According to his legend,
Sebastian was born at Narbonne,
Gaul. He became a soldier in
the Roman army at Rome in
about 283, and encouraged
Marcellian and Marcus, under
sentence of death, to remain
firm in their faith. 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.
Sebastian was named captain
in the praetorian guards by
Emperor Diocletian, as did
Emperor Maximian when
Diocletian went to the East.
Neither knew that Sebastian
was a Christian. When it was
discovered during Maximian's
persecution of the Christians
that Sebastian was indeed a
Christian, he was ordered
executed. He was shot with
arrows and left for dead, but
when the widow of St. Castulus
went to recover his body, she
found he was still alive and
nursed him back to health.
Soon after, Sebastian
intercepted the Emperor,
denounced him for his cruelty
to Christians, and was beaten
to death on the Emperor's
orders.
Saint Sebastian was
venerated at Milan as early as
the time of St. Ambrose and
was buried on the Appian Way.
He is patron of archers,
athletes, and soldiers, and is
appealed to for protection
against plagues.
[He is patron saint of
athletes because of his
physical endurance and his
energetic way of spreading and
defending the Faith. Sebastian
is also patron to all
soldiers. He entered the Roman
army under Emperor Carinus in
283 in order to defend the
confessors and martyrs of his
day without drawing attention
to himself. His efforts kept
the Faith of Marcus and
Marcellian firm during their
persecutions, right up to the
time of their martyrdom. He
was declared patron of plague
sufferers of his reported
cures of those afflicted with
many diseases.]
Reflection:
The devil strains every nerve
to secure the souls which
belong to secure the souls
which belong to Christ .We
should not grudge our toil in
wresting them from Satan,and
giving them back to God.
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