5 Saint Sebastian Things that Caught My Eye Today

1.

Statue of today's Saint Sebastian being martyred and crowned in glory, from Amiens Cathedral https://t.co/8ApEavnm5z

— Fr Lawrence Lew OP (@LawrenceOP) January 20, 2016

2.

The ceiling of the Basilica of St. Sebastian on the Appian Way in Rome, one of the ancient Station Churches. pic.twitter.com/Oh5YwstLuv

— Franciscan U (@FranciscanU) January 20, 2016

3. From an exposition of Psalm 118 by Saint Ambrose in the Liturgy of the Hours today:

To enter the kingdom of God we must endure many tribulations. If there are many persecutions, there are many testings; where there are many crowns of victory, there are many trials of strength. It is then to your advantage if there are many persecutors; among many persecutions you may more easily find a path to victory.

Take the example of the martyr Sebastian, whose birthday in glory we celebrate today. He was a native of Milan. At a time when persecution either had ceased or had not yet begun or was of a milder kind he realized that there was only one slight, if any, opportunity for suffering. He set out for Rome, where bitter persecutions were raging because of the fervor of the Christians. There he endured suffering; there he gained his crown. He went to the city as a stranger and there established a home of undying glory. If there had been only one persecutor, he would not have gained a martyr’s crown.

The persecutors who are visible are not the only ones. There are also invisible persecutors, much greater in number. This is more serious. Like a king bent on persecution, sending orders to persecute to his many agents, and establishing different persecutors in each city or province, the devil directs his many servants in their work of persecution, whether in public or in the souls of individuals. Of this kind of persecution Scripture says: All who wish to live a holy life in Christ Jesus suffer persecution. “All” suffer persecution; there is no exception. Who can claim exemption when the Lord himself endured the testing of persecution? How many there are today who are secret martyrs for Christ, giving testimony to Jesus as Lord! The Apostle knew this kind of martyrdom, this faithful witnessing to Christ; he said: This is our boast, the testimony of our conscience.

4.

St. Sebastian is patron of athletes. With his help, may all who participate in sports be protected and use their talents for God's glory.

— Bishop Burbidge (@BishopBurbidge) January 20, 2016

5.

Happy feast of St. Sebastian! Our @LEGO_Group re-creation of his attempted martyrdom, from the archives: pic.twitter.com/BeaGE3i1dH

— Matt Swaim (@mattswaim) January 20, 2016