Cloak Drive

THE STORY OF ST. MARTIN OF TOURS

On a bitterly cold day, the famous legend goes, St. Martin met a poor man, almost naked, trembling in the cold and begging from passersby at the city gate. St. Martin had nothing but his weapons and his clothes. He drew his sword, cut his cloak into two pieces, gave one piece to the beggar and wrapped himself in the other half. Some of the bystanders laughed at his now odd appearance; others were ashamed at not having relieved the man’s misery themselves. That night in his sleep St. Martin saw Christ dressed in the half of the garment he had given away, and heard him say, “Martin, still a catechumen, has clothed me with this cloak.” So it is told that St. Martin shared his own cloak with the needy man.