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Maurice, or Mauritius, was the leader of the entirely Christian Theban Legion of the Roman Army, recruited from a region of Egypt. In the late third century, the Legion was sent to Gaul to suppress a revolt, and served the empire well. When ordered to offer sacrifice to the emperor and other Roman idols, however, the soldiers respectfully but firmly disobeyed, declaring that as Christians they could not offer worship to false gods, but as soldiers they remained ready to die in loyal service to the emperor. Despite this pledge, the furious emperor twice ordered that the Legion be decimated, a punishment in which every tenth soldier was executed. The survivors, however, openly envied their martyred brethren. After Maurice sent another message reiterating their loyalty and declaring their readiness to die, the entire Legion was put to death at Agaunum, now known as Saint-Maurice in Switzerland. Maurice has long been a patron of all Christian soldiers, as well as of weavers, weapon-smiths, and against gout and cramps. He is also a primary patron of the Holy Roman Emperors, who used relics like his sword and spurs in their coronations, up through that of Emperor Bl. Karl of Austria-Hungary in the year of Our Lord 1916.
AT Valencia, in Spain, St. Thomas, of Villanova, archbishop and confessor, whose birthday is the 8th of September.
At St. Maurice, near Sion, in Switzerland, the birthday [into heaven] of the holy Theban martyrs Maurice, Exuperius, Candidus, Victor, Innocent, and Vitalis, with their companions of the same legion, whose martyrdom for the faith, in the time of Maximian, filled the world with the glory of their sufferings.
At Rome, the martyrdom of the holy virgins and martyrs Digna and Emerita, under Valerian and Gallienus. Their relics are kept in the church of St. Marcellus.
At Arpajon, near Paris, St. Jonas, priest and martyr, who went to France with St. Denis, and after being scourged by order of the prefect Julian, ended his martyrdom by the sword.
At Ratisbon, in Bavaria, St. Emmeramus, bishop and martyr, who, to deliver others, endured patiently a most cruel death for the sake of our Lord.
At Antinoopolis, in Egypt, the holy martyrs Irais, an Alexandrian virgin, and her companions. Having gone out to draw water at a fountain near by, and seeing a boat loaded with Christian confessors, she immediately left her vessel and joined them. Being conducted to the city with them, after many torments, she was the first to have her head struck off; and after her, priests, deacons, virgins, and all others underwent the same kind of death.
At Meaux, blessed Sanctinus, bishop, disciple of St. Denis, the Areopagite, who, being consecrated by him bishop of that city, was the first to preach the Gospel there.
In the territory of Coutances, St. Lauto, bishop.
In Poitou, the holy priest Florentius.
In the territory of Bourges, St. Sylvanus, confessor.
At Laon, St. Salaberga, abbess.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.