Our Patron • St. Sebastian, the Martyr ...

The images of St. Sebastian with which we are familiar are those of a young man tied to a post and wounded by numerous arrows. Tradition tells us he was a Roman soldier, a member of the Praetorian Guard, and a Christian Convert. We are told that St. Sebastian exhorted Christians sentenced to death to remain firm, and we are told that he made many converts, among them a Roman Governor.

When it was discovered he was a Christian Sebastian was condemned to death by Emperor Diocletian. As an officer of the Praetorian Guard, he was condemned to be executed by the Mauritanian Archers. Miraculously, he survived his brush with death, and was nursed back to health by St. Irene. Once he recovered, he bravely appeared before Emperor Diocletian and again publicly denounced him for his cruelty to Christians. For this, the Emperor ordered him beaten to death.

St. Ambrose spoke of St. Sebastian as an explanation of Psalm 118, which is read on his feast day, January 20th. He said: "He was a native of Milan. He set out for Rome where bitter persecutions were raging because of the fever of the Christians. There he endured suffering; there he gained the crown. He went to the city as a stranger and there established a home of undying glory."

St. Sebastian chose the law of God over the law of man. In our prayers we ask for the same spirit of courage which gave Sebastian strength to offer his life in faithful witness. We also ask for help to cherish God's law when it conflicts with the law of man. This is a meaningful prayer for us since God's law governing the sanctity of life are ignored in human laws. To oppose such laws takes the courage of a martyr.

May Almighty God give us the strength to imitate St. Sebastian ‘s example of courage and faith.

Click the picture above to dedicate a memorial mass

Parish Communities

Prayers

Contact Us

Links

Multimedia 

RCC Radio

RCC Blog

RCC Video

This Site and Its Contents, Copyright ©2004-2007 BC Redd for The Reformed Catholic Church. All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer:  The Unauthorized use of the name The Reformed Catholic Church is a violation of copyright & trademark laws. Federal Trademark #77377344.

Only those individuals or communities included on this website are officially recognized as validly ordained clergy, lay leadership or authorized member parishes of

The Reformed Catholic Church.   If you want to use any art on this site, please ask first! Contact the Webmaster