SAINT SEBASTIAN

Feast Day - January 20

Lived (c. 256 –  January 20, 287)

Patron Saint of Athletes

Very little is known historically certain about Sebastian but, what's more certain is that he was a Roman martyr.

He was venerated in Milan even in the time of Saint Ambrose. After his death, devotion to him spread rapidly.

In art, the legend of Sebastian is important, and there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree to a pious fable that Sebastian entered the Roman Army because only there could he assist the martyrs without arousing suspicion. At last, he was found out, brought before Emperor Diocletian and delivered to Mauritanian Archers to be shot to death. His body was pierced with several arrows, and he was left for dead. But he was found still alive by those who came to bury him. He recuperated, but refused to flee.

One day he stood at a position near where the Emperor was to pass. He accosted the Emperor, denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. This time the sentence of death was carried out. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs. He was buried on the Appian Way, close to the catacombs bearing his name.