Other than the fact that St. Sebastian may have been from southern France and received his education in Milan, nothing is known about his early years. In 283 A.D. he enlisted in the Roman Army, supposedly to help fellow Christians persecuted by the Romans. As a result of his exceptional service, St. Sebastian was elevated to the position of Praetorian Guard, which he used to defend Emperor Diocletian.

Twin brothers Marcus and Marcellian were imprisoned while serving as Praetorian Guards because they refused to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods in public. The brothers served as Christian Church deacons. Their parents came to visit them while they were incarcerated and pleaded with them to give up Christianity. But St. Sebastian persuaded both parents to become Christians. In addition, St. Sebastian converted the local prefect and several other notable people.

This resulted in his discovery, and in 286 Emperor Diocletian was informed that he was a Christian. The Emperor reprimanded Sebastian and ordered his execution by having him chained to a stake on a training field and used as target practice. The Emperor was already notorious for ordering the deaths of hundreds of Christians.

Archers pelted his torso with arrows; he was said to be "full of arrows as an urchin." The archers thought he was dead and left his body to be retrieved and buried. He was found by Irene of Rome, whose Christian husband served Diocletian, and was also murdered. After learning that Sebastian was still alive, Irene took him in and helped him recover.

To surprise Diocletian, Sebastian went in search of him. After successfully capturing Diocletian via a stairwell, he publicly and angrily criticized him for persecuting Christians. Diocletian was shocked to learn that Sebastian was still alive, but he quickly regained his composure. He decided he would not let Sebastian get away with his life this time. He gave the order to dump Sebastian into the sewers after beating him to death with clubs.

A Christian woman named Lucina found his body and buried him in secret in the catacombs under Rome.

Around 367, nearly 80 years after his passing, Pope Damasus I had his remains transferred to a basilica in Rome. According to reports, his body—or at least some of its relics—was taken and given to a group of monks in France. In 934, his skull was brought to a monastery in Germany and placed in a unique silver container. In a special reliquary in Ebersberg, the relic is still in its case today.

Many people prayed to St. Sebastian to protect them from the plague. Historical accounts state that in 680 he defended Rome from the plague. His association with the epidemic could be because he survived being shot full of arrows, and in pagan religion, the disease was delivered by arrows shot by gods above.

Usually chained to a tree or post, St. Sebastian is portrayed in artwork with arrows thrown into his torso. There is hardly any depiction of his second execution.

St. Sebastian is revered as the patron saint of soldiers, athletes, and those who desire a saintly death.

Other Saints of the Day
St. Abadios
St. Fabian
St. Molagga
St Neophytus
St. Eustochium Calafato