The Roman Ghosts: Martyrs of the Theban Legion

The Theban legion numbered more than six thousand men. They were encamped near the Lake of Geneva in the southwestern part of Switzerland, under the Emperor Maximian, when they got orders to turn their swords against the Christian population, and refused to obey. In his fury Emperor Maximian ordered them to be decimated. The order was executed, but they endured this without a murmur or an effort to defend themselves. St. Maurice, the chief captain in this legion of martyrs, encouraged the rest to persevere and follow their comrades to heaven. "Know, O Emperor," he said, "that we are your soldiers, but we are servants also of the true God. In all things lawful we will most readily obey, but we cannot stain our hands in this innocent blood. We have seen our comrades slain, and we rejoice at their honor. We have arms, but we resist not, for we would rather die without shame than live by sin." As the massacre began, these generous soldiers flung down their arms, offered their necks to the sword, and suffered themselves to be butchered in silence. The Blessed Virgin Mary revealed where two of them were martyred to Saint John Bosco. He was an Italian priest who ran an Oratory school for boys in the 1800's and received over 170 mystical dreams or visions which often foretold future events with perfect accuracy. This particular vision, recounted in volume two of his biographical memoirs, took place in 1845, when Don Bosco had already started his apostolate with young men, but couldn't find a suitable home for all of them. He had gone to bed in desolation, not even suspecting that he would receive a great consolation from Our Lady in the form of a mystical dream. It was a promise of a future home for the boys - a massive Oratory School. 00:00 Intro 00:26 Theban Legion Martyrs 01:36 Story #1 - Don Bosco's Vision 05:26 Prophetic Accuracy of Don Bosco 06:54 Story #2 - The Roman Ghosts