“I will not serve as a soldier of this world,
for I am a soldier of Christ.”

St. Maximilian, a 3rd century conscientious objector and martyr in North Africa, was killed for refusing conscription to the Roman army. He was 21 when he was brought before the Roman court. Below is an abbreviated account of Maximilian’s trial:

Dion the Proconsul: What is your name?

Maximilian: Why do you want to know my name? I am a Christian, and cannot fight… I cannot serve as a soldier, I cannot do evil.”

D: Serve or you will die.

Maximilian: I will never serve. You can cut off my head, but I will not be a soldier of this world, for I am a soldier of Christ.

D: What has put these ideas into your head?

Maximilian: My conscience and He who has called me…

Dion: Be a soldier and accept the emperor’s badge.

M: Not at all. I carry the mark of Christ my God already.

D: I shall send you to your Christ at once.

M: I ask nothing better. Do it quickly, for there is my glory…

D: Accept the insignia and serve, lest you die miserably.

M: My service is to my Lord. I cannot serve the powers of this world. I have just said that I am a Christian.

D: There are Christians who serve as soldiers in the august company of our lords Diocletian and Maximian, of Constantius and Maximus; and they fight.

M: They know what is best for themselves. I nevertheless am a Christian, and I cannot do evil.

D: Those who wage war do evil?

M: You know what they do.

D: Serve, lest your refusal be the occasion for a miserable death.

M: I shall not die, and if I should depart from this world, my spirit will live with Christ my Lord.

D: Write his name down… your impiety makes you refuse military service, and you shall be punished accordingly as a warning to others.

The sentence was then read: “Maximilian has refused the military oath through impiety. He is to be beheaded.”

M: Thanks be to God!

The sentence was carried out immediately.