March 18, 2018    St. Sebastian's and the St. Callisto (Callixtus) with Fr. Brad

After celebrating our last Sunday Mass with the community of St. Patrick's Church, we met up with Fr. Brad at St. Sebastian's Church.  St. Sebastian's was originally built in the first half of the 4th century.  It was dedicated to the Roman martyr who was killed around 288 AD during the reign of Diocletian.  The church holds some relics and, of course, beautiful art.

The Catacombs of St. Sebastian were closed, so we hiked over to the Catacombs of Callisto, and, as with other catacombs, it's a "no photo zone", so I have nothing to post of them.  They are most notable for several Popes buried there.  Catacombs weren't secret places as I thought.   People would bury their loved ones there and visit them on a regular basis.  They were a public area with many people coming and going.  Think of a modern day busy cemetery.  The guide said St. Callisto's Catacomb numbers 500,000 graves.

St. Patrick

The apse of St. Patrick's.  The saint is converting the Celtic king to Christianity with the help of the shamrock to explain the Trinity.

St. Sebastian's Church

Bernini's final work at age 82.

An arrow that pierced St. Sebastian.  

Tomb of St. Sebastian.  He is often shown in art with the arrows, but it is not what ultimately martyred him.  Irene of Rome went to retrieve his body for burial, but found him barely alive.  She nursed him back to health and at a later time, Sebastian confronted Diocletian in regards to his cruel treatment of Christians.  Diocletian ordered Sebastian executed a second time, by clubbing.

Collin and his Confirmation saint.

The ceiling of St. Sebastian's.

Waiting for the bus on the Appian Way with Fr. Brad and a photo bomber.  (He was just looking for the bus.)

The Appian Way.  One of the earliest and most strategic roads of Rome.