St. Sebastian
by Raphael |
St. Sebastian
was an officer in Rome in 283. Emperor Diocletian named him Commander of
the Praetorian Guard, unaware that he had became a Christian. Sebastian
sustained the courage of two imprisoned confessors, Mark and Marcellian,
as well as other Christian prisoners. He did not conceal his faith and was
arrested and sentenced to death by being shot with arrows. Irene, the widow
of St. Castulus the martyr, took the still breathing Sebastian to a safe
place and treated his wounds. Once cured, Sebastian defied the Emperor once
again; this time he was stoned. He is buried in a catacomb near Via Appia.
After Peter and Paul, Sebastian is the third patron of Rome. He is also
the patron saint of gunsmiths and is invoked against plague and epilepsy.
He is often depicted with an arrow, or arrows, in his body. |
