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 Saint 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.]
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