MEMORIAL OF SAINT TARCISIUS, MARTYR (PROTECTOR OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST): Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this special feast day, we also celebrate the Memorial of Saint Tarcisius, Martyr. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Tarcisius on this special feast day, we humbly pray for our families and families all over the world, we pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our families and our world. We pray for all Altar Servers and those who serve the Lord, may God grant them His divine grace and mercy. We pray for the poor and needy, for the sick and dying, especially those who are suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SAINT TARCISIUS, MARTYR: St. Tarsicius or Tarcisius (d. 3rd to 4th century), known as the a young martyr of the Eucharist, was a martyr of the early Christian church who lived in the 3rd century. He was very holy and died when he was 12 years old. He prayed always and always would pray the Holy Rosary two times a day. The little that is known about him comes from a metrical inscription by Pope Damasus I, who was pope in the second half of the 4th century. St. Tarcisius was a twelve-year-old acolyte, a special assistant to the local priests and deacons in his local area within the Roman Empire during the reign of Valerian, one of the fierce Roman persecutions of the third century, probably during that of Valerian. Each day, from a secret meeting place in the catacombs where Christians gathered for Mass, a deacon would be sent to the prisons to carry the Eucharist to those Christians condemned to die. At one point, there was no deacon to send and so St. Tarcisius, an acolyte, was sent carrying the “Holy Mysteries” to those in prison. On the way, with the Body of our Lord carefully wrapped and hidden in his tunic, he was stopped by some boys his own age who were not Christians, were pagans but knew him as a playmate and lover of games. He was asked to join their games, but this time he refused and the crowd of boys noticed that he was carrying something. Somehow, he was also recognized as a Christian, and the small gang of pagan boys, anxious to view the Christian “Mysteries,” became a mob and turned upon Tarcisius with fury. He went down under the blows, as he fought to protect Jesus. St. Tarcisius and the Holy Eucharist were saved by a Christian passerby who stepped in, drove off the mob and rescued the young acolyte but by that time, it was too late, and St. Tarcisius died in his rescuer’s arms, a young martyr for Jesus Christ. The mangled body of St. Tarcisius was carried back to the catacombs, but the boy died on the way from his injuries. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Callistus, and his relics are claimed by the church of San Silvestro in Capite.

In the fourth century, Pope St. Damasus wrote a poem about this “boy-martyr of the Eucharist” and says that, like another St. Stephen, he suffered a violent death at the hands of a mob rather than give up the Sacred Body to “raging dogs.” His story became well known when Cardinal Wiseman made it a part of his novel Fabiola, in which the story of the young acolyte is dramatized and a very moving account given of his martyrdom and death. St. Tarcisius, one of the patron saints of altar boys, has always been an example of youthful courage and devotion, and his story was one that was told again and again to urge others to like heroism in suffering for their faith. In the Passion of Pope Stephen, written in the sixth century, Tarcisius is said to be an acolyte of the pope himself and, if so, this explains the great veneration in which he was held and the reason why he was chosen for so difficult a mission. St. Tarcisius is the Patron Saint of Acolytes; Altar Servers; First Communicants and his feast day is August 15.

The poem written on the catacombs in Rome by Pope St. Damascus (366-383) commemorating the martyrdom of St. Tarcisius: “When a wicked group of fanatics flung themselves on Tarcisius who was carrying the Eucharist, wanting to profane the Sacrament, the boy preferred to give up his life rather than yield up the Body of Christ to those rabid dogs.”

SAINT TARCISIUS PRAYER: O God, You have graciously called me to serve You upon Your altar. Grant me the graces that I need to serve You faithfully and wholeheartedly. Grant too that while serving You, may I follow the example of St. Tarcisius, who died protecting the Eucharist, and walk the same path that led him to Heaven… Amen🙏 St. Tarcisius, pray for me and for all Altar servers🙏