Our Patron – St. Sebastian

St. Sebastian

Sebastian was born at Narbonne, in Gaul, and was raised by his parents in Milan, Italy. It is reported that he possessed great physical endurance and had a natural inclination to military life. He became a soldier in the Roman army at Rome in about the year 283. Emperor Diocletian later named Sebastian captain in the Praetorian guards, unaware that he was a Christian. Sebastian was actually a faithful follower of Christ and, by 286, was using his position in the Praetorian Guard to assist Christian confessors and martyrs in their suffering. At the time that the Roman army was ruthlessly participating in the persecution of Christians, he was secretly committing many acts of love and charity for those being persecuted.

Sebastian is known to have encouraged two Roman martyrs – Marcellian and Marcus (both under the sentence of death) – to remain faithful to Christ. During this time he is also known to have converted many Romans to Christianity and cured others of sickness through his strength in faith.

Once it was discovered by Emperor Diocletian that Sebastian was a Christian, he was sentenced to death by being shot full of arrows by the Mauritanian archers. Being left for dead, Sebastian was found and miraculously nursed back to health. A short time later, however, Sebastian openly criticized the Emperor for his persecution of Christians and was executed by being beaten to death. He is reported to have died on January 20, 287.

Sebastian was one of a class of military martyrs and soldier saints of the Early Christian Church. He is a patron saint of athletes because of his physical endurance and energetic way of spreading and defending the faith. He is also a patron to all soldiers. The feast day for St. Sebastian is January 20.