Spirituality: Fortitude and the encouragement of others in the faith.
Reflection: Sebastian was an officer in the imperial guard who secretly strengthened
imprisoned Christians. When his faith was discovered, Diocletian ordered him shot
with arrows. Left for dead, he was nursed back to health by a holy widow named
Irene, and then boldly confronted the emperor about his cruelty to Christians. This
time he was beaten to death. He was long invoked against the plague and is patron of
soldiers and athletes. Sebastian shows that real courage is not only surviving a trial,
but going back to bear witness again.