an archway when he discovered a poor beggar hud- dled there. The man was nearly naked, shivering from the cold. Although Martin was not a rich man, upon seeing the beggar he took off his own cloak in order to cover him. The follow- ing night Martin had a dream in which he saw Christ wearing his cloak. Christ said, “Martin, what you have done unto the least of your brothers you have done to me.” Inspired by his vision, Martin abandoned his career in the French cavalry, became a monk, and devoted the rest of his life to helping all of humankind. Today Saint Martin of Tours is considered the patron saint of beggars, drunkards, and outcasts.
According to the legend, because of Martin’s kind deed, the sun began to shine warmly until the saint could get himself another garment. In commemo- ration of that show of personal warmth, a spell of mild weather is traditionally expected in early November, close to the time of Saint Martin’s feast day, November 11th.
I haven’t seen a long-range forecast, so I don’t know if there will be Indian summer weather around Saint Martin’s day. But this month you can still remember Saint Martin and do a kind deed in his mem- ory. One that comes immedi- ately to mind is donating a coat to the Dutchess Outreach Coat Drive or contributing to the Hyde Park Community Cares Thanksgiving food program. Martinmas may not be a holy day you’re familiar with, but its gentle customs can become all the more precious in time for the lessons they lovingly im- part. May its warmth fill your heart!
Pastor Eileen