St. Martin of Tours was born of pagan parents around the year 316 in what is modern day Hungary. His father was an army veteran and Martin was forced to enter the military at the age of 15. One story about his life while he was in the military tells how he cut his cloak in half and gave one of the halves to a beggar. That night, the beggar appeared to him in a dream as Christ wrapped in half of Martin's cloak.
At the age of 18, while he was still in the military, Martin was baptized. He sought to give up his life in the military in order to serve God better, and sometime after the year 339, his wish was granted. Martin was relieved of his military duty, ordained, and set out to find St. Hilary and become his disciple. Martin, now a monk, traveled with Hilary to Poitiers in France and began to build a monastery. This monastery became one of the first established in the West, and Martin lived there for ten years while it became established.
Martin was very charismatic, and well known as a preacher, and he became well known throughout much of France. The city of Tours clamored for his ordination as their bishop, and reluctantly, he accepted the post. Martin spent the rest of his life in Tours caring for his flock. He died around the year 397 and is the patron of soldiers, winegrowers, and France. Martin was the first saint who was not a martyr to be honored with an annual feast in the Western Church.