Died: c. 288

Nationality: possibly French, Roman citizen

Vocation: Martyr

Attributes: Arrows, Roman soldier's garb

Patronage: of soldiers, athletes, and those who desire a saintly death

Canonization: pre-congregation

Little is known about the early life of St. Sebastian. Legend has it that he grew up in southern France before joining the Roman Army 283 to help protect other Christians from persecution. He thought that, undercover he could serve them much more than if he did so outright. He was a model soldier and was soon promoted to serve in the Praetorian Guard to protect Emperor Diocletian.

Tradition holds that he was able to convert many to Christianity during his time as a guard. He was, however, ultimately discovered. Emperor Diocletian, furious, ordered him to be tied to a post and used as target practice for the military. Stuck with so many arrows witnesses claim he was “as full of arrows as an urchin,” Sebastian was left stuck to the post. He was, remarkably, still alive. A future martyr and faithful Christian woman Irene, nursed him back to health. 

Once recovered, Sebastian confronted Diocletian in a stairwell, condemning the emperor’s persecution of Christians. The emperor was shocked, but recovered quickly and ordered Sebastian’s death (again.) This time, the holy martyr was beaten severally until he died, then his body was left in a ditch, where it was collected by holy Christians and preserved. 

“St. Sebastian was commonly invoked as a protector against the plague,” Catholic Online states. “According to historical records, he defended the city of Rome against the plague in 680. His association with the plague could be because he survived being shot full of arrows and in pagan belief, pestilence was delivered by arrows shot by the gods above. Even Christian Romans would appreciate this symbolism. That symbolism is even captured in artwork as late as the Renaissance, where artists painted plague victims with black arrows in their body.”

St. Sebastian, pray for us!