The Falling Pine Tree

Again, in a certain village he had pulled down a very ancient temple and set about cutting down a pine tree that stood close to the temple. Then the chief priest of the place and a crowd of other pagans began to oppose him. These people, though they had kept quiet under the Lord’s influence while the temple was being demolished, could not bear to let the tree be cut down. Martin carefully taught them that there was nothing sacred in a tree trunk, and urged them instead to honor the God whom he himself served. He added that it was a moral duty to cut that tree down, because it had been dedicated to a demon. Then one of them, bolder than the rest, said: “If you have any trust in your God, whom you say you worship, we ourselves will cut down this tree, and it will be your part to receive it as it falls. For if, as you claim, your Lord is with you, you will escape all harm.” [a]

Then Martin, trusting courageously in the Lord, promised to do what was asked. At this the whole crowd of pagans agreed to the terms, for they counted the loss of their tree a small thing if only they could get the enemy of their religion buried under its fall. The pine was leaning in one direction, so that there was no doubt which way it would fall when cut. So Martin was tied up and, as the pagans decided, placed on the spot where everyone was sure the tree would come down. They began, then, to cut down their own tree with great glee and delight, while at some distance a great crowd of spectators looked on in wonder. And now the pine began to sway, and to threaten its own ruin by falling. The monks at a distance turned pale. Terrified by the danger coming ever nearer, they had lost all hope and confidence, and expected nothing but Martin’s death. But he, trusting in the Lord and waiting courageously, as the falling pine gave its last crash, as it was already falling, as it was just rushing down on him, simply raised his hand against it and put the sign of salvation in its way. Then it swung around to the opposite side like a spinning top, so that you would have thought it had been driven back, and it almost crushed the country people who had taken their places there in what was thought a safe spot.

Then indeed a shout went up to heaven. The pagans were amazed at the miracle, while the monks wept for joy, and all alike praised the name of Christ. The well-known result was that on that day salvation came to that region. For there was hardly one of that huge crowd of pagans who did not ask for the laying on of hands, abandon his wicked errors, and profess faith in the Lord Jesus. Certainly, before Martin’s time very few, indeed almost none, in those regions had received the name of Christ. But through his mighty works and his example that name has prevailed so far that now there is no place thereabouts that is not filled either with very crowded churches or with monasteries. For wherever he destroyed pagan temples, he would at once build either churches or monasteries there.