St. Sebastian & Pope St. Fabian (20 January): Courage to Suffer Anything For God

Summary

The video script recounts the stories of Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian, two early Church martyrs. Fabian, a wealthy Roman, was unexpectedly elected Pope when a dove landed on his shoulder, seen as a divine sign. Despite his initial lack of clerical status, he proved to be an excellent leader, restoring catacombs and establishing minor orders. Sebastian, a soldier who rose to head the praetorian Guard, covertly aided martyrs and openly preached Christianity, leading to widespread conversions. Despite surviving an execution by arrows, he continued his mission until he was finally martyred. Both stories exemplify unwavering faith and courage, emphasizing the virtue of piety and the willingness to sacrifice for one's beliefs.

Takeaways

• 🕊️ Saint Fabian was elected Pope after a dove landed on his shoulder, which was seen as a sign of the Holy Ghost.
• 👑 Saint Fabian wasn't a priest at the time of his election but was quickly ordained as priest, bishop, and pope.
• 🛠️ As Pope, Saint Fabian initiated the restoration of the catacombs and helped further establish minor orders in the Church.
• 🩸 Saint Fabian's martyrdom details are uncertain, but he is known for suffering for the faith.
• ⚔️ Saint Sebastian was a soldier who secretly assisted martyrs before rising to lead the Praetorian Guard, a prestigious military position.
• 🏛️ Saint Sebastian boldly ministered to imprisoned Christians, using his high rank to preach openly, converting many, including city officials and their households.
• 💥 Saint Sebastian was sentenced to death by arrows, but he survived the ordeal and was nursed back to health by a Christian woman named Irene.
• 👻 After surviving his first execution attempt, Saint Sebastian confronted the emperor again, causing shock and disbelief.
• 🔨 This time, Saint Sebastian was beaten to death with rods, and his body was thrown into a sewer but later rescued and buried.
• ⛪ A church, the Basilica of San Sebastiano, was built on the site of Saint Sebastian's burial, honoring his sacrifice and courage.

Q & A

Who was Saint Fabian and why is he significant?

Saint Fabian was a Pope in the early church, elected due to a dove landing on his shoulder, which was seen as a sign from the Holy Ghost. He was significant because he was not a priest before his election but became a priest, bishop, and Pope all at once. He was known as an excellent Pope who helped establish minor orders and initiated work on restoring the catacombs.

What was the approximate time period when Saint Fabian lived?

Saint Fabian lived around the year 230 to 240 AD.

What did Saint Fabian do to help the early Christian community?

Saint Fabian helped further establish the minor orders and initiated work on restoring the catacombs, which were in need of upkeep due to their frequent use.

What is meant by 'white martyrdom' in relation to Saint Fabian?

White martyrdom refers to a form of martyrdom where a person suffers for their faith but does not die as a result. It is suggested that Saint Fabian may have suffered in this way.

Who was Saint Sebastian and what was his role in the early church?

Saint Sebastian was a soldier who secretly assisted martyrs and eventually became the head of the praetorian Guard. He openly assisted martyrs, preached the faith, and was known for his courage and devotion to God.

How did Saint Sebastian's high rank help him in his mission?

Saint Sebastian's high rank as the head of the praetorian Guard allowed him to boldly enter prisons and minister to prisoners without much opposition, as people were in awe of his position and military attire.

What miracle is associated with Saint Sebastian?

Saint Sebastian survived being shot to death with arrows, an event that led to the conversion of many, including the magistrate's wife who was healed of her palsy when Sebastian touched her.

What happened to Saint Sebastian after he was shot with arrows?

Saint Sebastian was left for dead but was found alive by a holy woman named Irene, who nursed him back to health.

Why did Saint Sebastian return to the emperor after recovering from his injuries?

After recovering, Saint Sebastian returned to Emperor Maxentius to continue preaching and urging him to honor Christians, showing his unwavering devotion and courage.

How did Saint Sebastian ultimately meet his end?

Saint Sebastian was ultimately beaten to death with rods, and his body was thrown into the sewer to ensure his death.

What is the significance of the Basilica of San Sebastiano?

The Basilica of San Sebastiano was built over the site where Saint Sebastian was given a proper burial, commemorating his life and martyrdom.

What virtue is highlighted by the stories of Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian?

The virtue of piety is highlighted by their stories, as both were willing to suffer and even die for their love of God and their faith.

Outlines

00:00

🐦 Election of Saint Fabian

Saint Fabian was elected as Pope in the year 230-240 AD due to a dove landing on his shoulder, seen as a sign from the Holy Ghost. He was a wealthy Roman nobleman's son who came to Rome on business and was unexpectedly chosen by the bishops who couldn't agree on a new Pope. Despite not being a priest, he was immediately ordained as one, made a bishop, and elected Pope. Fabian was a good Pope, known for establishing minor orders and restoring the catacombs. His martyrdom is unclear but believed to be a 'white martyrdom', meaning he suffered for his faith.

05:01

⚔️ Saint Sebastian: Soldier and Martyr

Saint Sebastian was a soldier who secretly assisted martyrs but rose through the ranks to become the head of the praetorian Guard, personally known to the Emperor. Despite his high position, he continued to assist martyrs and preach Christianity, even healing the magistrate's wife of palsy, leading to mass conversions. This threatened the Emperor's persecution of Christians. Sebastian was ordered to be killed with arrows by Emperor Maxentius but survived, only to return and continue preaching. He was eventually beaten to death with rods, and his body was thrown into a sewer. His body was later retrieved and buried, and a church, the Basilica of San Sebastiano, was built on the site.

Keywords

💡Martyr

A martyr is someone who is killed or suffers persecution for their religious beliefs or convictions. In the context of the video, both Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian are described as martyrs, having suffered greatly for their Christian faith. Saint Fabian was elected as Pope and worked to restore the catacombs, while Saint Sebastian was a soldier who secretly assisted martyrs and was eventually killed for his faith.

💡Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. Saint Fabian is noted in the script as being elected as Pope due to a dove landing on his shoulder, which was seen as a sign from the Holy Ghost. His role as Pope is highlighted by his efforts to establish minor orders and restore the catacombs.

💡Catacombs

Catacombs are ancient underground burial places, particularly associated with early Christians. In the script, Saint Fabian is credited with initiating work on restoring the catacombs, which had fallen into disrepair due to heavy use.

💡Praetorian Guard

The Praetorian Guard was an elite unit of the Roman army that served as the personal bodyguards of the Roman Emperors. Saint Sebastian rose through the ranks to become the head of the Praetorian Guard, which allowed him to assist martyrs and preach the Christian faith openly.

💡Martyrdom

Martyrdom refers to the act of suffering or dying for one's religious beliefs. The video discusses the concept of 'white martyrdom', where Saint Fabian may have suffered for the faith without necessarily dying for it, contrasting with the more explicit martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, who was killed for his beliefs.

💡Persecution

Persecution is the act of being mistreated or harassed for one's beliefs, particularly in a religious context. The video describes the persecution of Christians by Roman authorities, with Saint Sebastian being a key figure in resisting this persecution and converting many to Christianity.

💡Conversion

Conversion in a religious context refers to the adoption of a new set of beliefs or the change from one faith to another. The script recounts several instances of conversion, including the magistrate's wife and the prefect of the city, who were converted by Saint Sebastian's preaching and miracles.

💡Piety

Piety is the quality of being devout or deeply respectful of religious beliefs. The video concludes by discussing the virtue of piety, which involves giving proper honor to those above us, such as parents and civil authorities, while also recognizing that ultimate honor and glory belong to God.

💡Maxentius

Maxentius was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 306 to 312 AD. In the script, he is mentioned as the emperor who ordered Saint Sebastian to be executed for his Christian faith, highlighting the conflict between religious devotion and imperial authority.

💡San Sebastiano

San Sebastiano refers to the Basilica of San Sebastiano, a church built over the site where Saint Sebastian was buried. The video mentions this as a lasting memorial to the saint's martyrdom and a testament to his unwavering faith.

Highlights

Saint Fabian was elected as Pope by a dove landing on his shoulder, signifying a sign from the Holy Ghost.

Saint Fabian was a wealthy Roman nobleman's son, elected Pope around the year 230-240.

Saint Fabian was not a priest before his election, becoming a priest, bishop, and Pope all at once.

Saint Fabian was an excellent Pope, known for establishing minor orders and restoring catacombs.

Saint Sebastian was a soldier who secretly assisted martyrs and rose to become the head of the praetorian Guard.

Saint Sebastian used his high position to boldly assist martyrs and preach the faith.

Saint Sebastian's preaching led to the conversion of the city magistrate, his wife, and many others.

Saint Sebastian survived being shot to death with arrows, only to return and continue preaching.

A holy woman named Irene nursed Saint Sebastian back to health after he was left for dead.

Saint Sebastian's second attempt to preach to Emperor Maxentius led to his death by being beaten with rods.

Saint Sebastian's body was thrown into the sewer, but was later rescued and given a proper burial.

A church, the Basilica of San Sebastiano, was built over the site of Saint Sebastian's burial.

Both Saints Fabian and Sebastian showed invincible courage and a burning love for God.

The concept of piety is discussed, emphasizing the virtue of rendering honor to those above us, especially God.

The Saints' stories serve as examples of love and courage in the face of persecution.

The call to pray for increased love for God and courage to suffer for Him is made.

Transcripts

foreign

[Music]

s uh two Martyrs uh Saint Pope Saint

Fabian and also Saint Sebastian both

Martyrs in the early church and both

have quite extraordinary stories Saint

Fabian is famous for being the pope

elected because a dove landed on his

shoulder he was actually uh came into

Rome on business he was he was um well

let me see now that I have my sermon uh

this is the year 230 uh 235

um

uh somewhere around the 230 240 he was a

uh the son of a wealthy Roman nobleman

and he came to Roman business and at

that time the Cardinals the the the the

the Bishops could not agree on who would

be elected next Pope they just was they

could not agree with it had been like I

think

um well not years but but quite a quite

a time so uh he's walking through the

courtyard uh the the Bishops are are

convened to elect a pope and this he had

Dove landing on his shoulder and they

take that as a sign from the Holy Ghost

uh they go out there and constrain him

to be ordained Pope uh um well and and

elected Pope because he wasn't even a

priest yet not even a priest so he was

he was made a a priest a bishop and a

pope like all at once and apparently

that was the sign of the Holy Ghost

because he was an excellent Pope uh he

he helped further establish the minor

orders he initiated work on restoring

the catacombs which were which needed up

upkeep and attention because they were

getting so much use and let's see he

ended up

let's see

I think it was I'm not sure how he was

martyred

um I think he may have had one of those

where he suffered for them for the

martyrs he suffered for the faith and

may have had a white martyrdom but that

was up hope Saint Fabian elected

by the Holy Ghost right I love dove

landing on his shoulder

uh the other martyr Saint Sebastian is

very close to the same time end of the

third century and he originally enlisted

as a soldier uh to assist the martyrs in

secret but after he enlisted he was so

capable he kept Rising through the ranks

and eventually he became the head of the

praetorian Guard uh that that that

cohort of soldiers which were used to

guard the emperor himself in fact he was

personally known uh to the Emperors

um so that was that would kind of be

like um I don't know the head of SEAL

Team Six right or something like that

like this really hope high profile

combine that with a Joint Chiefs of

Staff so he's he's way up there and he

used to go in secretly to assist the

martyrs in prison but then when he was

brought to such a high position he would

just boldly go anywhere he would wear

his praetorian guard armor and just

Waltz into any prison minister to the

prisoners and what were people going to

do like this this was the the guy like

the highest military guy so he was just

openly assisting the martyrs and

preaching to the faith and and very

effective that says that actually there

were um two brothers

who had been in prison for the faith and

the city magistrate uh was contending

with them to um to give up the faith and

and the magistrate had brought in some

of their friends and relatives uh there

to um to try to persuade them well Saint

Sebastian comes in and he begins to

upgrade the magistrate and to exhort the

youths to remain faithful and it says

that it was in a place where the um kind

of a public place and the sunlight was

shining off of his armor and people were

dazzled and in fact the Magistrate's own

wife was present and after Sebastian was

done preaching she fell down at his feet

and wanted to make a profession of faith

uh but she had some kind of palsy which

made it difficult and she stuttered so

Saint Sebastian reached out and put his

hand on her and she was healed of the

palsy so then she converted and the

magistrate himself converted and

everybody there converted it was like

you know 30 some people

uh well then so the prefect of the city

hears of this that his magistrate

responsible for persecuting you know

people himself had converted so now the

magistrate is brought before the prefect

I think Sebastian also and the prefect

converts and all of his householders got

another 60 people convert so now this is

this is like a disaster this is looking

really bad for the emperor here it is

there's a persecution going on and not

only are are Christians not getting

martyred uh pagans are getting converted

this is like absolutely not supposed to

happen

so so Saint Sebastian and he's at the

heart of it right he's responsible for

all this so he gets dragged before uh

the emperor I think was maxentius and

and uh is going back and forth and he

says uh Sebastian himself says

um that uh rather than persecute uh

those who have the faith they ought to

be given the highest places in the

Kingdom in in the Empire because they're

the most uh reliable they're the most

moral they are the most of the best

examples

uh but uh he uh the emperor was having

none of it his his ego was on the line

and so he ordered Saint Sebastian uh to

be shot to death to death with arrows

and that is where you get the uh the

pictures and art of Saint Sebastian all

appears with arrows and and people may

think that that is how he died but in

fact he survived that they left him for

Dead uh and a holy woman uh named Irene

went to gather up his body and give him

an honorable burial and she found him

still alive

and so she nursed him back to health and

then when he had recovered she urged him

to flee but instead he went right back

to the emperor maxentius and and and

started upgrading him again as if

nothing had happened

and so my accentius almost fainted

because he thought he was seeing a ghost

you were supposed to be dead uh but you

know he still refuses to yield refuses

to recognize this miracle and this time

he has

um Saint Sebastian beaten with beaten to

death with rods and his body thrown into

the sewer and this time they made sure

he was absolutely dead

um uh before the before leaving him

there

uh his body was rescued and given a

proper burial and after which a church

was built over the top of that site and

remains to this day the Basilica of San

Sebastiano

so those two two Martyrs for today of

quite different backgrounds of Pope and

a soldier but both Invincible in their

courage uh totally on fire for the love

of God willing to suffer anything to do

anything

for their creator and that really is it

it comes down to

um piety piety is that virtue whereby we

render to those above us what they are

do we run into our parents respect and

honor we render that to our ancestors to

even to civil magistrates and so on we

give them the honor that is proper to

them but when they start demanding honor

which is greater than theirs which

belongs to God that's when we refuse and

that's when we when we give God all

honor all glory uh everything we have

even our life itself that is part of

piety that we owe to God but that takes

that takes love and it takes courage so

we would do well to pray for those two

things which our Saints for today showed

very well uh so Pope Saint Fabian in

Saint Sebastian pray for us that we may

be increased in our love for God and our

courage to suffer anything for him

God bless you all in the name of the

father and the Son and the Holy Ghost

amen