Walking with the Saints l Feast of St. Sebastian, Patron Saint of Soldiers l January 20
Our saint for today is the patron saint of soldiers, athletes and those who desire to die a saintly death. He was Sebastian,
a Christian youth from southern France, born about 256 A.D. He was reared as a Christian and was sent by his parents to study in Milan. When he came of age, he joined the Roman Army, and discovered how fiercely the Christians were being persecuted by the Emperors of the Roman Empire. He, therefore, decided to
secretly help the persecuted Christians. As a soldier, he distinguished himself for his excellent service and was at once promoted to the rank of Praetorian Guards who were tasked to guard and protect the Emperor. While serving in this capacity, he tried to convert the pagans around him and helped the imprisoned Christians. Instead of beating them, he preached secretly to them about Jesus Christ.
Once, two Christian brothers, who were deacons, were arrested and imprisoned for not offering sacrifices to the Emperor. Their parents came to convince them to give up Christianity but
Sebastian stopped them from this foolish idea. He instructed them and they too, were converted to Christianity. Those who heard Sebastian’s preaching, including the Prefect of Rome and his son, were also converted. Many people came to Sebastian in secret to hear him preach.
But this activity led to the discovery that Sebastian was a Christian. The Emperor called for him, gave him a nice
scolding, reproached him for being ungrateful to him, and since Sebastian could not follow his command to deny his faith, he ordered that Sebastian be tied and brought to the training field of the soldiers to be used as the target for shooting practice. Tied to a tree, Sebastian was punctured with many arrows and thinking that he was dead, he was thrown into the open field. Fortunately, he was discovered by Irene, wife of Diocletian’s servant, who was earlier martyred. Irene took care of him, and soon his wounds were healed and his health was restored. Sebastian went to
Emperor Diocletian to surprise him that he was alive. He met him at the stairwell and reminded him about his sin in persecuting the Christians. The Emperor got frightened but gaining his composure, he told other guards to tie Sebastian, beat him with clubs until death and throw him into the sewers of Rome. The order was immediately executed and Sebastian’s body was pierced with many arrows that he looked like an urchin, a sea creature with hard and long spines. His dead body was found by a certain Lucina, who gave it a proper burial at the entrance of the catacombs of Rome. Some 80 years later, his body was
transferred to a basilica in Rome and his relics were claimed by many believers. St. Sebastian was proclaimed patron of soldiers. He is also patron of athletes due to the fact that his first punishment from the emperor was to make him a target for soldiers learning to shoot an arrow. It was like a game
which amused the pagan soldiers. He is usually depicted tied to a tree and pierced by arrows. Because of his holy life, he is also invoked as protector against bubonic and other plagues. His feast day is January 20.
Virtue: piety, humility, courage, fortitude, charity and patience
Prayer: “St. Sebastian, you showed your great fortitude in witnessing to your Christian faith, pray for us that we
may have the courage and joy to live as true Christians.”
