SAINT OF THE DAY

SAINT OF THE DAY

ST. FABIAN
FORMER POPE (c. 200-250 AD)

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
JAMES PATRICK A. GAETOS MONDAY, 15 JANUARY 2024
 Have you ever experienced something
you never expected?
‘Yung iba pala ang magiging resulta at hindi ang ineexpect
mo?
Meet...
ST. FABIAN
First...
LET’S GET TO
KNOW HIM
MORE!
1. Little is known about his personal background, with his birth year
being believed to be 200 AD.
2. He was the 20th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, with his
papacy spanned 14 years (Jan. 10, 236~Jan. 20, 250, his death).
3. He shared the same feast day as St. Sebastian on January 20.
 Some of the
highlights of his
14-year papacy
include...
Fabian was known for dividing
the Christian communities of
Rome into seven districts, each
supervised by a deacon (as
reported on Liber Pontificalis)
Fabian also played his role in returning the bodies of ex-
Pope Pontian and Hippolytus, both martyrs and exiled
men, from Sardinia. (Pontian would soon be interred at the
Catacombs of St. Callixtus in Rome.)
 In the year 245, Fabian is also
responsible for sending 7
bishops to become “apostles
(or preachers) to the Gauls” in
what is now France.
One of those “apostles” include
Denis, who would later become
Lutetia’s (Paris’) first bishop.
Venerated by France as its patron
saint, he is famous for “holding”
his decapitated head (!) while
preaching.
There were even reports that Fabian himself
baptized Emperor Philip the Arab (per
Eusebius, Orosius and Jerome), thus making
him the (unofficial) first Christian emperor
(aka sympathetic to the Christians).

However, it was later realized that the said reports are

considered legends only, which caused a
scholar/historical controversy that continues to this
very day.
But...
The greatest
highlight in his life
story is how he
became a pope---
UNEXPECTEDLY!
(I mean, he never wished to be
a pope, until this happened...)
 As you see, Fabian was originally a
farmer somewhere outside Rome. Just
an ordinary man who lives and works
just to make a living. All until one day...
He, and his friends and fellow famers, came to Rome...
 To witness the
action of the
papal conclave!
The clergy and the laity were getting
ready at that time for the upcoming
elections as Pope Anterus passed
away. Of course, there are debates,
campaigns, and potential candidates
ST. ANTERUS, POPE fighting for St. Peter’s throne, until...
~236 AD
 A dove suddenly appeared and
descended upon his head!
That strange incident led people to recall
what happened similarly during the baptism
of Jesus 200 years ago. Eventually, the day of
the conclave came, and, backed by an
overwhelming support from the laity, the
electors decided to not proceed with the
voting and the game is over!
Being a pope, yes, during intense persecution from the Romans is very
though; but for Fabian, he never took down easily his unexpected
calling, nor planned to resign. Instead, he survived all of them.

But, at the end...

...he too passed away as a martyr for Christ on January 20, 250,
at the beginning of a persecution led by Emperor Decius.
(During that time, the Emperor intensified his policy of forcing all citizens, excluding
Jews, to worship idols as their way to show their loyalty to Rome. After Fabian’s death,
Cornelius took over to become the 21st Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.)
 His body is later being interred in the Catacombs of St.
Callixtus (then the burial site of popes), just along the
Appian Way in the southern outskirts of Rome. There, you
can see a stone plaque, broken into pieces, and bears the
words “ΦΑΒΙΑΝΟϹ ΕΠΙ[CΚΟΠΟC] Μ[ΑΡΤΥ]Ρ” (Phabianos
Episkopos Martyr), meaning “Fabian, Bishop and Martyr.”

In the early 1700s after numerous relocations,

then-Pope Clement XI decided to move
Fabian’s remains in nearby San Sebastiano
Fuori Le Mura, in the same street as the
Catacombs., where the Albani Chapel is
dedicated in his honor.
 Fabian was an Later in Cornelius’ papacy,
incomparable man... the
Cyprian, Fabian’s esteemed
glory of his martyrdom
admirer, wrote to the then-
answered the purity and
holiness of his life. Pope about Fabian...

CYPRIAN CORNELIUS
BISHOP OF CARTHAGE (TUNIS, TUNISIA) POPE
Going back to the question...
Have you ever experienced something you never
expected?

From being a probinsyano to a pope, unexpected things happened in the

life of Fabian, and so do we. Sometimes, God wanted us to experience
unexpected things for us to know and realize that God has a better plan
for us---a better future (Jer. 29:11). Maybe it’s time for us to realize to trust
His promises, plans, and timing---and align your life to God’s will.

ST. FABIAN, PRAY FOR US!

Thanks y’all for listening!
See you next time, folks!
Another presentation from JAMES PATRICK A.
GAETOS (11-FLEXIBILITY/STEM)
for CHRISTIAN FORMATION

SPECIAL THANKS to my family, friends, Ma’am

Amor and all teachers, fellow Josephians, and our
Heavenly Father! SA DIYOS ANG PAPURI!
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