All idols but one destroyed

Chromatius, the proconsul of Rome in the reign of the Emperor Diocletion, was at one time very sick from an illness that was pronounced incurable. Hearing of the miracles, which St. Sebastian worked in Rome at that time, he summoned the saint to his presence and promised that if he would cure him, he would embrace the Christian faith. Sebastian said, �You will recover, but first you must destroy all the idols in your house.� Chromatius promised to do this. However, a few days later he again sent for the saint and criticized him saying, �You promised that I would recover my health, yet I grow worse every day.� St. Sebastian replied, �You have assuredly not destroyed every one of the false gods.� The sick man acknowledged that he had retained one idol, � one only, that was made of gold and which he prized greatly. Sebastian told him that if he desired to recover his health, he must part with that idol also, even if he valued it above all his other possessions. Chromatius did so and was cured of his disease. It is the same with the sinner. So long as he is not earnestly resolved to give up his cherished sin it will be of little use to renounce all the others.

� Evangelization Station, 2010

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