St. Sebastian

Their story

Sebastian is one of the best-loved martyrs of the early Church, though most of what we know about him comes from tradition. He was a Christian who lived in Rome in the late third century, during the persecution of the emperor Diocletian. He was honored in Rome from very early times, and St. Ambrose mentions him in the fourth century. He was buried on the Appian Way, where a church built over his tomb still bears his name. According to the story handed down, Sebastian was an officer in the Roman army who kept his faith secret so that he could encourage Christians who had been imprisoned and strengthen them to stay faithful. When he was discovered, the emperor ordered him to be tied to a post and shot with arrows. He was left for dead, but a Christian widow named Irene came to bury him and found him still alive. She took him home and nursed him back to health. Instead of fleeing, Sebastian went back to confront the emperor and urge him to stop persecuting Christians. This time Diocletian had him beaten to death, around the year 288. Because he survived the arrows, Christians in later centuries prayed to him for protection during outbreaks of plague. He is also a patron of soldiers, athletes and archers. His courage reminds us that faith is not only something to keep safe, but something to share and to live boldly.