Fabian lived in the early 3rd century, when the Christian community in Rome was still small and often persecuted. The Church was still taking shape, and leadership roles were not yet fixed in the way they are today.
He was a layman. In the early Church, it was still possible for a layman to be chosen first and then ordained afterward in order to assume the office of pope.
On the day a new pope was to be elected, Fabian was present in Rome while the clergy and the people gathered. During the gathering, a dove flew into the crowd and settled on his head. After this moment, the assembly chose Fabian by acclamation.
After being chosen, he was ordained as a deacon, then as a priest, and finally consecrated as bishop. Once he became Bishop of Rome, he became pope around AD 236. These ordinations were carried out soon after his election, though the exact length of time is not recorded.
Pope Saint Fabian led the Church during a difficult period. When persecution began under Emperor Decius, he remained faithful and was executed in AD 250.
He is remembered as a pope who did not seek leadership, but accepted responsibility when it was entrusted to him.
Let’s keep learning the saints’ way—day by day.
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
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