Martin of Braga

Martin of Dumium ( Dume ), and later Martin of Braga (c. 515 in Pannonia, † 580 ) was a bishop, who contributed significantly to the Christianization of the Suevi in Gallaecia. Martin of Braga is a Catholic saint, his feast day is 20 March.

Life

He undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where he became a monk. Here he met pilgrims who persuaded him to go with them to the Iberian Peninsula to evangelize the local Suevi, who were either pagans or Arians. Around 550 he came to Gallaecia, where he (the present Dume ) founded a monastery in Dumium in Braga, whose abbot he was. His monastery, he organized along the lines Martin of Tours, whom he revered. When the Suebenkönig Chara Rich ( 550-559 ) over to Catholicism, Dumium became a bishop. However, it had no territory of their own, but lay in the diocese of Braga.

556 Martin was Bishop of Dumio, 562 bishop of Braga. He is regarded as an apostle of the Suevi, he - especially King Ariamir - converted from the Arian faith to Catholicism. Martin took part in the First Council of Braga (561) and led the Second Council of Braga (572 ).

Gregory of Tours praised him as the most learned of his contemporaries. For missionary purpose, he wrote the sermon De correctione rusticorum for Polemius bishop of Astorga. He wrote the Epistola de trina mersione, which form an important witness to the history of the Spanish baptismal liturgy. From the Greek, he translated for the monastic life a Apophtegmata Collection ( Sententiae patrum Aegyptiorum ). A similar collection he was transferred by the monk Paschasius of Dumium. For the practical church life he amassed from Byzantium, Africa and Spain canons ( capitula Martini). The Suebenkönig Miro, he devoted the font Formulae vitae honestae ".

Ups

Martin founded numerous monasteries, including Dumium near Braga, which was closely connected in sequence with the Suebian royal family.

Works

• Claude W. Barlow (Ed.): Martini Episcopi Opera Omnia Bracarensis ( Papers and Monographs of the American Academy of Rome, Vol 12). Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn. 1950 ( content: " De correctione rusticorum ", " Epistola de trina mersione " and " Formulae vitae honestae ").