Fabian was a pope, and Sebastian was believed to be a soldier. Both were faithful to Christ until death. The traditional story told about .St Sebastian is that he was an army officer who was condemned to death for his belief in Jesus. His fellow soldiers shot him with arrows. Surviving this, he was clubbed to death.
The only actual fact we have is that Sebastian was an early Christian martyr under the reign of Emperor Diocletian.
More is known about .St Fabian, who was pope in 236 during unstable political times. The early church historian Eusebius, writing about a hundred years after Fabian's death, reported that suddenly a dove flew into the room and landed on the farmer's head when the selection of a new Pope was being held. The assembly took this as a sign from God; had not a dove also descended on Christ at his baptism? Fabian was immediately chosen for the vacant position.
A man named Philip, an ambitious and ruthless man, killed Emperor Maximus and made himself emperor. Later, he regretted his behavior and changed the government policy from persecution of Christians to tolerance for them. For the first time, being a Christian was legal, but peace for the Christians did not last long. Philip was killed by his lieutenant, Decius, who became the next emperor. Decius believed that his empire could be saved only if the pagan customs of ancient Rome were restored. He sent an edict that commanded the death penalty for all who would not give up their following of Christ. Pope Fabian eagerly died for the faith. Following his example, many Christians died as martyrs, though many others denied their faith in Christ.
When St Cyprian had learnt of Pope Fabian’s death, he sent this letter to the presbyters and deacons of Rome (250AD):
“When the report of the departure of the excellent man, my colleague, was still uncertain among us, my beloved brethren, and I was wavering doubtfully in my opinion on the matter, I received a letter sent to me from you by Crementius the sub-deacon, in which I was fully informed of his glorious end; and I rejoiced greatly that the integrity of his administration had been matched by the nobility of his end.
“I greatly congratulate you that you honor his memory with so public and illustrious a testimony, through which you have made known to me not only the memory of your bishop, which confers glory upon you, but also an example of faith and strength that I should follow.
“For just as the fall of a bishop tends to bring about the ruinous fall of his followers, so it is a useful and helpful thing when, by the firmness of his faith, a bishop becomes manifest to his brethren as an object of imitation.”
Both the Epistle and the Gospel for the Mass on the Feast of Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian contain the same phrase: “Do not be afraid…” Fear is a very strong emotion and, unless it is checked and overcome, can paralyze a person; it can inhibit one from thinking, speaking or acting in a responsible manner.
The Scripture texts for this Feast encourage us to be courageous in our living out and our defense of the Faith. Both Saint Fabian, who was a successor to Saint Peter as Bishop of Rome and Saint Sebastian, who was Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, fearlessly witnessed to Christ by the shedding of their blood.
Today, in addition to the traditional martyrs of the 20th century found in Spain, Mexico, Russia, China and other countries, we are able to identify men and women who give public witness to their holy Catholic Faith by the manner in which they are living their Baptismal Vows. Among these “white martyrs,” so to say, are also many young people who go against and contradict the present culture and society of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Their persecutors are not Roman Emperors nor are they the dictators from the failed and corrupt regimes of Communism and National Socialism. Today, those who cause moral suffering among faithful followers of Christ are those who have given themselves over to atheistic secularism and a frenetic pursuit of pleasure, greed and indolence.
Theirs is a studied indifference to God and to all that is holy. Further, these people employ ridicule, scorn and contempt for anyone who is faithful to Christ and the Church.
May the example and intercession of the Holy Martyrs, Fabian and Sebastian and the prayers of Our Lady, Queen of martyrs, strengthen and encourage us to persevere in our own daily efforts to be strong witnesses to Christ and the Faith in the 21st century.
The only actual fact we have is that Sebastian was an early Christian martyr under the reign of Emperor Diocletian.
More is known about .St Fabian, who was pope in 236 during unstable political times. The early church historian Eusebius, writing about a hundred years after Fabian's death, reported that suddenly a dove flew into the room and landed on the farmer's head when the selection of a new Pope was being held. The assembly took this as a sign from God; had not a dove also descended on Christ at his baptism? Fabian was immediately chosen for the vacant position.
A man named Philip, an ambitious and ruthless man, killed Emperor Maximus and made himself emperor. Later, he regretted his behavior and changed the government policy from persecution of Christians to tolerance for them. For the first time, being a Christian was legal, but peace for the Christians did not last long. Philip was killed by his lieutenant, Decius, who became the next emperor. Decius believed that his empire could be saved only if the pagan customs of ancient Rome were restored. He sent an edict that commanded the death penalty for all who would not give up their following of Christ. Pope Fabian eagerly died for the faith. Following his example, many Christians died as martyrs, though many others denied their faith in Christ.
When St Cyprian had learnt of Pope Fabian’s death, he sent this letter to the presbyters and deacons of Rome (250AD):
“When the report of the departure of the excellent man, my colleague, was still uncertain among us, my beloved brethren, and I was wavering doubtfully in my opinion on the matter, I received a letter sent to me from you by Crementius the sub-deacon, in which I was fully informed of his glorious end; and I rejoiced greatly that the integrity of his administration had been matched by the nobility of his end.
“I greatly congratulate you that you honor his memory with so public and illustrious a testimony, through which you have made known to me not only the memory of your bishop, which confers glory upon you, but also an example of faith and strength that I should follow.
“For just as the fall of a bishop tends to bring about the ruinous fall of his followers, so it is a useful and helpful thing when, by the firmness of his faith, a bishop becomes manifest to his brethren as an object of imitation.”
Both the Epistle and the Gospel for the Mass on the Feast of Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian contain the same phrase: “Do not be afraid…” Fear is a very strong emotion and, unless it is checked and overcome, can paralyze a person; it can inhibit one from thinking, speaking or acting in a responsible manner.
The Scripture texts for this Feast encourage us to be courageous in our living out and our defense of the Faith. Both Saint Fabian, who was a successor to Saint Peter as Bishop of Rome and Saint Sebastian, who was Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, fearlessly witnessed to Christ by the shedding of their blood.
Today, in addition to the traditional martyrs of the 20th century found in Spain, Mexico, Russia, China and other countries, we are able to identify men and women who give public witness to their holy Catholic Faith by the manner in which they are living their Baptismal Vows. Among these “white martyrs,” so to say, are also many young people who go against and contradict the present culture and society of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Their persecutors are not Roman Emperors nor are they the dictators from the failed and corrupt regimes of Communism and National Socialism. Today, those who cause moral suffering among faithful followers of Christ are those who have given themselves over to atheistic secularism and a frenetic pursuit of pleasure, greed and indolence.
Theirs is a studied indifference to God and to all that is holy. Further, these people employ ridicule, scorn and contempt for anyone who is faithful to Christ and the Church.
May the example and intercession of the Holy Martyrs, Fabian and Sebastian and the prayers of Our Lady, Queen of martyrs, strengthen and encourage us to persevere in our own daily efforts to be strong witnesses to Christ and the Faith in the 21st century.
No comments:
Post a Comment