St. Fabian
Died: 250
Eusebius, born just a few years after Fabian's death, tells us how Fabian came to Rome after Pope Anteros died in 236. A layperson, and not a very important one, he may have come for the same reason many still come to Rome today during a papal election: concern for the future of the faith, curiosity about the new pope, a desire to grieve for the pope who had passed. Seeing all the important people gathered to make this momentous decision must have been overwhelming. Which one would be the new pope? Someone known for power? Someone known for eloquence? Someone known for courage?
Suddenly during the discussion, a dove descended from the ceiling. But it didn't settle on "someone known" for anything at all. The dove, according to Eusebius, "settled on [Fabian's] head as clear imitation of the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove upon the Savior." There must have been something of the Holy Spirit working because everyone suddenly proclaimed Fabian as "worthy" to be pope and this stranger was elected.
To us the dove signifies peace, and this dove was prophetic. Starting close to Fabian's election, the suffering and persecuted Church began a time of peace. The emperor, Philip, was friendly to Christians and not only was the persecution stopped but Christians experienced acceptance.
In this era of peace, Fabian was able to build up the structure of the Church of Rome, appointing seven deacons and helping to collect the acts of the martyrs.
But, in a timeless story, the people who had always been in power were not happy to see the newcomers growing and thriving. There were many incidents of pagans attacking Christians and when Philip died so died the time of peace. The new emperor, Decius, ordered all Christians to deny Christ by offering incense to idols or through some other pagan ritual.
In the few years of peace, the Church had grown soft. Many didn't have the courage to stand up to martyrdom. But Fabian, singled out by symbol of peace, stood as a courageous example for everyone in his flock. He died a martyr in 250 and is buried in the Cemetery of Calixtus that he helped rebuild and beautify. A stone slab with his name can still be found there.
In His Footsteps:Pray for all places where the Church suffers persecution and for all who face death, danger, or isolation for their faith. But pray especially for all who live where the Church is accepted and thrives in peace that this peace will not make their faith flabby and weak.
Prayer:Pope Saint Fabian, it's so easy to believe that peace means a life without conflict or suffering. Help us to see that the only true peace is the peace Christ brings. Never let us as a Church or as individual Christians choose to deny our beliefs simply to avoid an unpleasant situation. Amen
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St. Fabian i pray for your intercession. pray for my son fabian that he may grow to be loved by God & people and that God's blessing will descend upon him like the dove from the ceiling landed on your head.i also pray that his health improves,amen.
Pope St. Fabian, please pray for me to be gifted with the Holy Spirit and realize the happiness that this world cannot provide.
What a gift these saints are to us ! They not only inspire us by their example and their lives but give us the courage to keep on being faithful to Christ....no matter what ! In those trying times in life this quote serves to reminds me of that "God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage"
St.Fabian please help me and my family
God Bless us all
Amen
Please pray for Jacob that he finds the right path and peace, for his mother that the doctors can slow the progression of her disease, and for all the cancer patients that we deal with the disease with grace and dignity. Thank you.
St. Fabian,
Help us to see that the only true peace is the peace Christ brings. Never let us offer incense to idols. Amen.
st. fabian pray for us.....
St. Fabian... Please pray for my family and friends.
20th jan 2013:pope st fabian pray for us companions friends!
I am very happy to bear the name fabian because st. fabian was a great man on earth and he is still a great in the kingdom of God. I ask for his intercession that the will of God be made complete in my life.
God bless year 236!
dear fabian intersist 4 me where eever u are
Dear St. Fabian,
Please pray for me.
Once again we are told just how much the Holy Spirit truly directs us in our lives here. Is it not uplifting and relieving to know that we are guided in such a simple and plain way towards where our Lord God wants and needs us to be?
For someone who was born on the day the feast of St Fabian is celebrated i feel very honoured.I believe GOD used him to do very special things.This can be seen during his reign whereby the emperor, Philip, was friendly to Christians and not only was the persecution stopped but Christians experienced acceptance. I really feel so honoured to be born on the 20th January.I will do my best to live by his example such that the world will become one of PEACE and not conflicts.
Pope Saint Fabian, Help us to see that the only true peace is the peace Christ brings. Never let us choose to deny our beliefs simply to avoid an unpleasant situation. Amen
Dear St. Fabian, happy am I to read about your remarkable, saintly and humble life, though raised the highest office of the Catholic Church. Like you, though unworthy as I am, I would like your holy and powerful intercession, today to receive the gift of peace from the Holy Spirit. I would like to take away with me the poignant lesson of true peace, that it does not guarantee a life "without conflict or suffering". Bring me peace under the trying circumstances of everyday life. Please pray for my siblings and I to behave in a gentle and charitable manner towards one another, rather than to seek prominence and attention. Help us dear saint. I'm also reminded of my dear friend who was named after you. Bless him and his family too. Beloved saint, I have had the privilege of visiting St. Sebastiano, outside the walls of Rome. My family have been blessed abundantly. Continue to give us your pastoral care, Bless Martin, Joanne and Sharon and their families. May the peace of the Holy Spirit be us and abide in us always. Amen.
I am expectant with a boy and i have chosen Fabian as his name. I am satisfied knowing who he was. Hope my Boy follows his footsteps
Feast of St Fabian is on 20th January
Feast of St Fabius is on 11th May .
Who is St Fabius?
What do both the names mean?
Fabian is a great popo, and i am grad to biar his name