Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio is a patron of travelers. He was born to poor peasants in 1502 at Gudena in the Spanish province of Galicia. He learned the prayers from his parents but had no schooling and could not read or write. When he was twelve, he was seized with an infectious disease. His anxious mother carried him to a little hut far out in the field so that he would infect no one else. While he lay there one day quite helpless and alone, a wolf from the neighboring woods approached by the providence of God and bit open the plague spot, and Sebastian recovered completely.
In 1533, Blessed Sebastian sailed to Mexico and took on the task of transporting grain and other goods in his own carrier, which enabled him to acquire great wealth. He used the money for worthy purposes while he lived like a poor man. In this way, he won the esteem and the love of the natives and the Spaniards. He married twice, each time choosing a poor but devout young woman, and with their consent, he lived with them in virginal purity. After the death of his second wife, Blessed Sebastian distributed his goods among the poor and entered the Franciscans as a brother. Assigned to the large friary at Puebla de los Angeles, south of Mexico City, Sebastian collected alms for the friars for the next 25 years.
He added certain rigorous penances to his daily labors. His charity to all earned him the nickname “Angel of Mexico.” Sebastian could read the innermost secrets of hearts and could foretell future events. The wildest animals willingly obeyed him, and frequently, when he was in special need, angels brought him assistance in remarkable ways, at times bringing him food, another time protecting him from falling down a precipice, at other times again directing him on the right road. Blessed Sebastian died at the age of 98, on February 25, 1600.
Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio, obtain for us the grace to serve our Lord with a pure heart in all the circumstances of our lives.
Prepared and updated by:
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.
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