Called miles ("soldier") or legionarius in Latin, the Romanlegionary was (usually) a Roman citizen under 45 years of age. The soldier enlisted in a legion for twenty-five years of service, a change from the early practice of enlisting only for the duration of a campaign. The last five years were on veteran lighter duties.
The Roman soldier was trained especially hard, discipline was the base of the army's success and the soldiers were relentlessly and constantly trained both with weapons but especially with drill - forced marches with full load and in tight formation were frequent. Discipline was important and infractions were heavily punished by the centurions.
The equipment to the legionaries was remarkably uniform throughout the empire and it is possible that there were large centres in Gaul and North Italy for the mass manufacture of helmets, armour and weapons as well as the kettles and mess tins, etc.
The legionary sword, the gladius, was a double-bladed weapon two feet long and two inches wide, often with a corrugated bone grip.
Unlike the legionary he carried his sword in the orthodox position on the left swinging from a baldric From his left shoulder a cloak, made of fine material, hung in elegant folds.
The Legionary is advised to suppress self for the sake of becoming the adequate instrument in the apostolate of spreading the Kingdom of God on earth.
But a Legionary should beware of concentrating so exclusively on the practice of Charity in reaching out to every soul as to lose sight of the equally important practice of Charity towards his fellow-members in the praesidium or in the council.
Legionary Charity must extend beyond the Spiritual Directors of Praesidia and beyond those Pastors who have given permission for the Legion to exist in their parishes.
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