Introduction
The Church honors Saints Fabian and Sebastian as martyrs of the early centuries of Christianity, whose lives and deaths bore heroic witness to the faith. Their feast is celebrated together on January 20th. Both exemplify unwavering fidelity to Christ amidst persecution, and their witness shines as a beacon of courage and sanctity for the faithful.
Saint Fabian, Pope and Martyr (Pontificate: 236–250)
Life and Election as Pope
Saint Fabian was a Roman layman chosen to the papacy in an extraordinary manner. According to the early Church historian Eusebius of Caesarea, Fabian went to Rome during the election of a new pope after the death of Pope Anterus. Although Fabian was not a candidate, a dove miraculously descended upon him, signifying divine favor. Inspired by this sign, the clergy and laity unanimously elected him the Bishop of Rome.
Fabian’s pontificate marked a period of great zeal for the administration of the Church. He reorganized the Roman clergy, dividing the city into seven ecclesiastical regions, each overseen by a deacon to manage pastoral care and charitable works. He is credited with appointing subdeacons to collect records of Christian martyrs, thereby preserving their memories for future generations. Fabian also worked to strengthen the unity of the Church and was a defender of the faith against heresies, such as those of the Novatianists.
Martyrdom
Under the Emperor Decius, who initiated a brutal persecution of Christians, Fabian was arrested for his unwavering allegiance to Christ. In the year 250, Fabian suffered martyrdom, a witness that the pope was willing to lay down his life for his flock. He was buried in the Catacomb of Callixtus, where his epitaph, written in Greek, reads simply: Fabian, Bishop and Martyr.
Saint Cyprian of Carthage praised Fabian as an example of steadfast faith, referring to him in his letters as an illustrious martyr who exemplified the courage required of all Christians under persecution.
Saint Sebastian, Soldier and Martyr
Early Life and Conversion
Saint Sebastian was a Roman soldier born in Narbonne, Gaul, around the mid-3rd century, and raised in Milan. He joined the Roman army, not out of ambition, but to assist persecuted Christians while living within the empire’s structures. His courage, discipline, and virtue quickly won him favor in the imperial court, and he was appointed captain of the Praetorian Guard, the emperor’s elite soldiers.
Sebastian used his position to minister to imprisoned Christians and to convert many to the faith. He was particularly noted for his charity and courage, as he often visited those condemned to die, encouraging them to remain steadfast in their faith.
Martyrdom
When Emperor Diocletian discovered Sebastian’s Christian faith, he was filled with rage and ordered his execution. Sebastian was tied to a tree and shot with arrows by his fellow soldiers, who left him for dead. However, Saint Irene, a Christian widow, found him still alive and nursed him back to health.
Restored to strength, Sebastian boldly confronted Diocletian, denouncing the emperor’s cruelty toward Christians. Enraged by Sebastian’s audacity, Diocletian ordered his immediate execution. This time, Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs and his body thrown into the sewer. Christians later retrieved his remains and buried him in the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian on the Appian Way.
Legacy
Sebastian became one of the most popular saints of the early Church. As a soldier-saint, he was invoked as a protector against plagues and pestilence, especially during the Middle Ages. His iconography often depicts him tied to a tree or post, pierced with arrows, symbolizing his initial suffering for Christ.
Shared Legacy
Saints Fabian and Sebastian are commemorated together in the Roman Martyrology due to their shared witness to Christ through martyrdom. Their lives highlight two distinct yet complementary aspects of sanctity:
- Fabian, as pope, represents the leadership of the Church, showing how fidelity to Christ and His flock requires courage, administrative wisdom, and spiritual fortitude.
- Sebastian, as a soldier, reflects the laity’s call to sanctity, demonstrating that holiness can flourish in any vocation, even within hostile environments.
Liturgical Commemoration
The feast of Saints Fabian and Sebastian is celebrated on January 20th in the Traditional Roman Calendar. Their joint feast reminds the faithful of the unity of the Church under persecution, with its leaders and laity standing together in the face of trials. The collect for their feast prays for the grace to imitate their fortitude:
Collect: Grant us, we beseech Thee, almighty God, the grace to follow the example of Thy blessed martyrs Fabian and Sebastian, so that we may both endure the hardships of this life and attain the joys of everlasting life. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Reflection for the Faithful
The example of Saints Fabian and Sebastian inspires us to embrace our own crosses with courage and fidelity. Whether in positions of leadership or as humble servants, we are all called to bear witness to Christ in our daily lives. Their heroic virtue reminds us that faithfulness to God, even unto death, is the path to eternal life.
May Saints Fabian and Sebastian intercede for us, that we may grow in courage, fidelity, and charity in our journey toward holiness.