There are two Saints with the name of Martin who are famous among Catholics: Martin of Tours (316-397) and Martin of Torres (1579-1639). Both died in November, but their lives were very different.
Martin of Tours is known for sharing his cloak with a beggar. He shared what he had, what kept him warm with a complete stranger. It is said that in his dreams he learned that the beggar was Jesus.

Martin, originally from an area that is part of today’s Hungary, was a soldier in the Roman army. He later became a monk, a bishop – and he was canonised. The part of the cloak that he had kept became was later venerated. It was kept in a monastery and was sometimes even taken into battles.
It was so precious to the people of the time that there was a dedicated priest who cared for the cloak. The Latin word for cloak is ‘cappa’ (which we still have in words like ‘cape’). So, the priest who cared for Martin’s cloak was called a ‘cappellanu’.

Apparently, the first time that a small church or a place was called ‘chapel’ was when the location was described where Martin’s cloak was kept…
So, the words chapel and chaplain in many languages are related to the cloak of St Martin de Tours…

BM