stsebastian – AnaStpaul

"Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 January – Blessed are you who are poor

Posted on January 20, 2023January 20, 2023 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 20 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus” – St Fabian, Pope, and St Sebastian – Martyrs – Hebrews 11:33-39, Luke 6:17-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 6:20

REFLECTION – “Blessed,” He says, “are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3). It would perhaps be doubtful what poor He was speaking of, if in saying “blessed are the poor ” He had added nothing which would explain the sort of poor and then, that poverty by itself, would appear sufficient to win the Kingdom of Heaven, which many suffer from, hard and heavy necessity. But when he says “blessed are the poor in spirit,” He shows that the Kingdom of Heaven must be assigned to those who are recommended by the humility of their spirit, rather than, by the smallness of their means.

Yet it cannot be doubted, that this possession of humility is more easily acquired by the poor than the rich: for submissiveness is the companion of those, who want, while loftiness of mind dwells with riches. Notwithstanding, even in many of the rich, is found that spirit which uses its abundance, not for the increasing of its pride but on works of kindness and counts that for the greatest gain, which it expends in the relief of others’ hardships. It is given to every kind and rank of men, to share in this virtue, because men may be equal in will, though unequal in fortune and it does not matter, how different they are in earthly means, who are found equal in spiritual possessions. Blessed, therefore, is poverty which is not possessed with a love of temporal things and does not seek to be increased with the riches of the world but is eager to amass heavenly possessions.” – St Leo the Great (400-461) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 95, PL 54, 461).

PRAYER – Be mindful of our weakness, Almighty God and since the burden of our sins weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of Thy holy Martyrs, Fabian and Sebastian sustain us. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

MARIAN TITLES, MARTYRS, SAINT of the DAY

Notre-Dame-des-Tables / Our Lady of the Tables, “Arms of the City of Montpellier” (1198), St Fabian, Pope Martyr, St Sebastian, Martyr and Memorials of the Saints – 20 January

Posted on January 20, 2023January 19, 2023 by AnaStpaul

Notre-Dame-des-Tables / Our Lady of the Tables, Montpellier, France “Arms of the City of Montpellier” (1198) – 20 January:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/20/our-lady-of-the-tables-montpellier-france-and-memorials-of-the-saints-20-january/

St Pope Fabian (c 200 – c 250) Martyr, Confessor, Peacemaker, Administrator and Reformer, Apostle of Charity. Bishop of Rome from 10 January 236 until his death in 250, succeeding Anterus. He is famous for the miraculous nature of his election, in which a dove is said to have descended on his head to mark him as the Holy Spirit’s unexpected choice. He was succeeded by Cornelius.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-pope-fabian-c-200-c-250-martyr/

St Sebastian (Died c 288) Martyr, Roman Soldier.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-sebastian-died-c-288/

Saint Henry of Uppsala (Died c 1156) Martyr, Bishop of Uppsala, (then in eastern Sweden), Missionary. Born in England and died struck with an axe in c 1156 at Nousis, Finland.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-saint-henry-of-uppsala-died-c-1156-martyr/

St Ascla of Antinoe
St Basilides the Senator
St Bassus the Senator
Blessed Benedict Ricasoli (Died 1107) Monk, Hermit
Bl Bernardo of Poncelli
Bl Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi
St Daniel of Cambron
Bl Didier of Thérouanne
St Eusebius the Senator

St Euthymius (c 377–473) Abbot, Hermit, Ascetic, founder of Monasteries, spiritual teacher.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-saint-euthymius-c-377-473/

St Eustochia Smeraldo Calafato OSC (1434-1485) Nun of the Second Franciscan Order of the Poor Clares, Reformer, Founder of a reformed Monastery, Abbess, Ascetic.
Her Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-eustochia-smeraldo-calafato-osc-1434-1485/

St Eutyches the Senator
St Fechin of Fobhar
St Molagga of Fermoy
St Neophytus of Nicaea (Died c 303) Martyr, Lay Youth.
St Wulfsi

MARIAN TITLES, MARTYRS, SAINT of the DAY

Notre-Dame-des-Tables / Our Lady of the Tables, Montpellier, France “Arms of the City of Montpellier” (1198) and Memorials of the Saints – 20 January

Posted on January 20, 2022January 19, 2022 by AnaStpaul

St Pope Fabian (c 200 – c 250) Martyr, Confessor. Bishop of Rome from 10 January 236 to his death in 250. (Memorial)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-pope-fabian-c-200-c-250-martyr/

St Sebastian (Died c 288) Martyr, Roman Soldier. (Memorial)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-sebastian-died-c-288/

St Euthymius (c 377–473) Abbot, Hermit, Ascetic, founder of Monasteries, spiritual teacher.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-saint-euthymius-c-377-473/

St Eutyches the Senator
St Fechin of Fobhar
Bl Francesco Paoli
Saint Henry of Uppsala (Died c 1156) Bishop, Martyr
Bl Jeroni Fábregas Camí
St Maria Cristina dell’Immacolata Concezione
St Molagga of Fermoy
St Neophytus of Nicaea
St Stephen Min Kuk-ka
St Wulfsin

MARIAN TITLES, MARTYRS, SAINT of the DAY

Notre-Dame-des-Tables / Our Lady of the Tables, Montpellier, France (1198) and Memorials of the Saints – 20 January

Posted on January 20, 2021January 19, 2022 by AnaStpaul

Notre-Dame-des-Tables / Our Lady of the Tables, Montpellier, France “Arms of the City of Montpellier” (1198) – 20 January:
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Tables is intimately linked to the history of the city of Montpellier. It is located on the outskirts of town at Montpellier, France. The Shrine is said to have taken its name from the many tables of merchants and money changers who stood about the Church in the Middle Ages, for the Church was a stopping point for pilgrims to pray while on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

There once stood, at this site, a very ancient, renowned Church containing a shrine of Mary – the Blessed Virgin Mary holding her Son in her arms, extended over the City, so to say. She stood upon a byzantine pedestal or table and was fondly called the “Arms of the City of Montpellier.” In 1198, there were a series of miracles connected to devotion to the statue and attributed to Our Lady. The feast dates from the ninth Century and is annually celebrated on 20 January. The final destruction of the ancient Church of Our Lady of the Tables, built in 1230 and known as Arms of the City of Montpelier, occurred during the French Revolution and now only the wreck of the Crypt and burial vaults remain.

This Statue housed at the Shrine was a famous Statue of black wood – Notre-Dame-des-Tables. In an attempt to preserve it during the Protestant uprisings the icon was hidden for a long time within a silver Statue of the Blessed Virgin, life-size and screened from the public view. It was stolen by the Calvinists and has since disappeared from history.
The original Church was destroyed by the revolutionaries but the current Basilica was begun, after the French Revolution had ended and the cult transferred to a Jesuit chapel. The Jesuit Church of Montpellier, Notre Dame des Tables, was begun in 1707. Although the statue has disappeared, the people of Montpellier believe Mary still extends her arms over the children of the city, as mentioned above. Her arms of love wield miraculous power, for she is the Mother of God.

St Pope Fabian (c 200 – c 250) Martyr (Optional Memorial)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-pope-fabian-c-200-c-250-martyr/

St Sebastian (Died c 288) Martyr (Optional Memorial)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-sebastian-died-c-288/

St Ascla of Antinoe
Bl Basil Anthony Marie Moreau
St Basilides the Senator
St Bassus the Senator
Bl Benedict Ricasoli
Bl Bernardo of Poncelli
Bl Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi
St Daniel of Cambron
Bl Didier of Thérouanne
St Eusebius the Senator
St Eustochia Calafato
St Euthymius (c 377–473) Abbot, Hermit
St Eustochia Smeraldo Calafato OSC (1434-1485)
Her Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-eustochia-smeraldo-calafato-osc-1434-1485/
St Eutyches the Senator
St Fechin of Fobhar
Bl Francesco Paoli
Bl Jeroni Fábregas Camí
St Maria Cristina dell’Immacolata Concezione
St Molagga of Fermoy
St Neophytus of Nicaea
St Stephen Min Kuk-ka
St Wulfsin

MARTYRS, SAINT of the DAY

Memorials of the Saints – 20 January

Posted on January 20, 2020January 19, 2020 by AnaStpaul

St Pope Fabian (c 200 – c 250) Martyr (Optional Memorial)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-pope-fabian-c-200-c-250-martyr/

St Sebastian (Died c 288) Martyr (Optional Memorial)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-sebastian-died-c-288/

St Ascla of Antinoe
Bl Basil Anthony Marie Moreau
St Basilides the Senator
St Bassus the Senator
Bl Benedict Ricasoli
Bl Bernardo of Poncelli
Bl Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi
St Daniel of Cambron
Bl Didier of Thérouanne
St Eusebius the Senator
St Eustochia Calafato
St Euthymius the Great
St Eustochia Smeraldo Calafato OSC (1434-1485)
St Eutyches the Senator
Fechin of Fobhar
Bl Francesco Paoli
St Henry of Uppsalla
Bl Jeroni Fábregas Camí
St Maria Cristina dell’Immacolata Concezione
St Molagga of Fermoy
St Neophytus of Nicaea
St Stephen Min Kuk-ka
St Wulfsin

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 January – The first sign of Mercy: Cana – John 2:1–11

Posted on January 20, 2019January 20, 2019 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 20 January – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – The first sign of Mercy: Cana – John 2:1–11

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him....John 2:11

REFLECTION – “The miracle by which our Lord Jesus Christ changed water into wine is not at all astonishing to those who know that God is its author. Indeed, it is exactly the same thing which produced wine in those six jars on that wedding day … and which renews this transformation in the vines each year. That which the servants poured into the jars was changed into wine by the action of the Lord; in the same way the rain that falls from the clouds is changed into wine through the same action of the Lord. And yet we do not wonder at it because it is repeated every year; custom has caused astonishment to disappear. Yet it is far more worthy of our attention than what took place in the jars filled with water.
Indeed, who is there who dreams of considering the work of God who directs and governs the whole world? Isn’t that person then seized with astonishment and as it were crushed beneath the weight of these miracles? If they consider the power enclosed within a single seed of the first species to come, they will discover a great reality there that astounds the observer. But people, otherwise occupied, have become insensible to the works of God, which would daily provide motives for praising the Creator. This is why God reserves to Himself the work of certain unusual wonders, so as to awaken them from their sleepiness and lead them to praise Him.”…St Augustine (354-430)

PRAYER – Almighty God, ruler and creator of all things in heaven and on earth, listen favourably to the prayer of Your people. Open our eyes that we may see, open our ears that we may hear, open our hearts that we may love Your glory, manifest around us in all the great deeds of Your Word. Grant us love and peace in our day and may the prayers of Your Saints and Martyrs, lead us home to You. St Pope Fabian and St Sebastian pray for us! We make our prayer through Your Son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen. st pope fabian pray for us no 2 - 20 jan 2019

st-sebastian-pray-for-us-20-jan-2018

MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 20 January – The Memorial of St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)

Posted on January 20, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 20 January – The Memorial of St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)

By contemplating death, we focus our minds on how better to live, so that when the moment comes–as it does for all of us–we need not be afraid or ashamed of our nakedness in the sight of God, as our first parents were, in the rebellion of original sin, which brought death into the world.
As the ancient saying commands us, memento mori, remember that you must die.
How we live our lives, will determine, whether we will join with the saints, in the victory of Christ over death. Indeed, the saints are excellent examples for us, of how to live–and how to die–with grace, love and forgiveness.

St Sebastian, Martyr for Christ, Pray for us! (The Image is the Bernini Statue in the Vatican) st sebastian - pray for us no 2- 20 jan 2018

MARTYRS, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – – 20 January – The Memorial of St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)

Posted on January 20, 2018January 20, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – – 20 January – The Memorial of St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)

“Last Words”

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”

St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)
(Last words addressed to his executioners)

“If all the swords in England were pointed
against my head, your threats would not move me.
I am ready to die for my Lord,
that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace.”

St Thomas à Becket, Martyr (1118-1170)
(Last words addressed to his murderers)

“Long live Christ the King!”
“Viva Cristo Rey!”

Blessed Miguel Pro, Martyr (1891-1927)
(Last words addressed to his executioners)

“This is my last hour of life, listen to me attentively:
if I have held communication with foreigners,
it has been for my religion and for my God.
It is for Him that I die.
My immortal life is on the point of beginning.
Become Christians if you wish to be happy after death
because God has eternal chastisements in store
for those who have refused to know Him.”

St Andrew Kim Taegon, Martyr (1821-1846)
(Last words addressed to his murderers)

MARTYRS, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY

One Minute Reflection – 20 January – The Memorial of St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)

Posted on January 20, 2018January 20, 2018 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 20 January – The Memorial of St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)

What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? …No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.…Romans 8:35,37-39 romans 8-35,37-39

REFLECTION – “From the very beginning of the life of the Church, Christians have always believed that the blood of martyrs is a seed for Christians, as Tertullian said. Today too, in a dramatic way, the blood of a great number of Christian martyrs continues to be shed on the field of the world,with the certain hope that will bear fruit in a rich harvest of holiness, justice, reconciliation and love of God. But we must remember that one is not born a martyr. Archbishop Romero remarked, ‘We must be willing to die for our faith, even if the Lord does not grant us this honour. … Giving life does not only mean being assassinated; giving life, having the spirit of martyrdom, means offering it in silence, in prayer, in the honest fulfillment of one’s duty; in this silence of everyday life, giving life a little at a time.’”...Pope Francis 30 October 2015 but we must remember that one - pope francis - 20 jan 2018

PRAYER – Grant us, Lord, the spirit of fortitude. Teach us, by the example of St Sebastian, to render obedience, to you rather than to men and by his prayer, may we gain courage in the face of evil. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. st sebastian - pray for us - 20 jan 2018

sebastian-2-pray for us 2017

A HOLY DEATH & AGAINST A SUDDEN DEATH, of the DYING, DEATH of CHILDREN, DEATH of PARENTS, PATRONAGE - against EPIDEMICS, PATRONAGE - BUILDERS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, PATRONAGE - GARDENERS, FARMERS, PATRONAGE - POLICE, SOLDIERS, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 20 January – St Sebastian (Died c 288)

Posted on January 20, 2018January 19, 2023 by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 20 January – St Sebastian Martyr, Roman Soldier. He was born in Milan and was Martyred in c 288. Patronages – against cattle disease, against plague/epidemics and the victims, dying people, against enemies of religion, archers, armourers,arrowsmiths, athletes, bookbinders, fletchers, gardeners, gunsmiths, hardware stores,ironmongers, lace makers, lace workers, lead workers, masons, police officers, racquet makers, soldiers, stone masons, stonecutters, Pontifical Swiss Guards, Bacolod, Philippines, Diocese of, Tarlac, Philippines, Diocese of, 22 Cities. St Sebastian was Martyred during the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians. He is commonly depicted in art and literature tied to a post or tree and shot through with arrows. Despite this being the most common artistic depiction of Sebastian, he was rescued and healed by St Irene of Rome. Shortly afterwards he went to Diocletian to warn him about his sins and as a result, was clubbed to death. The details of Saint Sebastian’s Martyrdom were first spoken of by the 4th Century Bishop, the beloved and revered Doctor of the Church St Ambrose in his sermon (number 22) on Psalm 118. St Ambrose stated that Sebastian came from Milan and that he was already venerated there at that time.

Saint_Sébastien_Fabriano_Musée_de_Lille_130108 SOD-0120-SaintSebastian-790x480

Although there is no doubt that there was a Roman martyr named Sebastian and that devotion to him dates back to the fourth century, the earliest surviving life of the saint was written a century or more after his death. According to this story Sebastian was a Praetorian, a member of an elite troop of soldiers who served as the emperor’s bodyguard. When Emperor Diocletian began his persecution of the Church, Sebastian used his status to visit Christians in prison. This was dangerous business and it was not long before he was denounced to the emperor.

Enraged that one of his own bodyguards was a Christian, Diocletian ordered the Praetorians to take Sebastian back to their camp and shoot him to death with arrows. After performing this deadly evil on their former comrade, the Praetorians assumed that Sebastian was dead. So did everyone else who heard of his martyrdom. sebastian statue

After sunset a Christian woman named Irene crept into the Praetorians’ camp to retrieve the body and give it a Christian burial. As Irene and her serving woman cut Sebastian down, they heard him groan. Incredibly, he was still alive. st-sebastian-tended-by-st-irene Regnier, Nicolas, c.1590-1667; St Sebastian Tended by the Holy Irene

Instead of carrying him to the catacombs for burial, Irene brought Sebastian back to her house where she and her servant nursed him. As soon as his strength returned, Sebastian went off to confront Diocletian. He found the emperor on the steps of the imperial palace. Furious that his former bodyguard was still alive, Diocletian demanded of his entourage, “Did I not sentence this man to be shot to death with arrows?” But Sebastian answered for the emperor’s courtiers. He had been made a target for archers, “But the Lord kept me alive so I could return and rebuke you for treating the servants of Christ so cruelly.”

This time the emperor took no chances, he ordered his guard to beat Sebastian to death there on the palace steps, while he watched. 800px-tytgadt_-_martyrs_death_of_st_sebastian1

Once he was certain that Sebastian truly was dead, Diocletian had the martyr’s body dumped into the Cloaca Maxima, Rome’s main sewer. Nonetheless, Christians recovered it and buried Sebastian in a catacomb known ever since as San Sebastiano. RomaSanSebastiano sebastian - Andrea Boscoli

MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 20 January

Posted on January 20, 2017January 20, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 20 January

Many saints, like St Sebastian, are merely names in history and little is known of their lives and their deaths. But something of their example remained aglow in the memories of their contemporaries, who passed on their stories to future Christians. They are remembered for their heroic witness to Christ – that is what is treasured – they express the very substance of the faith, and their names are immortal.

St Sebastian Pray for us!

St Fabian Pray for us!

st-pope-fabian-jan-20 st-sebastian-jan-20 sebastian-2

MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 January

Posted on January 20, 2017January 20, 2017 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 20 January

May the Lord….make you overflow with love for one another and for all……….1 Thes 3:12

REFLECTION – “The means for attaining perfect love is to accomplish frequent acts of love.
Fire is kindled by the wood that we cast into it and love is enkindled by acts of love.”……..St Alphonsus Liguori

PRAYER – Loving Father, grant me the grace to strive after perfect love. Help me to bring forth frequent acts of love so that I may grow in this greatest of virtues, even if, like St Sebastian, through my love for others, I should suffer and die for You. St Sebastian Pray for us, amen!
1-thes-3-12 the-means-for-attaining-perfect-love pray-for-us-st-sebastian

SAINT of the DAY

Saint/s of the Day – 20 January – Fabian & Sebastian

Posted on January 20, 2017January 19, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Saint/s of the Day – 20 January – Fabian & Sebastian

Fabian was a pope, and Sebastian was believed to be a soldier. Both were faithful to Christ until death. The traditional story told about Saint Sebastian is that he was an army officer who was condemned to death for his belief in Jesus. His fellow soldiers shot him with arrows. Surviving this, he was clubbed to death.

More is known about Saint Fabian (born c200-250) who was pope in 236 during unstable political times. Philip, an ambitious and ruthless man, killed Emperor Maximus and made himself emperor. Later, he regretted his behavior and changed the government policy from persecution of Christians to tolerance for them. For the first time, being a Christian was legal but peace for the Christians did not last long. Philip was killed by his lieutenant, Decius, who became the next emperor. Decius believed that his empire could be saved only if the pagan customs of ancient Rome were restored. He sent an edict that commanded the death penalty for all who would not give up their following of Christ. Pope Fabian eagerly died for the faith. Following his example, many Christians died as martyrs, though many others denied their faith in Christ.

220px-saint_fabian1

St Sebastian (c256-287) – Captain of the Praetorian Guard, Roman Soldier and Martyr – Patron of against cattle disease, against plague, diseased cattle, dying people, plague victims, against enemies of religion, of archers, rmourers, arrowsmiths, athletes, bookbinders, letchers, gardeners, gunsmiths, hardware stores, ironmongers, lace makers, lace workers, lead workers, masonary workers, police officers, racquet makers,
soldiers, stone masons, stonecutters, Pontifical Swiss Guards, World Youth Day 2013,
Bacolod, Philippines, diocese of Tarlac, Philippines, 21 cities

St Sebastian is one of the great heroes of the early Church and has been venerated since his death during the Great Persecution of Diocletian. According to St Ambrose, he was born in Narbonne, in France but was raised in Milan. The persecution began under Decius continued under Diocletian and the days were difficult for Christians. This was in the final throes of the Roman Empire to stamp out Christianity and it failed, in fact is strengthened.

131029691288fb5eb308d48c66351305 — Andrea Boscoli

Little is known with certainty about Sebastian’s life except that he came from Milan, the fact that he was a soldier and some of the details of his martyrdom. An early account of his martyrdom is that he was shot with arrows by his fellow soldiers but recovered through the ministrations of fellow Christians, in particular St Irene. Once he regained health, Sebastian stood by a staircase where the emperor was to pass and harangued Diocletian for his cruelties against Christians. This freedom of speech and from a person whom he supposed to have been dead, greatly astonished the emperor; but, recovering from his surprise, he gave orders for his being seized and beat to death with cudgels and his body thrown into the common sewer. A pious lady, called Lucina, admonished by the martyr in a vision, got it privately removed and buried it in the catacombs at the entrance of the cemetery of Calixtus, where now stands the Basilica of St. Sebastian.

429px-sodoma_003 — *Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian*, by Il Sodoma, c. 1525

Sebastian was said to be a defense against the plague. The Golden Legend transmits the episode of a great plague that afflicted the Lombards in the time of King Gumburt, which was stopped by the erection of an altar in honour of Sebastian in the Church of Saint Peter in the Province of Pavia.

An ancient window in the Cathedral of Strasbourg shows him as a knight with a sword and shield and he has long been invoked as the patron of soldiers, with St Martin of Tours. Because of the legend of his being pierced with arrows, he is the patron of archers.

His name has always been linked with that of St Fabian, Pope and Martyr.

800px-tytgadt_-_martyrs_death_of_st_sebastian — Tytgadt

screen-shot-2015-06-16-at-8-01-14-pm — Unknown

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St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288) (Last words addressed to his executioners)

St Thomas à Becket, Martyr (1118-1170) (Last words addressed to his murderers)

Blessed Miguel Pro, Martyr (1891-1927) (Last words addressed to his executioners)

St Andrew Kim Taegon, Martyr (1821-1846) (Last words addressed to his murderers)

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St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)
(Last words addressed to his executioners)

St Thomas à Becket, Martyr (1118-1170)
(Last words addressed to his murderers)

Blessed Miguel Pro, Martyr (1891-1927)
(Last words addressed to his executioners)

St Andrew Kim Taegon, Martyr (1821-1846)
(Last words addressed to his murderers)