Today is an ember day, traditionally a day of fasting and abstinence.
But it is also the memorial of St Maurice in the Benedictine calendar.
From the martyrology:
"At St. Maurice, near Sion, in Switzerland, the birthday of the holy Theban martyrs Maurice, Exuperius, Candidus, Victor, Innocent, and Yitalis, 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."
St Maurice was leader of the Roman Theban Legion, which consisted entirely of Christians. Called to Egypt to help suppress a rebellion they were ordered to harass some local Christians, but refused.
After two rounds of decimation failed to make the soldiers obey, the remaining 6,666 men were all executed.
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