![[painting of Saint Sebastian]](saints03.jpg "16kb jpg painting 'San Sebastian', 1525, by Antonio Bazzi detto il Sodoma (1477-1549), Galleria Palatina, Firenze; please do not write to ask about the image")
Charged as a Christian, Sebastian was tied to a tree, shot with arrows, and left for dead. He survived, and with the help of Saint Irene, recovered, and returned to preach to Diocletian. The emperor then had him beaten to death.
During the 14th century, the random nature of infection with the Black Death caused people to liken the plague to their villages being shot by an army of nature's archers. In desparation they prayed for the intercession of a saint associated with archers, and Saint Sebastian became associated with the plague.
against plague archers armourers arrowsmiths athletes Bacolod, Philippines, diocese of bookbinders Bracciano, Italy Castel Gandolfo, Italy Cropani, Italy diseased cattle dying people enemies of religion fletchers gardeners Grondona, Italy gunsmiths Huelva, Spain Hünxe, Germany iron mongers lace makers lace workers lead workers masons Palma, Mallorca, Spain plague victims police officers Pontifical Swiss Guards Qormi, Malta racquet makers Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Rocca Priora, Italy San Sebastian, Puerto Rico soldiers Spanish police officers stone masons stonecutters Tarlac, Philippines, diocese of
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arrows crown naked youth tied to a tree and shot with arrows
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate Catholic Encyclopedia Domestic Church Golden Legend, by Jacobus de Voragine The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, by Dr Jean-Pierre Lafouge New Catholic Dictionary Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society