St. Sebastian

10 Thursday 15th January, 2009 The Island Religion poor and strengthening the weak unto taken aback when the former guard martyrdom. He found the twin brothers berated the Emperor for his callous Marcus and Marcellianus in prison and treatment of the Christians. when they were near yielding to the Recovering from his stupor, Emperor St. Sebastian: entreaties of their relatives, encouraged Diocletian gave orders to beat him to them to despise flesh and blood, and to death with cudgels and his body thrown die for Christ. He was also God’s instru- into the common sewer. He crowned ment in conversion and cure of their his labour by the merit of a double mar- crippled father, Tarquillinus. tyrdom in 288. Zoe, the wife of Nicostratus, who lost A pious lady,called Lucina, the use of speech by palsy in her admonished by the martyr in a vision, A Saint with a tongue, fell at his feet and spoke dis- got it privately removed, and buried it tinctly after he made the sign of the in the catacombs at the entrance of the cross on her mouth. She with her hus- cemetery of Calixtus. A church was band Nicostratus, who was afterwards built over his relics by Pope Master of the Rolls, the parents of Damasus, which is one of the ancient Marcus and Marcellianus, the jailer stationary churches at Rome. Claudius, and sixteen other prisoners, Vandelbert, St. Ado, Eginard, Sigebert Healing Touch were converted and Nicostratus, took and other contemporary authors relate the prisoners to his own house, where that, in the reign of Louis Debonnair, By Commodore Shemal Polycarp, a holy priest, instructed and Pope Eugenius II gave the body of St. Fernando, baptized them. Sebastian to Hilduin, Abbot of St. Chromatius, Governor of Rome, Denys, who brought it into France, and RSP, USP,MSc being informed of this, and that it was deposited at St. Medard’s at Tranquillinus, the father of Saints Soissons, on the 8th of December in aint Sebastian is undoubtedly one Marcus and Marcellianus had been 826. A basilica in memory of St. of the most illustrious martyrs cured of the gout by receiving baptism, Sebastian now stands by the Appian Shonoured and venerated by the desired to be instructed in the faith, Way of Rome. Catholic Church. He belongs to the being himself grievously affected with class of Military Martyrs of early the same distemper. Accordingly,hav- SHRINE IN KANDANA Christian Church and his intercession ing sent for Sebastian, he was cured by A Catholic shrine, the object of a pil- is sought by many Sri Lankans. After him, and baptized with his son grimage, is God’s work. Divine ways are the Saints Peter and Paul, St. Sebastian Tiburitius. St. Sebastian by healing the very different from human ways. To do is the third ‘Patron of Rome’. He is also Governor Chromatius of paralysis didst something great, God chooses generally the ‘Patron Saint of Soldiers’ as he turn his heart from his idols and went the weak and the ignorant of this world, entered the Roman Army in order to on to obtain freedom to the slaves of who are apparently unfit. His work defend the confessors and martyrs of Chromatius and the light of faith to all starts in small and insignificant way; his day and for his goodness and brav- his people. the start is full of tears and bitter strug- ery. Further, he is the ‘Patron Saint of God confirmed his words by miracle: gles. When it is on the verge of annihi- Athletes’ due to his physical endurance light shone around him while he spoke; lation He interferes and makes His and energetic ways of spreading and he cured the sick by his prayers; and in mighty arm manifest. And to the mar- defending the Faith. this divine strength he led multitudes to vel! St. Sebastian is the refuge of the faith. He saw his disciples die The beginning of the shrine at Catholics in times of sickness and pesti- before him, and one of them came back Kandana is somewhat obscure. The lences and is considered the saint unto from Heaven to tell him that his own story which had been handed down to whom God has granted power over all end was near. It was in a contest of fer- us by tradition reveals that there exist- diseases. Many countries stricken with vour and charity that St. Sebastian ed a small chapel with a thatched roof plagues and other diseases had been found the occasion of martyrdom. The around 1798 in a place called Uswatte. protected through the intercession of Prefect of Rome, after his conversion, And it is said an unknown person set it St. Sebastian. In the year 680, Rome was retired to his estates in Campania and on fire and destroyed the chapel and freed from a raging pestilence by his took a great number of his fellow-con- escaped. Thereafter, a permanent and patronage. Later, in 1575, Milan and in verts with him to this place of safety. substantial church had been construct- 1599, Lisbon as well as many other It was a contest of zeal, out of a ed. places have experienced the effects of mutual desire of martyrdom, between Some years later whilst discussions his intercession with God on their St. Sebastian and the priest Polycarp, were on regarding identifying a saint behalf in similar calamities. which of them should accompany this for dedication of the church, a business- St. Sebastian is popularly known as troop, to complete their instruction, and man from a distant place had brought a the ‘Most Sweet Flower of Narbonne’ which should remain in the city to statue of a saint for sale. As the vendor and as the ‘Glory of the City of encourage and assist the martyrs, was determined to fetch a good price for Milan’. He lived as a glorious scion of a which latter was the more dangerous the statue, he had delayed the auction to noble house and his exalted pattern province. St. Austin wished to see such the following day and had slept. of Christian virtues earned him many contests of charity amongst the minis- Surprisingly the businessman had laurels. His pure soul was pleasing to ters of the church. Pope Caius, who disappeared by the following morning kings whilst his intrepid valour pleased was appealed to, judged it most proper and only the statue had been there. The God Almighty. His power to grant that Sebastian should stay in Rome as a people of the area had moved this stat- favours and work miracles is a well defender of the church. ue of St. Sebastian to the newly con- known fact all over the world. The A DOUBLE MARTYRDOM structed church and dedicated the name of St. Sebastian is invoked in St. Sebastian ever zealous for the church to St. Sebastian. The miracu- almost every Catholic household with spreading of the faith didst boldly lous image now enshrined pious fervor and great confidence. preach Jesus Christ before the Emperor magnificently in the shrine is said to be tion. He has made elaborate arrange- ter able, without suspicion, to Diocletian. History reveals that when he the identical statue discovered in the FEAST AT KANDANA ments to conduct his maiden feast in a assist the confessors and martyrs in was finally discovered to be a devout manner narrated. In the liturgical calendar of the befitting manner following the rich tra- their sufferings, he went to Rome about Christian in 286, he was handed over to The church that stands today was Catholic Church, the feast of Saint ditions. He has focused the eight nove- the year 283 and entered the Army the Mauritanian archers at the constructed over a hundred years ago Sebastian is celebrated on nas preceding the feast to instill the under the Emperor Carinus. Emperor’s command. He was steadfast under the auspicies of Rev. Fr. Joachin January 20th and our thoughts are par- true values of sacraments amongst the Emperor Diocletian named him in the faith while the body being bound Albaarthu, a missionary from Goa. And ticularly drawn to the hallowed shrine thousands of devout Catholics who will Commander of the Praetorian Guard, to a tree and was pierced with a shower during that era the hamlets of Nagoda, dedicated to St. Sebastian in throng to the historical shrine. The unaware that he had become a of arrows and left to die. But God Ragama, Tudella, Kaleliya, Wawela, Kandana. The devotion of Catholics to Vespers on January 19th will be graced Christian. As an officer in the Roman raised him up again. Irene, the widow Weligampitiya, Midellavita, Batagama, this shrine, down the years has always by the Archbishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. imperial he had secretly done many of St. Castulus, going to bury him, Dehiyagatha and Kanuwana too fell been so fervent, that for generations Dr. Oswald Gomis whilst the Festive acts of love and charity for his found him still alive, and took to her under the heroic missionaries who they have not failed to celebrate the High Mass on January 20th will be brethren in the Faith. His devotion to lodgings, where by care she nursed worked relentlessly for God and the sal- annual feast. This shrine through presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop duty,his courage and his efficiency Sebastian back to health, insisting he vation of souls. which many favours have been received of the Archdiocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Marius earned for him the praise and esteem of remain in hiding to seek safety else- The feast of St.

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