Abbey-Roads2

A poem by Maria Rilke Rainer

SAINT SEBASTIAN
stands like someone lying down,
propped up by his own huge will.
Off somewhere else, like mothers when they nurse,
and bound in himself like a wreath.

And the arrows arrive: now, and now,
as if they sprang out of his thighs,
iron and trembling at the ends.
And still he smiles darkly, he’s not hurt.

Just once a sadness suddenly looms large,
and his eyes grow naked with pain
until they deny something, not worth the trouble,
filling with scorn as they come to relinquish
those who would kill a beautiful thing. -MRR

The legends of Sebastian. 

Little factual information is known about St. Sebastian other than he was a Roman martyr during the reign of Diocletian, buried on the Appian Way at Rome.  His legend varies somewhat and is rather colorful; he was said to be an officer of the imperial guard and favorite of the Emperor, sentenced to death after it was discovered he was a Christian. 

Sebastian was taken out, shot with arrows, left for dead, only to be revived by St. Irene, a widow of another martyr.  Nursed back to health, Sebastian returned to court to plead for the persecuted Christians and was once again sentenced to death.  This time the martyr was beaten to death with cudgels.

Sebastian compared to Apollo.

St. Sebastian became a rather romantic figure as time went on.  Some say he was invoked against the plague because it was believed the pestilence was a result of Apollo’s arrows.  Interestingly enough, he became associated with the myth of Apollo, and there after depicted in Western art as a young, handsome, athletic man.

From medieval times, through the Renaissance, and into our own day,  St. Sebastian usually is depicted nearly naked in art, becoming a sort of neo-pagan image of male beauty.  Since most art was in service to the Church, very few opportunities were available for early artists to portray the human body, save for in images of the damned, Christ in his passion, and some of the martyrs, such as St. Sebastian.

The legend distorted.

The Renaissance permitted a greater freedom in this regard, and Sebastian has been naked ever since.  This opened the way for 19th and 20th century artists to overlay the legend of Sebastian with homo-erotic elements, which has misled many gay people into thinking Sebastian was homosexual. 

Having said that, St. Sebastian would be a good patron for people with same sex attraction, especially men.  A model of masculinity and courage, the martyr Sebastian  can surely be a holy helper to someone who struggles with issues of gender identity and chastity.   The intercession of the martyrs is especially efficacious in any struggle against the flesh.