E05394: Ambrose of Milan, writing in Latin in Milan (northern Italy) in 388/9, refers to the martyrdom and feast day of *Sebastianus (martyr of Rome, S00040) in a sermon on Psalm 118 (119), and claims he was Milanese by birth.

Ambrose of Milan, Commentary on Psalm 118 (119), 20.44

Ambrose refers to Sebastian and his feast day in a commentary on Ps 118.157: Many are they that persecute and afflict me; I have not swerved from your testimonies.

Utamur exemplo Sebastiani martyris, cuius hodie natalis est. hic Mediolanensis oriundo est. fortasse aut iam discesserat persecutor aut adhuc non uenerat in haec partium aut mitior erat. aduertit hic aut nullum esse aut tepere certamen. Romam profectus est, ubi propter fidei studium persecutiones acerbae feruebant; ibi passus est, hoc est ibi coronatus. itaque illic, quo hospes aduenit, domicilium inmortalitatis perpetuae conlocauit. si unus persecutor fuisset, coronatus hic martyr utique non fuisset.

‘Let us take as an example the martyr Sebastian, whose feast is today. He was born in Milan. The persecutor had perhaps either gone away or not yet arrived in those parts, or was somewhat lenient. Sebastian realises that either there is no persecution or it is dying down. He set out for Rome where, on account of the zeal there for the faith, a bitter persecution was raging. There he was martyred, that is to say, received his crown. The city where he arrived as a stranger he made for ever the place where he gained eternal life. If there had been only one persecutor, this martyr would never have been crowned.’

Ambrose continues to discuss the virtues of martyrdom.

Text: Petschenig 1913. Translation: Ní Riain 1998, lightly adapted.
Summary: Frances Trzeciak.