22nd September, St Maurice and his Companions, Martyrs

St Maurice and his Companions, Martyrs

When the Emperor Maximian led his army into Gaul, the Theban Legion composed of 660 soldiers under the command of St. Maurice, refused to take part in the ceremonies in honour of the gods. They were massacred out of hatred for the name of Christ, about 286, at Agaunum, now called St. Maurice (Valais, Switzerland).



Intret in conspectu tuo, Domine, gemitus compeditorum: redde vicinis nostris septuplum in sinu eorum: vindica sanguinem sanctorum tuorum, qui effusus est. * Deus, venerunt gentes in haereditatem tuam: polluerunt templum sanctum tuum: posuerunt Jerusalem in pomorum custodiam.
Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before Thee, O Lord; render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom; revenge the blood of Thy saints, which hath been shed. * O God, the heathens are come into Thy inheritance: they have defiled Thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit.
(Psalm 78:11-12,1 from the Introit of Mass)



Annue, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut sanctorum Martyrum tuorum Mauritii et Sociorum ejus nos laetificet festiva solemnitas; ut, quorum suffragiis nitimur, eorum natalitiis gloriemur.
O almighty God, grant, we beseech Thee, that this solemn festival of Thy holy martyrs Maurice and his companions, may give us joy; that we may glory in the birthday of the saints, in whose prayers we put our trust.
(Collect)



From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10068c.htm
Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Maurice