St. Sebastian

Patron Saint of Athletes and Soldiers

St. Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes because of his energetic evangelization. He was a soldier in the Roman army, and shared his faith with his fellow soldiers and converted many of them before he was sentenced to death by the Emperor Diocletian. Sebastian was shot with arrows and left to die alone; however, a Christian woman found him and nursed him back to health. When he was healthy enough to share the Gospel again, St. Sebastian went back to Emperor Diocletian to share the Gospel with him. Diocletian sentenced Sebastian to be beaten to death again. Sebastian did not let death or fear of death stop him from sharing Christ with others.