Saint Sebastian

He is patron saint of athletes because of his physical endurance and his energetic way of

 spreading and defending the Faith. Sebastian is also patron to all soldiers. He entered the

 Roman army under Emperor Carinus in 283 in order to defend the confessors and martyrs

 of his day without drawing attention to himself. His efforts kept the Faith of Marcus and

 Marcellian firm during their persecutions, right up to the time of their martyrdom. when it

 was discovered that the was a Christian he was ordered executed. He was shot with

 arrows and left for dead, but was found and nursed back to health. He was later beaten to

 death on the Emperor's orders. He was declared patron of plague sufferers of his reported

 cures of those afflicted with many diseases.