Letters

Contents

Translation in progress.

1. 1.1Sulpicius hears from visiting monks that his Life of Martin is widely read.
2. 1.2Someone objects that Martin, a worker of miracles, was himself burned in a fire.
3. 1.3The objection repeats the taunt against Christ on the cross.
4. 1.4The critic would have mocked Christ himself.
5. 1.5As with Paul and the viper on Malta, Martin’s escape from the fire proves his holiness rather than disproving it.
6. 1.6The saints are marked out by their dangers: Peter walked on the water, Paul survived a night and a day in the deep.
7. 1.7Scripture records the apostles’ perils so that we may learn that the righteous endure and overcome dangers.
8. 1.8The event was omitted from the Life because Sulpicius never claimed to record all Martin’s deeds.
9. 1.9Sulpicius undertakes to tell the story in full.
10. 1.10On a winter visitation Martin is lodged in a sacristy heated from below and given a soft straw bed.
11. 1.11Martin throws the straw aside onto the furnace and sleeps on the ground; at midnight the straw catches fire.
12. 1.12Woken by the fire, Martin tries first to escape through the bolted door rather than to pray, and his clothing burns.
13. 1.13When Martin turns to prayer the flames leave him unharmed, and the monks break in and rescue him.
14. 1.14Martin himself admitted to Sulpicius that the devil had tricked him into seeking escape before prayer.
15. 1.15Once he prayed, the flames felt like dew; the danger was a trial that proved him.
16. 2.1Alone in his cell, Sulpicius is overcome by thoughts of judgment and of his sins.
17. 2.2He falls into a light morning sleep.
18. 2.3In a dream Sulpicius sees Martin, radiant, holding the Life of Martin.
19. 2.4Martin blesses him and is carried up into heaven.
20. 2.5He sees Martin’s disciple Clarus follow, wakes, and a servant enters looking grieved.
21. 2.6Monks from Tours bring news that Martin has died; Sulpicius weeps and calls his friend to share his grief.
22. 2.7Though Martin has received the crown of righteousness, Sulpicius cannot keep from grief.
23. 2.8Martin is now among the apostles, prophets, and martyrs who follow the Lamb.
24. 2.9Martin was a martyr in will: in the age of persecution he would gladly have faced rack and fire.
25. 2.10He would have faced any martyr’s death, Isaiah’s saw, a cliff, or Paul’s sword.
26. 2.11No torture would have moved him from confessing the Lord.
27. 2.12Martin fulfilled a bloodless martyrdom through hardship, fasting, persecution, and care for others.
28. 2.13His daily struggles against human and spiritual wickedness showed unfailing fortitude and patience.
29. 2.14Martin’s love never cooled, and he loved Sulpicius uniquely.
30. 2.15Sulpicius laments that he has outlived Martin.
31. 2.16Martin will remain with them in prayer and will bless them.
32. 2.17The vision shows that heaven is open to Martin’s followers, but Sulpicius fears his sins will keep him from following.
33. 2.18His one hope is Martin’s intercession.
34. 2.19He wrote at length so that the letter might bring comfort as well as sad news.
35. 3.1Sulpicius playfully accuses his mother-in-law Bassula of stealing and circulating his writings.
36. 3.2His secretaries, once hers, pass his private writings to her.
37. 3.3He asks how she obtained so quickly his letter to the deacon Aurelius.
38. 3.4Bassula asks for an account of Martin’s death; Sulpicius protests that his letter was private.
39. 3.5On condition that she keep it private, he agrees to tell what he knows.
40. 3.6Knowing his death was near, Martin went to Candes to make peace among its clergy.
41. 3.7Seeing cormorants catching fish, Martin compares them to demons.
42. 3.8At his command the birds leave the river.
43. 3.9After restoring peace he falls ill and tells the brothers he is dying.
44. 3.10The brothers beg Martin not to leave them.
45. 3.11Moved to tears, Martin prays that he is willing to keep working if needed.
46. 3.12Torn between staying and departing, he leaves the choice entirely to God.
47. 3.13Martin’s prayer: he will go on serving if God wills, or leave his flock to God’s keeping.
48. 3.14In his last fever Martin keeps praying, lying on ashes and sackcloth.
49. 3.15He asks to keep looking at heaven.
50. 3.16Martin rebukes the devil standing by him.
51. 3.17At his death Martin’s face shone like an angel’s and his body appeared already glorified.
52. 3.18Great crowds, including about two thousand monks, gather for the funeral.
53. 3.19The monks and the choir of virgins follow the body, torn between joy and grief.
54. 3.20The crowd escorts the body with hymns to the tomb.
55. 3.21Martin’s funeral surpasses a Roman triumph: his escort is those who conquered the world, and he enters heaven rich.