Member-only story
Who is a Chaplain?
Is it a Calling for all Christians?
How did chaplaincy start?
The origins of the word chaplain are rooted in the story of Saint Martin, the Bishop of Tours, and date back to the late 4th century. Martin started his adult life as a soldier and legend has it that one day, while out riding, he came across a beggar and stopped to help him. As it was cold, Martin dismounted his horse and used his sword to cut his cape or cloak in half, giving part of it to the cold man. The other half would later be enshrined and venerated, along with the sword. Martin would leave his service in the army and become a monk.
The cape, or cappella in Latin was kept in a special shrine along with the sword which was recovered later as the story goes. The monks who would be charged with the responsibility of watching over it would be called cappellano. Special services in the small shrine where this was held were attended by local people and royalty alike. These monks would be the first “chaplains”.
Is that the end of the story?
Not by a long shot! However, there are a lot of gaps and unanswered questions that…
