Saint Sebastian - Novena Prayers for today's Problems
Saint Sebastian - for Athletes and Soldiers
Saint of Athletes and Soldiers
Saint Sebastian, Patron Saint of athletes (runners),
archers, soldiers and pin-makers. Saviour against pestilence and plague.
According to historians Sebastian was a man of Gallia Narbonensis (born at Narbonne in Gaul) who was taught in Milan and appointed as a captain of the Praetorian Guard under Diocletian and Maximian, who were unaware he was a Christian.
Sebastian was known for having encouraged in their faith two Christian prisoners due for martyrdom, Mark and Marcellian, who were bewailed and entreated by their family to forswear Christ and offer token sacrifice.
According to tradition, twin brothers Mark and Marcellian were deacons from a distinguished family and were both married, living in Rome with their wives and children. The brothers refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and were arrested.
Their father and mother, Tranquillinus and Martia, visited them in prison and attempted to persuade them to renounce Christianity.
Sebastian converted Tranquillinus and Martia, as well as Saint Tiburtius, the son of the local prefect Chromatius. Nicostratus, another official, and his wife Zoe were also converted by Sebastian. As the legend goes Zoe had been a mute for six years, however she made known to Sebastian her desire to be converted to Christianity. As soon as she had, her speech returned to her.
Chromatius and Tiburtius also converted; Chromatius set all of his prisoners free from jail, resigned his position, and retired to the country in Campania. Mark and
Marcellian, after being concealed by a Christian named Castulus, were later martyred, as were Nicostratus, Zoe, and Tiburtius.
Diocletian reproached Sebastian for his supposed betrayal, and commanded him to be led to the field, bound to a stake to be shot at. It is described as: the archers shot at him till he was as full of arrows as an urchin, leaving him there for dead.
Miraculously, the arrows did not kill him.
The widow of Castulus, Irene of Rome, went to retrieve his body to bury it, and found he was still alive. She brought him back to her house and nursed him back to health.
The other residents of the house doubted Sebastian was a Christian. One was a blind girl. Sebastian asked her "Do you wish to be with God?", and made the sign of the Cross on her head. As soon as she had uttered the word "Yes", she immediately regained her sight.
When Sebastian attempted to preach to Diocletian, the emperor ordered that he be beaten to death.
Because Sebastian had been thought to have been killed by the arrows, and yet was not, and then later was killed by the same emperor who had ordered him shot, he is
sometimes known as the saint who was martyred twice.
In Roman Catholicism, Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes, the patron saint of archers and also the patron of soldiers, because he was a centurion, a leader of a hundred Roman soldiers.
He is commemorated by an optional memorial on 20 January. In the Church of Greece, Sebastian's feast day is on 18 December.
Saint Sebastian, Patron Saint of athletes (runners),
archers, soldiers and pin-makers. Saviour against pestilence and plague.
According to historians Sebastian was a man of Gallia Narbonensis (born at Narbonne in Gaul) who was taught in Milan and appointed as a captain of the Praetorian Guard under Diocletian and Maximian, who were unaware he was a Christian.
Sebastian was known for having encouraged in their faith two Christian prisoners due for martyrdom, Mark and Marcellian, who were bewailed and entreated by their family to forswear Christ and offer token sacrifice.
According to tradition, twin brothers Mark and Marcellian were deacons from a distinguished family and were both married, living in Rome with their wives and children. The brothers refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and were arrested.
Their father and mother, Tranquillinus and Martia, visited them in prison and attempted to persuade them to renounce Christianity.
Sebastian converted Tranquillinus and Martia, as well as Saint Tiburtius, the son of the local prefect Chromatius. Nicostratus, another official, and his wife Zoe were also converted by Sebastian. As the legend goes Zoe had been a mute for six years, however she made known to Sebastian her desire to be converted to Christianity. As soon as she had, her speech returned to her.
Chromatius and Tiburtius also converted; Chromatius set all of his prisoners free from jail, resigned his position, and retired to the country in Campania. Mark and
Marcellian, after being concealed by a Christian named Castulus, were later martyred, as were Nicostratus, Zoe, and Tiburtius.
Diocletian reproached Sebastian for his supposed betrayal, and commanded him to be led to the field, bound to a stake to be shot at. It is described as: the archers shot at him till he was as full of arrows as an urchin, leaving him there for dead.
Miraculously, the arrows did not kill him.
The widow of Castulus, Irene of Rome, went to retrieve his body to bury it, and found he was still alive. She brought him back to her house and nursed him back to health.
The other residents of the house doubted Sebastian was a Christian. One was a blind girl. Sebastian asked her "Do you wish to be with God?", and made the sign of the Cross on her head. As soon as she had uttered the word "Yes", she immediately regained her sight.
When Sebastian attempted to preach to Diocletian, the emperor ordered that he be beaten to death.
Because Sebastian had been thought to have been killed by the arrows, and yet was not, and then later was killed by the same emperor who had ordered him shot, he is
sometimes known as the saint who was martyred twice.
In Roman Catholicism, Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes, the patron saint of archers and also the patron of soldiers, because he was a centurion, a leader of a hundred Roman soldiers.
He is commemorated by an optional memorial on 20 January. In the Church of Greece, Sebastian's feast day is on 18 December.
Blessed
Saint Sebastian
your
belief in God
made you
a soldier
of the faith.
Your
example
converted
others.
Let me face
my battles
with your determination.
Novena Prayers for today's Problems
Saint Sebastian prayer pack is designed
for those who need the
Power of Prayer to help
face their personal battles
in life.
This is a Novena to
Saint Sebastian
who taught others
about the love of
God and brought them
to the faith of the
Lord.
He was a soldier, an athlete and a
man who dedicated himself to
reading the word of God.
The Novena can be prayed
over nine hours (one per hour)
or over nine days (one per day).
Saint Sebastian
your
belief in God
made you
a soldier
of the faith.
Your
example
converted
others.
Let me face
my battles
with your determination.
Novena Prayers for today's Problems
Saint Sebastian prayer pack is designed
for those who need the
Power of Prayer to help
face their personal battles
in life.
This is a Novena to
Saint Sebastian
who taught others
about the love of
God and brought them
to the faith of the
Lord.
He was a soldier, an athlete and a
man who dedicated himself to
reading the word of God.
The Novena can be prayed
over nine hours (one per hour)
or over nine days (one per day).
