St. Martin of Tours Raised Unbaptized Catechumen to Life

From the account of Saint Martin’s biographer, Sulpicius Severus, a certain man joined the saint’s monastery in France for instruction as a catechumen. He died while the saint was away. When Saint Martin returned the deceased was still laid out on his death bed, having died suddenly without baptism. Saint Martin raised him to life in order to baptize him. Here, according to Sulpicius Severus, is what the resuscitated man related happened to him when he appeared before the judgment seat of God.

[When] he left the body, he was brought before the tribunal of the Judge [God], and had a dismal sentenced pronounced on him which relegated him to the dark places among the crowd of common men. Then, however, he added, it was suggested by two angels of the Judge that he was the man for whom Martin was praying; and so the same angels were ordered to lead him back and to give him to Martin, and restore him to his former life.

Now, one would assume that the catechumen had a desire for baptism. That is why he enlisted himself for instruction at the monastery. Saint Patrick, who was the nephew of Saint Martin, raised thirty-three people from the dead, many of whom were already buried.

Read more about Saint Martin here and here. Very highly recommended is this reflection on Saint Martin by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, who relies on some words of Dom Prosper Guéranger.

The Death of Saint Martin of Tours, fresco by Simone Martini (1284-1344).