Sebastian was a captain in the Roman army, a fine officer and a brave soldier.

One day he heard about Jesus Christ and said, "He is the one I want to follow." So from that day he loved Christ and fought bravely for Him.

One day his two brothers were arrested. "You are Christians, and you must die," said the judge.

They were only boys, and they were afraid. But Sebastian comforted them, saying, "Don't be afraid. We shall all be martyrs. It is glorious to die for Christ."

The Mayor of Rome did not believe in Jesus Christ. He heard about Sebastian and sent for the young soldier. "Tell me about Jesus," he ordered. And Sebastian talked so beautifully that the Mayor became a Christian too. This made the people who hated Jesus very angry. They began to kill the Christians.

Many of the Christians fled from Rome. Although Sebastian helped them escape he refused to leave.

So the Romans arrested Sebastian. They tied him to a stake. Soldiers shot at him with bows and arrows.

They left him for dead. But Sebastian was not dead. He was still alive and he went to the judge who had ordered him shot. "Please believe in Jesus," he begged. But instead they beat him to death with clubs.

His Feast is January 20th.

from _Miniature Stories of the Saints_, Book III, by the Rev. Daniel A. Lord, S. J.

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