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While on retreat last week I came across in a book a term I had once hears but since forgotten: "St. Martin's Summer." The author was referring to a brief period of warmth that often occurs in the Northern Hemisphere in mid November. Then it came to me: Ah, that's what European Catholic tradition calls "Indian Summer"!
Why SAINT MARTIN's summer?
Saint Martin of Tours' feastday is November 11th, and has been so for probably 1500 years at least. He lived and flourished in the Fourth Century and is the first person to be acknowledged in the Catholic Litrugy as a Saint who was NOT a martyr.
His feastday became important in medieval Christianity and was known as "Martinmas" in England.
And indeed in November 1918 when the Germans asked for an armistice, the Allied Commander-in-Chief, the French Marshal Ferdiand Foch ( a practicing Catholic and daily Mass attendee) set this feastday as the date.
A week later it's 60 degrees as I write this.
St. Martin's Summer will probably end very soon but his name and fame live on.
Those interested in learning more about him can read the Catholic Encyclopedia article on him be going to www.newadvent.com
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