St. Martin I
Feast Day: April 13
“The Lord is near to those who call upon Him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18 (prayed by St. Martin I)
St. Martin I, pope and martyr, is honored for his fearless defense of the truth of Christ’s divinity and his courageous stand against heresy, even at the cost of exile and suffering. His feast day, celebrated on April 13, commemorates his steadfast faith and heroic witness to the teachings of the Church.
A Pope in a Time of Crisis
Martin was born in Umbria, Italy, and became a respected priest known for his learning, integrity, and holiness. He was elected Pope in 649 A.D. during a time of great theological turmoil in the Church.
At the heart of the crisis was the heresy of Monothelitism, which falsely taught that Jesus Christ had only one will (divine) rather than two wills (divine and human), undermining the full truth of His humanity.
A Defender of Christ’s Full Humanity and Divinity
Shortly after his election, Martin convened the Lateran Council of 649, which condemned Monothelitism and reaffirmed the Church’s teaching that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, with both a divine will and a human will, perfectly united in His one person.
This defense of orthodox teaching put Martin at odds with the Byzantine Emperor Constans II, who supported the heresy for political reasons and sought to silence the pope’s resistance.
Arrest, Exile, and Martyrdom
In 653, agents of the emperor arrested Pope Martin and forcibly removed him from Rome without even allowing him to receive a fair trial. He was dragged across the sea to Constantinople, where he was publicly humiliated, imprisoned, and subjected to harsh treatment.
Despite severe suffering, Martin never wavered in his defense of the truth. Eventually, he was exiled to Crimea, where he continued to pray and suffer for the Church until his death in 655 A.D., dying of exhaustion, cold, and starvation.
The Last Pope Martyr of the Early Church
St. Martin I is remembered as the last pope to be martyred in the early Church, giving his life not by the sword but through the slow martyrdom of suffering, exile, and deprivation for the sake of Christ and the truth.
Patron of Those Suffering Persecution and Injustice
St. Martin I is the patron saint of those suffering from false accusations, unjust imprisonment, and religious persecution, a powerful intercessor for those enduring hardship for the sake of truth and faith.
A Witness to Truth at All Costs
St. Martin I’s life reminds the faithful that defending the truth of the faith requires courage, perseverance, and trust in God, even in the face of political pressure, suffering, and isolation. His example continues to inspire the Church to stand firm in fidelity to the fullness of Catholic doctrine.
St. Martin I, pray for us!