A merry bunch filled the Sint-Kwintenshuis on the late afternoon of Sunday 13 November 2022.
Mark interactively told the story of Saint Martin, who was born in present-day Hungary in 316 to Roman parents who were not religious. As a young fellow, Martin had to join the army at the age of 15, and at age 18 he was baptised because he wanted to follow Jesus. He later became a monk and also bishop of Tours and died in 375. He is best known for having cut his cloak in two when meeting a half-naked poor man on a winter’s day and giving one part to the man. Shortly afterwards in a dream he saw Jesus wearing the entire cloak. Was it not that Jesus who had long ago said, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
After listening to the story, the children, with their parents, carried lit lanterns through the Groot Begijnhof singing the songs they had learnt.
“I walk with my lantern and my lantern with me. Up there the stars shine, down below we shine. My light goes on, I walk in front: rabimmel rabammel rabom. My light goes out, I go home; rabimmel rabammel rabom.”
This was followed by well-deserved hot chocolate with lots of biscuits.
