Roman Catholic Saint. He is remembered as a martyr for the Christian faith. Born at Narbonne in what is modern-day France, he was the son of wealthy Italian parents, who educated him in Milan. As a Christian in the Roman Imperial Army in 283 AD, he kept his faith a secret, as there was persecution of Christians. He did help other Christians that were in jail and converted others. He moved-up the ranks of the army quickly to become the captain of the guard, an imperial officer. Making the sign of the cross, he became a healer. One of his healings, was Zoe, the wife of the Roman soldier Nicstratus. She did not have the ability to speak, but when Sebastian made the sign of the cross over her, she spoke distinctly. Hearing of this miracle, many converted to Christianity and were baptized. One of his converts was the Roman Governor, Chromatius, who, upon converting, resigned his post and freed sixteen fellow converts from jail. After this happened, the Roman Emperor Diocletian realized that Sebastian was a Christian and converting others to his faith . Becoming angry that he had been deceived by a trusted member of his officers, the Emperor gave the order for Sebastian to be tied to a stake and used for target practice by Mauretanian archers. The archers shot numerous arrows into his body, thus his arrow-riddled body was described as “being like a porcupine.” Believing he was dead, the archers left him tied to the stake. His body was recovered by Saint Irene of Rome, who was grieving for her martyred husband St. Castulus, a servant to Diocletian. He was hidden and nursed back to health by Saint Irene. Two years later in 288 AD, he unexpectedly met the Emperor in a stairwell. The Emperor was surprised as he thought Sebastian was dead. Criticizing the Emperor for his cruel and unjust ways toward Christians, Sebastian was captured again by the Romans and sentenced to death, this time by beating. After being beaten to death by clubs, his lifeless body was thrown into the filth of a common sewer. A pious lady, Lucina, saw Sebastian in a vision, had his body removed, and buried it in the catacombs at the entrance of the Cemetery of Callixtus in Rome. A church was later built over his body's location by Pope Damasus, which became one of the seven ancient stations of Rome. Presently, the Church of Basilica of St. Sebastian is near this spot. Later his body was separated in pieces and distributed throughout the Christian world as cataloged by Baring Archives: His relics are located at cathedrals in Toulouse, Paris and Soissons, France; Mantua, Italy; Seville, Spain; Munich, Germany; in Belgium at Tournai, Brussels in the Court, and Antwerp in the Church of the Jesuits. In 943 his skull was brought to a Benediction Abbey in Ebersberg, Germany and is used in Communion. His torso is at the St. Blaise Church in Croatia. Since the painter, Gaetano Gresle, brought many relics and artifacts to St. Blasie on July 23, 1818 escaping the destruction of Napoleon's army, it can be reasoned that is when St. Sebastian’s torso arrived. During the 14th Century, a epidemic of Bunbonic Plague or Black Death crossed Europe with 75 million people dying. It was thought you contracted the plague by choice as if an archer's arrow hitting a mark. With that thinking, people started praying to St. Sebastian for healing. When an altar to St Sebastian in the Church of St. Peter in the Province of Pavis, Italy was built, the plague ended, thus he is the patron saint of the plague. For this reason, he became known as one of the “Fourteen Holy Helpers.” He has also become the patron saint of athletes, the dying, the organization Knights of Columbus and soldiers especially the Swiss Guard. His feast day is January 20th. His death as a Christian martyr has been the subject of many Renaissance artists, with their works showing a young man's body pierced with arrows, yet this was not how he died. Such artists are Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Sandro, Bottcelli, Andrea Mantegna, Peruguino, and El Greco; Guido Reni painted him seven times and Mantegna three times. He is recognized as a saint in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. In today's world, American author Tennessee Williams chose the name Sebastian for the martyred character in his play “Suddenly, Last Summer” as well as Irish writer and poet Oscar Wilde, feeling as if he became a living martyred, used “Sebastian Melmouth” as an alias while in exile after his own release from prison.