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Rev. Thomas F. Martin, O.S.A. (1943 - 2009)

Rev. Thomas F. Martin, O.S.A. entered eternal life February 20, 2009, following a struggle with cancer.

Thomas Francis Martin was born December 28, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois to Charles V. and Blanche A. Martin. He was Baptized February 6, 1944 at St. Symphorosa Catholic Church, Chicago. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation March 31, 1957 at the same church.

Thomas received his elementary education at St. Symphorosa School, Chicago. He earned a diploma in 1961 from St. Rita High School, Chicago. He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 3, 1961. He professed simple (temporary) vows in the Order of St. Augustine September 4, 1962 and solemn (permanent) vows September 4, 1965. He was ordained a Priest December 20, 1969.

He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Tolentine College, Olympia Fields, Illinois, in 1966. He then pursued theological studies, first at Tolentine College (1966-68) and then at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, and DePaul University, Chicago (1968-1971), earning an M. A. in Theology from DePaul. He also earned a Masters in Religious Education from Loyola University, Chicago (1975); a Masters in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska (1982), and a Ph. D. in Patristics from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (1994).

Father Martin resided at Tolentine College from 1963 to 1969. He was assigned to the Augustinian Monastery at Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago, in 1969. During his first year there he was a full-time student at Catholic Theological Union. From 1970 to 1978 he was a member of the Mendel faculty, serving as Teacher and later as Vice-Principal for Religious Affairs.

In 1978 Father Martin was named Director of Theologians and was assigned to St. John Stone Friary, Chicago. In 1981 he was appointed Director of Students for the college-level pre-Novitiate formation program at Augustinian Midwest Priory at Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Province Council in 1981.

He was assigned to Cascia Hall, Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1982. There he was a Teacher and Prior of the Augustinian community. He was elected Secretary of the Province in 1983, and resided at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields, while serving in that office.

Father Martin was called to the international Augustinian headquarters in Rome in 1984. There he was Sub-secretary of the Order and Editor of the magazine OSAinternational. He returned in 1990 to St. John Stone Friary, Chicago, again serving as Director of Theologians.

In 1995 Father Martin was assigned to St. Augustine Friary, Villanova, Pennsylvania, to teach at Villanova University. In 2005 he was named founding Director of the Augustinian Institute at Villanova University. In 2006, while continuing as Director of the Institute, he was assigned to reside at St. Thomas of Villanova Friary, Rosemont, Pennsylvania. In 2008 Villanova University promoted him to the status of full Professor.

He is the author of Our Restless Heart: The Augustinian Tradition (Orbis, 2003) and numerous articles, especially on themes related to St. Augustine and other Fathers of the Church.

Father Martin was a scholar who never lost his common touch. As a teacher, he had the gift of presenting profound knowledge in a down-to-earth, understandable and interesting manner. He was a true Augustinian, not so much because of his profound scholarship (though that was certainly appreciated), but because he lived the ideals of Augustine. A man of faith, he walked the final weeks of his earthly journey with profound peace and experience of the Lord’s presence.

Father Martin is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be made to Augustinian Guild, 5401 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago, IL 60615-5664, or via Augustinian Guild Secure On-line Giving.

       » Read funeral homily preached February 27 by Rev. William Sullivan, O.S.A. (Used with permission)

       » Read funeral homily preached February 23 by Rev. Martin Laird, O.S.A. (.pdf file)   (Used with permission)

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