By Sr Lini Sheeja MSC –
“The devil strains every nerve to secure the souls that belong to Christ. We should not grudge any toil in wresting them from Satan and giving them back to God,” said St Sebastian, an early Christian Saint and Martyr whose feast day is celebrated on 20 January.
Early Life and Life as Soldier
St Sebastian was born at Gaul, Narbonne, France in 256 AD. He was the son of a wealthy Roman family and educated in Milan. He was an officer of the Imperial Roman army and became captain of the guard. He was the favourite of Emperor Diocletian. He became a soldier in the Roman army in 283 and as he distinguished himself for his excellent service he was promoted to serve in the Praetorian Guard to protect Emperor Diocletian (Roman emperor from 284 to 305).Sebastian was named captain in the Praetorian Guards (a unit of the Imperial Roman army that served as personal bodyguards and intelligence agents for the Roman emperors) by Emperor Diocletian.
Mission in Prison
During Diocletian’s persecution of the Christians, Sebastian visited them in prison, bringing supplies and comfort.St Sebastian brought many people to Christ in the prison while guarding them, and performed many miracles. He healed the wife of a brother soldier by making the Sign of the Cross over her. He converted soldiers and a governor.
Firm Faith behind Prison Walls
While serving as a Praetorian Guard, Marcus and Marcellian, twin brothers, were imprisoned for refusing to make public sacrifices to the Roman gods. The brothers were deacons of the Christian Church.They were from a distinguished family and were both married, living in Rome. The two brothers refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and were arrested. They were visited in prison by their father and mother, Tranquillinus and Martia, who persuaded them to renounce Christianity. Sebastian encouraged Marcellian and Marcus, death row prisoners, to remain firm in their faith and he converted Tranquillinus and Martia too. Sebastian made numerous converts: among them were the master of the rolls, Nicostratus, who was in charge of prisoners and his wife, Zoe, a deaf mute whom he cured; the jailer Claudius; Chromatius, Prefect of Rome, whom he cured of gout; and Chromatius’ son, Tiburtius. Chromatius set the prisoners free, freed his slaves, and resigned as prefect.
Death Sentence
Emperor Diocletian and Emperor Maximian did not know that Sebastian was a Christian. When the fact was discovered he was brought before the Emperor Diocletionin in 286. The Emperor, who was already infamous for ordering the deaths of hundreds of Christians, scolded Sebastian and ordered him to be killed by having him tied to a stake on a training field and used as target practice. Diocletion handed him over to the Mauritanian archers to be shot to death. The Archers riddled his body with arrows, his body was described as, “full of arrows as an urchin.” Believed to be dead, the archers left his body for retrieval and burial. He was recovered by Irene of Rome, whose Christian husband was a servant to Diocletian and also martyred. Irene discovered that Sebastian was still living and she hid him and nursed him back to health.Some of her other residents wanted proof he was a Christian, among whom was a little blind girl. Sebastian asked her, “Do you wish to be with God”, and made the sign of the Cross on her head. She said “yes” and immediately regained her sight.
Miracle from Milan’s Saint
The details of St Sebastian’s martyrdom were first spoken of by the 4th century Bishop Ambrose of Milan, now St Ambrose. According to St Ambrose, St Sebastian was a man who was taught in Milan and appointed as a captain of the Praetorian Guard under Diocletian and Maximian, who were unaware that he was a Christian. He was said to have cured a woman of her muteness, simply by his presence. 78 people were converted instantly when this happened.
Death Sentence – Once again
Once well, Sebastian went in search of Diocletian to surprise him. He managed to catch Diocletian by a stairwell and proceeded to criticize him loudly and publically for his persecution of the Christians. Diocletian was surprised that Sebastian was still alive and was taken aback for a moment but soon recovered his composure. This time, he would not permit Sebastian to escape with his life. He ordered his former guard to beat him to death with clubs and then have him thrown into the sewers. He died in 288 AD. In an apparition St Sebastian appeared to a Christian widow and told her where they might find his body. He asked that it be found and told her to bury it “at the catacombs of the Apostles”. St Sebastian’s remains are currently housed in Rome in the “Basilica Apostolorum”, built by Pope Damasus I, on the provisional tomb of St Peter and St Paul. Because St Sebastian was thought to have been killed by arrows, but miraculously didn’t die, but later was killed by the same Emperor by being beaten to death, he is often referred to as the Saint who was martyred twice.
Patron Saint
St. Sebastian is ordinarily depicted as a handsome youth pierced by arrows. He is the patron saint of athletes because of his physical endurance and his energetic way of spreading and defending the Faith. Saint Sebastian is a popular male saint, especially today among athletes. Sebastian is also patron to all soldiers. In medieval times, he was regarded as a saint with a special ability to intercede for protection from plagues, and devotion to him greatly increased when any plague was active. He is patron of archers, athletes, and soldiers, and is appealed to for protection against plagues. He is also patron saint to those who desire a saintly death.
St Sebastian and Black Death
In times of plague and pestilence following the fall of the Roman Empire, great devotion to Saint Sebastian emerged. Because his intercession to God contributed to the cure of the Roman Prefect, Sebastian became widely associated with the cure of plagues, especially in cities throughout the Italian Peninsula. During the 14thcentury, the random nature of infection with the Black Death caused people to liken the plague to their villages being shot by an army of nature’s archers. In desperation they prayed for the intercession of a Saint associated with archers, and Saint Sebastian became associated with the plague.
Symbol of St Sebastian
He is commonly depicted in art and literature tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows. The artistic depiction of St Sebastian is considered symbolic of the virtues and gifts of strength, stamina, perseverance, courage and justice in the face of adversity.
St Sebastian – The Courageous Warrior
After having recovered, when the opportunity presented, he accosted the emperor denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. Again, he was sentenced to death and beaten to death with clubs. St Sebastian’s life demonstrates his courage and love for Jesus Christ. He valued fidelity to Christ higher than any worldly honour.
Festal Blessings
Nothing prevented St Sebastian in proclaiming God and in speaking the truth; not even death sentence. Let this be the same in our lives as we celebrate St Sebastian’s Feast today on 20 January 2022. Let nothing prevent us in proclaiming God who came down and lived among us. Let nothing prevent us in speaking the truth. Our Redeemer was not spared. Our innocent God who came down to redeem us was mocked, tortured, whipped, given bitter vinegar to drink, his clothes torn, was nailed and finally crucified. Our Church from the time of its inception has been persecuted but never has it stopped growing. Hence not even the anti-conversion bill can stop our Church from growing. More the persecution, more the grace! More the suppression, more the growth! Festal Blessings of St Sebastian to all the readers. Let us be courageous warriors in God’s kingdom and embrace martyrdom if the grace is given to us.
Sr Lini Sheeja MSC belongs to the Congregation of Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Great sr sebastian pray for us 🇺🇸 🙏