Saint Sebastian

BY MICHAEL DRAMBEL
Life of Saint Sebastian

Birth date is not recorded but believed to die around 288 AD

According to his legend, he was born in Gaul, and later traveled
to Rome
In 283, Sebastian entered the army in Rome under Emperor
Carninus to assist the martyrs.
Due to his courage, he became one of the captains of the
Praetorian Guards under Diocletian, who did know Sebastian was
a Christian
Sebastian converted many soldiers to Christianity
Life of Saint Sebastian Continued

Sebastian probably is a Saint because of converting soldiers to

Christianity and being a Christian Martyr.
Diocletian ordered Sebastian to be killed by arrows.
The arrows killed Sebastian until a Christian widow nursed him
back to health
Diocletian condemned him to death by beating and his body was
thrown in a sewer.
Extra Information

A pious woman was able to find the body of Sebastian in a sewer

who dreamed of him telling her to bury his remains in the Basilica
of San Sebastiano
Sebastians martyrdom became a favorite subject of Renaissance
artists
He was often depicted as a handsome young man pierced by
arrows.
Contribution to the Church

Sebastians main contribution was converting several soldiers to

Christianity
Saint Sebastian is the Patron Saint of archers, soldiers, and pin
makers
He is the patron saint of soldiers because he was a centurion and
a leader of a hundred Roman soldiers
He is the patron saint of archers because he shot by arrows that
stuck deeply into his body.
Connection to Eucharist.

Sebastian made a sacrifice of converting Christians knowing he

would be murdered if official found out.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice dying on the cross for our sins
Sebastian was killed because of his actions and beliefs for
Christianity.
Jesus and Sebastian both made sacrifices for the church
Prayer to Saint Sebastian

Dear Commander at the Roman Emperors Court, you chose to be

also a soldier of Christ and dared to spread faith in the King of
Kings for which you were condemned to die. Your body,
however, proved athletically strong and the executing arrows
extremely weak. So another means to kill you was chosen and
you gave your life to the Lord. May athletes be always as strong
in their faith as their Paton Saint so clearly has been. Amen