Day 30 - Thursday, 4th Week of Lent - Santi Sylvestro e Martino

Façade - Santi Sylvestro e Martino al Monti

Tradition tells us that the first church on this site was established in the home of a priest named Equitus, and was designated the Titulus Equitii by Pope Sylvester earlier in the 4th century. At that time it was an oratory devoted to all the martyrs. Now the Roman clergy sit in council, here in this ancient titulus, with the Pope, listening to the legates tell their stories and read the decrees of the Council.  

They hear how Nicholas (St Nicholas!), Bishop of Myra, slapped Arius in the face during the Council for his impudence in refusing to recant his heresy, and of Emperor Constantine's dismayed response. They hear of the staunch defense of the orthodox faith by the young firebrand deacon, Athanasius of Alexandria.  They listen to accounts of bishops from far away, exotic places like the isles of Britannia, and how in the end, all but 3 bishops voted to condemn the heresy of Arius.  These 3 were sent into exile.  The rest have taken the decrees home to their dioceses to be approved and put into effect.  

 It is late when the legates finish their account.  Now they must all discuss these remarkable events and the decrees.  One by one the clergy of Rome affirm their agreement with the Council.  The Pope waits, he desires to know the mind of each of his priests and deacons.  Finally they have all had their say.  His heart has been warmed by their statements of faith and their resolution to carry out the decrees of the Council.  Slowly he rises to his feet.  "My brothers, it is time for action!"  He sends the deacons out to gather wood, as well as the works of Arius that have been confiscated.  

A fire is laid in the piazza in front of the church; the books and scrolls are piled nearby. Now a torch is brought in ceremoniously and soon there is a roaring fire.  In our mind's eye we see the column of smoke rising up from the blaze, while the Pope and his clergy feed into the flames the heretical works of Arius — a public statement of rejection by the Church.  Their faces glow with the light of the fire, but even more with their zeal for the faith of Mother Church.

Rear view of the Apse

Tradition records for us that a basilica dedicated to St. Martin of Tours was built close by the ancient titulus here in the late fifth century.  Later some older buildings nearby were converted into a church named for St. Silvester, who was elected Pope in 314, shortly after the legalization of Christianity.  He was the Pope who oversaw the construction of the Lateran basilica and other early churches built after the Edict of Milan; he promoted the development of the liturgy of Rome, and fostered the preparation of the Roman martyrology.  He was a staunch supporter of  the orthodox belief during the Arian crisis., and it was he, who had called the council in Rome to make plans for the 1st Ecumenical Council at Nicea.

Side and apse view of the basilica

In 500, the church was rebuilt and dedicated to Sts Martin of Tours and Pope Sylvester I by Pope Symmachus.  At that time, the church was elevated over the first oratory.  It was reconstructed by Pope Hadrian I in 772 and again by Pope Sergius II in 845, combining all the functions of the previous 2 churches. The relics of a number of martyrs were moved here at that time from the catacomb of Priscilla, to the confessio beneath the high altar. 

The structure of the present church follows the layout of the ancient one, and many features were re-used.   It was restored in the mid-sixteenth century, and renovated even more extensively a century later, when the church and confessio were completely redecorated in the fashion of the day, and the current façade was completed in 1676.  The church has been served by the Calced Carmelite Order since the fourteenth century, and their service here continues.

This Church was chosen as the station for today because the Gospel reading speaks of resurrection, and in the name of the Blessed Trinity, Saint Martin anciently had raised three persons from the dead — a symbol of the baptised, who are born to a new life in the name of the Blessed Trinity.

Above: Interior of Sts Sylvester and Martin on the Mount

Below: Looking back out of the Crypt into the Nave

Below:  Painting of the Crypt of San Martino ai Monti by François Marius Granet (1806)

"St Martin sharing his coat", detail, from the St. Gatien Cathedral in Tours, France.

 The most famous story about Martin is depicted in the above painting.  One cold winter day in Amiens, as Martin was riding by, a poor, half- naked beggar, shaking and blue with the cold, called out to him desperately in the name of Christ.  Martin had nothing at the time but his own clothing, his armor, and his thick warm woolen soldier's cape.  Taking out his sword, he cut the cape in half, and gave the beggar one half of his cloak.  The following night Our Lord appeared to him warmly wrapped in that half-cloak, and said to the saints and angels who surrounded him: “See — Martin, while yet a catechumen, has clothed Me with this garment.”

St Martin leaves the life of chivalry & renounces the army - fresco by Simone Martini

At eighteen years of age Martin was met with a crisis.  The barbarian tribes of the Franks and Allemani were threatening invasion of the Empire.  At the time, soldiers in the Roman army were given a sum of money before battle, in order to increase their patriotism and desire for battle. When Julian lined up the soldiers in Gaul to give them their money, Martin refused the bounty as well as the assignment to fight saying, "Place me in the front of the army, without weapons or armor; but I will not draw sword again. I am become the soldier of Christ." It was an unfortunate time to make such a decision. Emperor Julian was furious, and thinking Martin was a coward, told him his wish would be granted; he would be unarmed in the middle of battle the next day. Afraid Martin would flee, Julian had him imprisoned until the battle. Against all explanation, the barbarians, rather than engaging in battle the next day, instead sued for peace, and the battle was off. Martin was released from his prison and shortly thereafter from the army.  

Martin's Dream of Christ amid Angels and Saints by Simone Martini

Martin remembered the words of Christ that had burned like a brand into his soul, " Martin, while yet a catechumen . . ."  He would wait no longer.  As soon as he left the military, he sought baptism; with all his heart, he desired to become a monk.  The fame of Hilary, the bishop of Poitiers, was known to Martin, and so he sought direction from the great bishop, who would one day be canonized himself.  Hilary wanted Martin to prepare himself to become a priest, but Martin refused, feeling unworthy of office, and also sincerely desiring the life of a simple monk.  Hilary then asked him to become a deacon, but again Martin refused.  When Martin also refused the minor orders of acolyte and exorcist, Hilary chastised him for thinking himself too good to be called to a lowly office, and shamed, Martin gave in.  

At this time, the Arian heretics were gaining power throughout the western Empire.  Bishop Hilary was beaten and exiled from Poitiers.  Martin received the same treatment when he visited his parents in his old hometown.  Eventually Hilary was restored to his See at Poitiers, and Martin went there to welcome him back.  Knowing Martin's call to solitude, Hilary gave Martin a wilderness retreat. As disciples began to flock to Martin for direction, he founded a monastery for them, and it was there that he performed the first of many miracles. When a catechumen died before baptism, Martin laid himself on top of the body for some time, much as Elijah had done in the Old Testament, and the man was restored to life (early CPR?). Sulpicius was able to speak to this man, who was baptized shortly thereafter and lived for many years afterward. Martin remained in this monastery near his mentor and friend until after Hilary died.

In that early time, bishops were chosen by the people of the area and the local clergy.  When the bishop of Tours died, the people determined they wanted their new bishop above all to be a man of holiness.  No one could think of any other choice than Martin, but they knew he would never agree to be bishop, so they devised a little scheme.   One of the men of Tours came to Martin, begging him to come visit his sick wife. Martin, who could not say no to a person in need, went with the man to Tours.  Once he was near Tours, crowds of people suddenly surrounded him, and unable to escape, although he tried, he was swept into the city. The other bishops from surrounding dioceses who were there to consecrate the new bishop, were repelled by this dirty, ragged hermit with his wildly dishevelled hair. Not to be dissuaded from their choice, the people retorted  that they didn't choose Martin for his haircut, which any barber could take care of, but for his holiness and humility, which could only result from a life of  charity in the grace of God. Overwhelmed by the intensity of the crowd, the bishops had no choice but to consecrate Martin.

Bishop Martin at Mass

As bishop, Martin refused to live in a palace.  At first he tried living in a cell attached to the church, hoping to maintain his lifestyle as a monk. But there were so many people who sought him out, that he fled outside the city to live in a cabin he made out of branches.  Before long he had 80 disciples clustered around him, and so there outside the city he founded the monastery of Marmoutiers.  He did not shirk his duties as bishop however, but kept in touch with his diocese through priests who were his representatives to the people.  They reported to him regularly and carried out his instructions for the care of his people. 

As a true shepherd, Martin knew that one of his responsibilities was conversion of those who still held  non-Christian beliefs.  His method for conversion was simple — he travelled from house to house to speak personally to people about God.  He organized his converts into a community under the care of a priest of monk, forming what we would recognize as early parishes, and in order to nurture them and to keep them close to the faith, he visited these communities regularly.

When Sulpicius Severus first met Martin of Tours he was shocked!  Here was a bishop, living, not in a palace, but in a monk's cell in the wilderness — Martin offered his hospitality by personally washing Sulpicius' hands before meals and his feet in the evening, and serving him with his own hands.  Sulpicius was a just a regular sort of fellow without rank or privilege, and as such, was just the kind of person Martin honored. He feared visits from the nobility and persons with prestige and power, and usually turned them away, lest he be tempted with pride. From the time of that first visit, Sulpicius became Martin's disciple, and friend, and eventually, his biographer, as he had ample opportunity to speak with those who knew Martin best..

There are so many other stories I could tell you, but there is not time or space here — stories of miracles, of diligent evangelization among the pagans, of his travels, and of his holiness.  If you would like to know Martin better and engage with him in friendship, a good book to start with is Regine Pernoud's Martin of Tours: Soldier, Bishop, and Saint.