Today we have the option of celebrating the memorials of two
martyrs: St. Sebastian, a lay person martyred in the persecutions in Rome in
the third century under the emperor Diocletian, and Pope Saint Fabian, who was
martyred when the Emperor Decius decreed that all Christians must offer a
sacrifice to the pagan gods, and killed the ones that wouldn’t.
Little is known historically about St. Sebastian, yet
depictions of his martyrdom are vast. The legends state that Saint Sebastian
was a Christian who joined the Roman army and would secretly visit the
Christians who were arrested and sentenced
to death, so he could give them comfort and encouragement. He was discovered, and sentenced to death by
the Emperor himself; he was to be put to death by being shot with arrows. He was shot at by numerous archers. But miraculously, he did not die.
Artistic depictions always show him standing by a Roman
column with arrows sticking out of him. Another
saint, Saint Irene nursed him back to health.
One day, Sebastian heard that the Emperor was going to be passing
by. When he did, Sebastian denounced the
Emperor for his cruelty to Christians.
This time the sentence of death was carried out, and he was beaten to
death with clubs. His relics are kept at
the Basilica of St. Sebastian in Rome, though his head is in the famous church
of the Four Crowned Martyrs.
Here is a martyr of tremendous courage and
perseverance. Perhaps this is why he is
the patron saint of Athletes. His courage
and perseverance from 1700 years ago has left a lasting impression on history,
and reminds us of the greatness that Christians are capable of and called to.
Pope Saint Fabian was Pope from 236 to 250 AD. 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 to become the next pope. This was a great consolation since the
previous Pope Pontian had died while exiled and imprisoned because of his faith
in the desolate prison of Sardenia.
Fabian organized greater care for the poor in Rome and the
flock began to grow again after a terrible persecution. Yet, along came the new Emperor Decius, who
decreed that all Christians were to deny Christ, and forced them to worship
pagan idols. Many stood firm in their
faith, suffering torture and death, one of the first of which was Pope
Fabian. Arrested, he was thrown in
prison and died at the hands of his brutal captors. He is buried in the cemetery of
Calixtus. But later his body was brought
to the basilica of St. Sebastian in Rome
These early saints made such a tremendous impact upon the
Church. The stories remind us of the
faith and courage that Christians are capable of and called to. The Opening prayer presents the martyrs as a
model for us because of their “spirit of fortitude” which gave them strength to
offer their lives in faithful witness.
In all of the challenges of living in this modern age, with
the example and prayers of the saints and martyrs, may we be given that same
spirit of fortitude in our witness to Christ for the glory of God and salvation
of souls.
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