Learn About the Saint Sebastian

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Learn About the Saint Sebastian Saint of the Week Series Feast Day: January 20 Symbol: arrows Patronage: Athletes, Soldiers, and Plague Victims Death: 288 CE Saint Sebastian Not much known about Sebastian’s birth or early childhood. What we do know about Sebastian comes from Saint Ambrose of Milan, the city that he allegedly came from, whether that be by birth or in his military training. He was recorded as joining the Roman Army from there in 283 CE as a practicing, but secret, Christian, as Christianity was illegal at this time. He served in the Proletarian Guard under Emperor Diocletian, a notorious anti-Christian. In his time serving in the army, Sebastian helped many Christians who were being persecuted. Notably, during his time serving on the Proletarian Guard, Marcus and Marcellian were revealed to be Christian deacons when they refused to make sacrifices to the Roman Gods. Their parents came to visit them as they awaited execution to convince them to renounce their Christian God in order to save their own lives. Rather than the two giving into temptation, Sebastian converted the parents to Christianity. Three years into his service in the military, Sebastian was discovered to be a Christian by the Emperor. Emperor Diocletian immediately ordered his arrest and for him to be murdered by being tied to a stake and used for target practice. Though he was hit with many, many arrows and assumed to be dead, he was covered by Irene of Rome, who hid him while he recovered from his many wounds. Eventually, Sebastian was well enough to leave, and he set out to find the Emperor in order to criticize him for his anti-Christian practices. After being chastised by the saint and surprised that he was still alive, Emperor Diocletian ordered for his execution yet again, this time to be beaten to death with clubs and then thrown into the sewer. Sebastian died at this time in 288 CE, and his body was buried with many other martyrs in the catacombs beneath Rome. After being invoked to protect Rome against the plague in 680 CE, many years after his death, he became known as a protector against plagues. Many Romans who invoked his name during the Bubonic plague were miraculously healed or spared all together. This reputation can also be traced to symbology surrounding the arrows he was shot with, as the people of the time considered plagues to be “arrows of pestilence shot from the gods”. He is also known as the patron saint of soldiers, athletes, and martyrs due to his courage and resilience facing both battle and the Emperor to confront him. Biographical Information gathered from CatholicOnline.com Photo from https://wp.en.aleteia.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/02/web3-saint-sebastian-of-vienna-andrea-mantegna- wiki.jpg?quality=100&strip=all .
Recommended publications
  • Saint Sebastian
    SAINT SEBASTIAN In his semi-autobiographical novel Confessions of a Mask, the Japanese writer Yukio Mishima described his sexual awakening as a young boy when he came upon a reproduction of the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, a painting by the late Renaissance artist Guido Reni. The event is transferred to the fictional narrator, but recalled the actual event that had proved so formative for Mishima. A remarkably handsome youth was bound naked to the trunk of a tree. His crossed hands were raised high, and the thongs binding his wrists were tied to the tree. No other bonds were visible, and the only covering for the youth's nakedness was a coarse white cloth knotted loosely about his loins... Were it not for the arrows with their shafts deeply sunk into his left armpit and right side, he would seem more a Roman athlete resting from fatigue... The arrows have eaten into the tense, fragrant, youthful flesh, and are about to consume his body from within with flames of supreme agony and ecstasy.' The boy's hands embarked on a motion of which he had no experience; he played with his 'toy': "Suddenly it burst forth, bringing with it a blinding intoxication... Some time passed, and then, with miserable feelings I looked around the desk I was facing... There were cloud-splashes about... Some objects were dripping lazily, leadenly, and others gleamed dully, like the eyes of a dead fish. Fortunately, a reflex motion of my hand to protect the picture had saved the book from being soiled. The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian would prove to be a pivotal theme in Mishima’s life and art to which he would return time and time again.
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  • The Powers of Horror in “The Love Song of St. Sebastian”
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  • Saint Sebastian
    Saint Sebastian This article is about the Christian saint and martyr. For the United States Navy ship, see USS St. Sebastian (SP-470). “Saint Sebastien” redirects here. For other uses, see Saint-Sébastien (disambiguation). Saint Sebastian (died c. 288) was an early Christian saint and martyr. He was killed during the Roman em- peror Diocletian's persecution of Christians. He is com- monly depicted in art and literature tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows. Despite this being the most com- mon artistic depiction of Sebastian, he was, according to legend, rescued and healed by Irene of Rome. Shortly af- terwards he criticized Diocletian in person and as a result was clubbed to death.[1] He is venerated in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The details of Saint Sebastian’s martyrdom were first spoken of by 4th-century bishop Ambrose of Milan (Saint Ambrose), in his sermon (number 22) on Psalm 118. Ambrose stated that Sebastian came from Milan and that he was already venerated there at that time. Saint Sebastian is a popular male saint, especially among soldiers.[2][3] 1 Life Saint Sebastian Interceding for the Plague Stricken,[4] Josse Lieferinxe, 1497–1499, The Walters Art Museum According to Sebastian’s 18th century entry in Acta Sanc- torum,[5] still attributed to Ambrose by the 17th century hagiographer Jean Bolland, and the briefer account in the then brought the rest of the prisoners; these 16 persons 14th century Legenda Aurea, he was a man of Gallia Nar- were also converted by Sebastian.[6] bonensis who was taught in Milan and appointed a captain Chromatius and Tiburtius converted; Chromatius set all of the Praetorian Guard under Diocletian and Maximian, of his prisoners free from jail, resigned his position, and who were unaware that he was a Christian.
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  • Saint Sebastian SAINT SEBASTIAN PARISH CENTER Clergy Woodside, New York Mr
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    19669 Saint Sebastian France, Lorraine 1450 – 75 60.1 x 19.7 x 18.2 cm; limestone, the figure has lost its arms and legs, its face and torso suffered from damage, which reveals that this figure was violently separated from its original context, probably as a result of iconoclasm. A figure of Saint Sebastian depicted with pudding-bowl haircut, a melancholic face and youthful features. He stands nude, covered only by a loincloth, and his body scarred with empty holes left by arrows the resultant wounds bleeding from the effects of the thick wooden darts. Original polychromy is still found throughout the sculpture, most notably below the wound on the left side of his torso, which spews red blood. The figure is bound by rope to a trunk of a tree, which survives in good condition behind the figure. The style of the figure is related to sculptures from Lorraine from the second half of the fifteenth century, where there was a fusion of late French Gothic art with that of German art. It relates in style to an Entombment group in the Chapel of Saint-Nicholas, Neufchâteau or to the head of Mary Magdalene, now in the Louvre (fig. 1). The small eyes, with a lowered gaze, and the smooth straight hair find close analogies with our sculpture. Sebastian can also be compared to sculpture from Pont- Saint-Vincent in Lorrainesuch as the angel from the church of Saint Julien (fig. 2). Here the figure is rendered with the same degree of realism and with a similar sense of solemnity befitting of the subjects they depict.
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  • 127-San Pietro in Vaticano.Pages
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  • Building & Grounds Update>>>
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  • Saint Sebastian and the Black Death, Vesalius, IV, 1, 23 - 30,1998
    Saint Sebastian and the Black Death, Vesalius, IV, 1, 23 - 30,1998 Saint Sebastian and the Black Death Summary The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian is one of the most enduring themes in Western religious art. The execution scene so often portrayed - with the Saint transfixed with arrows - is based on the legend about his life and death during the reign of the Roman emperor, Diocletian. However, it is the symbolic association of arrows with the Black Death - during the Middle Ages and during the Renaissance - which identifies Sebastian as the patron saint of plague victims. After more than four centuries of recurrent epidemics, the plague died out in Europe; but the image of St Sebastian continued to inspire artists until the end of the 19th century. Résumé Le martyre de Saint Sébastien est un des thèmes les plus dominants et persistants de l'art religieux de la civilisation occidentale. Cette scène si souvent reproduite, montrant Saint Sébastien percé de flèches, est basée sur la légende de sa vie et de sa mort pendant le règne de l'empereur romain Diocletien. C'est l'association symbolique des flèches avec la grande peste du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance qui identifie Saint Sébastien comme patron des victimes de la peste. Après quatre siècles d'épidémies cycliques, la peste disparut du continent Européen, mais l'image de Saint Sebastien continua à inspirer les artistes jusqu'à la fin du XIX siècle. Almost every major art gallery, world-wide, Sebastian: Iconography has at least one painting of St Sebastian. He is usually depicted as a martyr, bound to a stake, The earliest representation of Sebastian is column, or tree - and pierced with arrows (note thought to be a bas relief in the crypt of the 1).
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  • Pestilence and Prayer Saints and the Art of the Plague in Italy from 1370 - 1600
    University of Central Florida STARS HIM 1990-2015 2012 Pestilence and prayer saints and the art of the plague in italy from 1370 - 1600 Jessica Ortega University of Central Florida Part of the Art and Design Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses1990-2015 University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in HIM 1990-2015 by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Recommended Citation Ortega, Jessica, "Pestilence and prayer saints and the art of the plague in italy from 1370 - 1600" (2012). HIM 1990-2015. 1367. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses1990-2015/1367 PESTILENCE AND PRAYER: SAINTS AND THE ART OF THE PLAGUE IN ITALY FROM 1370 - 1600 by JESSICA MARIE ORTEGA A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Honors in the Major Program in Art History in the College of Arts and Humanities and in The Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Fall Term 2012 Thesis Chair: Dr. Margaret Zaho ABSTRACT Stemming from a lack of scholarship on minor plague saints, this study focuses on the saints that were invoked against the plague but did not receive the honorary title of plague patron. Patron saints are believed to transcend geographic limitations and are charged as the sole reliever of a human aliment or worry. Modern scholarship focuses on St. Sebastian and St. Roch, the two universal plague saints, but neglects other important saints invoked during the late Medieval and early Renaissance periods.
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  • Novena to St Sebastian January 11
    NOVENA TO ST SEBASTIAN JANUARY 11 — JANUARY 19 San Sebastian Catholic Church 1112 State Road 16 St. Augustine, Florida 32084 NINTH DAY Reflection: “I have come that you may have life, life in abundance.” PRAYER FOR EVERY DAY Diocletian goes down in history as a great emperor; but to the Christian true glory does not lie in earthly power. St. Sebastian Merciful Father, remains in eternity a hero, whom God has crowned with glory. may the glorious intercession He is not dead and remembered only by name, as Diocletian is, but he lives in the Church, he lives in the hearts of the Christians of Your blessed martyr Saint Sebastian who venerate him. be our protection. To his honor churches and altars have been erected all over the Bless our parish, named in his honor world. Diocletian once believed he could stamp out the memory and placed under his protection. of Sebastian. God stood in the way of his evil plans and sided with Sebastian, His martyr, whom He honored and crowned with glory. Grant all that we ask for in these days of prayer in preparation for his feast, We ask God’s blessing on our parish. according to your will, We pray for the intentions of all who have prayed this novena in honor of St. Sebastian. through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Prayer: St. Sebastian, holy Patron, in heavenly glory and joy do not forget us, who carry on the mission of Christ through the Church.
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