St. Sebastian lived later in the third century and was martyred around the year 288 during the Diocletian persecution. There are few hard facts known about the life of Sebastian, but his acts quickly inspired a popular legend about his life.
St. Sebastian was born at Narbonne, Gaul and was brought up in the city of Milan, Italy. He was raised in the faith and grew to hate the Roman military and their cruelty to Christians. Though he had an aversion to the military, he joined in order that he might accomplish a greater good by helping those Christians who had been condemned to death. Once, there was a group of Christians who began to waver in their faith when they realized the cost of their confession. Sebastian came forward and delivered a rousing speech, which helped to return the fire they had for their faith. The group bravely accepted their martyrdom, and Sebastian was arrested an condemned for being a Christian.
While he was in jail awaiting his sentence, Sebastian succeeded in converting the jailer, and many of the inmates. Sebastian was sentenced to be shot to death by archers, and bravely bore this. When the time came for his execution, Sebastian's body was riddled with arrows but he did not die. When the faithful came to bury his body they found he was still alive and nursed him back to health. Sebastian was again found by the army and arrested. This time his sentence was death by clubbing. This sentence was successful in martyring Sebastian for his faith. Sebastian was buried in the catacombs along the Appian Way and a basilica was raised in his honor near his grave.
During the plagues of the Middle Ages the seemingly random way in which people were infected with the disease was likened to the random strike of arrows from archers on the battlefield. The aid of St. Sebastian was sought as he is associated with arrows and archery, and because of the many cures he reportedly performed during his life. In addition to archers and plague victims, St. Sebastian is the patron of athletes because of his physical endurance in the arrow episode and of police officers and soldiers.