Saint Tarcisius
Feast day: August 15
Saint Tarcisius, a Roman boy who died protecting the Eucharist, patron of altar servers (15/08).
Who is he?
Saint Tarcisius was a martyr in Rome around the third century. He is called “the martyr of the Eucharist,” because he died protecting the Body of Christ. Altar servers and children making their First Communion take him as their patron saint.
Life story
We know very little about Saint Tarcisius. The most certain source is a poem written by Pope Saint Damasus in the fourth century and carved on his tomb. The poem tells that when an angry crowd demanded that he show them the “holy mysteries” he was carrying, he chose to die rather than let the Body of Christ be dishonored. Pope Damasus even compared him to Saint Stephen, the first martyr.
According to a tradition told later, Tarcisius was a boy who helped with the liturgy in the Christian community of Rome. At that time, the faithful had to celebrate Mass secretly in private homes, sometimes near the catacombs, the underground cemeteries. Many were imprisoned, waiting to be executed. They longed to receive Jesus in the Eucharist for strength.
One day, when it was not possible for a priest to go, Tarcisius asked to carry the Eucharist to his brothers and sisters in prison. He wrapped the Host in a clean cloth, held it close to his chest and walked along the Appian Way. On the way, a group of pagans recognized him as a Christian and wanted to know what he was holding. They demanded that he give it to them. Tarcisius absolutely refused, because it was Jesus. They attacked him and beat him very badly, but he still did not let go. He died still holding the Eucharist tightly to his heart.
His body was buried in the catacomb of Callixtus, beside the Appian Way, and his name is written in the Church’s official list of saints.
Why is he a saint?
Saint Tarcisius believed that the consecrated bread is truly Jesus. Out of love for the Lord, he bravely protected him to the very end, and would rather die than let the Eucharist be dishonored. Jesus said: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever” (Jn 6:51).
A lesson for you
- When you receive Holy Communion, prepare a clean heart, receive the Lord with reverence, and spend a few minutes thanking him.
- When you serve at Mass, do it with reverence, because you are serving Jesus himself.
- Whenever you pass a church, greet Jesus in the Eucharist, who is present in the tabernacle.
Identifying marks
- Both hands holding a white cloth bundle tightly to his chest: according to tradition, he hid the Eucharist in a cloth and held it close to protect it.
- A Roman boy in a white tunic, a small cloak and leather sandals: the everyday clothes of a boy in ancient Rome.
- The Appian Way lined with pines and cypresses: according to tradition, he was caught on the Appian Way, near the catacomb (underground cemetery) of Callixtus.
- A palm leaf (*): the martyr’s palm; our card leaves it out so that both his hands can hold the Eucharist.
(*) Only in some pictures and statues.
The text on this page is the saint card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Collect this card and read more about the saints in the app