Brother,
I'm glad you're here.
My name is Saint Sebastian; the world calls me "The Dauntless Christian" for my fearlessness and determination in proclaiming Jesus Christ is Lord; In a time when it was a crime to be a follower of Christ.
I was born AD 255 in Milan and martyred in AD 288 at the age of 32 years old during the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians.
In the 4th century, one of my fellow Dauntless Christian brothers, Doctor of the Church Saint Ambrose, in his sermon (number 22) on Psalm 118 spoke of my Martyrdom and military background.
Captain of the Imperial Guard
For 5 years I held the office of "Captain of the Imperial Guard."
My men and I were the elite of the elite; think of us as the "Special Forces" of modern times. Our unit not only ensured the emperor’s personal safety. We also served as a key political power brokers and functioned as "kingmakers" by overthrowing and appointing new emperors. Many of the things my unit did, I am not proud of. Which is why I'm no longer with them.
I was martyred because I leverage my office, elite rank, and authority to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Eucharist, to those imprisoned by Diocletian.
Double Martyrdom
I am often depicted in art and literature tied to a post or tree and shot through with arrows. What many do not know is, I suffered double martyrdom.
After I confronting Diocletian and confessing to being a Christian, he sentenced me to death by firing squad; at the hands of my own comrades--the Praetorian. After performing this evil, they assumed I was dead; and so did everyone else who heard of my martyrdom. But... I survived.
Saint Irene of Rome
After sunset a Christian woman named Irene (now, Saint Irene of Rome) crept into the Praetorian camp to retrieve my body to give me a Christian burial. Instead of carrying me to the catacombs for burial, Irene brought me back to her house where she and her servant began to clean me up.
As they were cleaning me, I groaned. After overcoming her shock that I was still alive. Together, with her servant, she nursed me to health.
As soon as my strength returned, I went off to confront Diocletian, once again, and call him to repentance.
The Second Confrontation
I found the emperor on the steps of the imperial palace and called him to repentance and to turn to Christ.
Furious that I was still alive, Diocletian demanded of his entourage, “Did I not sentence this man to be shot to death with arrows?” But I answered for the emperor’s courtiers.
“The Lord kept me alive so I could return and rebuke you for treating the servants of Christ so cruelly.”
This time the emperor took no chances, he ordered his guard to beat me to death there on the palace steps, while he watched.
Cloaca Maxima
After being beaten to death (following my survival of the firing squad by arrows), the Praetorian guard threw my body into the Cloaca Maxima, which was the main sewage system in ancient Rome. This was done to prevent my veneration as a martyr. That's right, brother. They threw my body into a sewer.
My body was later recovered by my Christian brothers and buried in a catacomb upon which now lies the Basilica of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura (St. Sebastian outside the Walls). This minor basilica, built in the 4th century, in Rome located on the Appian Way has been dedicated to me and where my remains are preserved to this day.
It is one of Rome’s 7 traditional pilgrim churches.
There are numerous Dauntless Christians around the world who seek my intersession. It is through them that this blog is written in the hopes of helping other men become dauntless for Christ and better lead their family and the world at large.
Here is a prayer my patrons hold fast to in their most dire, physical, needs:
St. Sebastian, the Dauntless Christian, may my physical body be as strong as your faith in Christ.
Say this prayer devoutly, and I will be with you.
There is an apostolate--a religious and evangelical ministry--operating, in my name, in the world today.
They are called: "The Order of the Dauntless Christian Brothers."
If you would like for them to pray for you, you can contact them here.
Your brother in Christ,
St. Sebastian "The Dauntless Christian"