Saint Sebastian:
The Soldier Who Wouldn’t Stay Down
Paddy Bréagnamh
Mini Saints & Missionaries Library
ISBN 9798899681288
ASIN B0GY141NDH
ASIN B0GX2YVQJV
There are currently 11 volumes available in this series dedicated to specific saints and 3 the focus on 52 female saints. I have enjoyed them a lot and keep checking for when new ones are released. I have benefited from reading them all and recommended each of them to several people. I especially loved the volume on Pope Leo XIV. This volume I picked up shortly after it released and read it the within a few days. It was one of 4 new titles that released in 2026. The description of the book is:
“Shot with arrows. Left for dead.
He didn’t just survive—he came back.
Saint Sebastian was a Roman soldier who refused to give up—even when it cost him everything.
In the heart of the Roman Empire, Sebastian had it all: honor, rank, and a place among the emperor’s most trusted guards.
But he also carried a secret. Sebastian was a Christian—and he risked everything to live out his faith. When his secret was discovered, he was sentenced to death. Tied to a post. Shot with arrows. Left for dead.
But Sebastian survived. And instead of escaping, he made an extraordinary choice: He went back.
Today, Saint Sebastian is honored as the patron saint of athletes—because his story is about more than survival.
It’s about:
• Endurance — pushing through when things get hard
• Resilience — refusing to give up
• Courage under pressure — standing firm when it matters most
What’s Inside
• A powerful, true story told in a clear, engaging narrative style
• A focus on real-life courage kids can understand and apply
• Reflection questions to encourage meaningful conversations
• Timeline and historical context to deepen understanding
Perfect for:
• Kids ages 8–12
• Families looking for faith-filled, character-building stories
• Young athletes learning perseverance and discipline
• Classrooms, homeschool, and Catholic education
• If your child has ever faced pressure, doubt, or the temptation to give up, Saint Sebastian’s story offers a powerful reminder:
You can stand firm—and keep going.”
I now suspect that the author, Paddy Bréagnamh, is a pen name, I can only find these volumes in this series and the previous one on Saint Patrick in several bookstores online. This tenth volume I have read shortly after it was released, at the same time this one was released another volume released and 2 more followed shortly after.
The chapters and sections in the volume are:
Dedication
Introduction
1. A Soldier in the Greatest Army in the World
2. The Secret Mission
3. The Secret Comes Out
4. Left for Dead
5. The Return
6. A Saint for Soldiers, Athletes, and the Sick
7. Stand Firm Like Sebastian
Reflection Questions
Timeline of Saint Sebastian
Author's Note
Mini Saints & Missionaries Library Series
The dedication in this volume states:
“For everyone who has ever had to choose between fitting in and standing up for what they believe.”
This volume is written for young readers, it would be considered an early chapter book. Each chapter has illustrations. The material is well put together. It is a good introduction to the saint. I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume they are:
“He was a Roman soldier—trained to endure pain, never break under pressure, and serve the emperor without question. He had rank, respect, and the favor of the most powerful man in the world. Today, he is honored as the patron saint of athletes—because he showed what it means to endure, push through, and never give up. But his greatest test wasn’t physical. It was whether he would stand firm when it cost him everything.”
“He was likely born in Milan, a prosperous city in northern Italy. He trained like a soldier: disciplined, strong, and able to endure what others could not. He was also deeply faithful, raised as a Christian at a time when Christianity was not just unpopular, but dangerous. Christians refused to worship the emperor’s gods. They met in secret. And they were sometimes arrested and killed for their beliefs.”
“Sebastian was led away. He did not argue or plead. Those who watched him go said he walked with the same calm he had always carried. He had already decided what mattered most.”
“Over the centuries, Sebastian's patronage expanded in surprising directions. Every group that claimed him saw the same thing. Soldiers claimed him because he was one of them: a man who understood loyalty and the cost of standing firm under fire. Athletes claimed him because they understood what his body had endured. A man shot through with arrows who still recovers. That is the kind of strength athletes recognize. Those suffering from illness had been turning to him for centuries. And archers, somewhat wryly, claimed him too.”
“The first part was quiet. For years, before anyone knew he was a Christian, Sebastian did the hidden work of faith: visiting prisoners, encouraging the frightened, helping people hold on when they wanted to give up. Nobody awarded him for it. He did it because it was right. Quiet courage builds who you are.”
“Decide now, in the quiet, before the hard moment arrives. Decide that your faith is not something to be embarrassed about. Decide that the people around you who are struggling need you to show up for them—not perfectly, not loudly, just faithfully.”
“I wrote this book for young people who are beginning to understand that faith isn't always easy. Sebastian's life is an answer to those moments, honest and real: this is what it looks like to decide, ahead of time, that God is worth it. I hope his story stays with you. And I hope it reminds you that the God who kept Sebastian's soul whole through every trial is the same God walking beside you right now.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. I am well beyond the recommended age for this book and series, being in my mid-50’s. In fact the youngest of my four children are 15 and 18, and they have both read books in this series and enjoyed them as well. This book and series are great read for the young and the young at heart! I would love to see how the author would handle Pier Giorgio Frassati, Charles de Foucauld, John Henry Newman, and many of my other favourite saints. But these books are so go no matter who is profiled next I know I will pick it up.
This latest release in this series, is another fantastic read. The series keeps getting better and better. It was an excellent little read in a great series.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books in the Mini Saints & Missionaries Library Series:
…
Lives of Women Saints: 52 True Stories of Courage, Faith, and Character
The Lives of Women Saints Coloring & Activity Book
The Lives of Women Saints Workbook
Mini Saints & Missionaries Seven Saints for Boys A First Communion Collection of Courage and Faith
...
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