St.
Tarcisius, the Patron Saint of Altar Servers
When the emperor Valerian ordered the execution of bishops, priests, and deacons,
Christians attended Mass in basements and in the catacombs outside the city walls. Deacons
would take Communion to Christians for whom getting to Mass was too dangerous.
On one such occasion, no deacon was available. The priest did not know what he would do
until his altar boy, a young Roman boy of 11 named Tarcisius, stepped forward after Mass
and said that he would carry Communion to some Christians waiting inside the city walls.
The priest admired Tarcisius for his grit, gave him the Sacred Hosts wrapped in silk along
with a quick blessing, and sent him toward the city.
All was going well until Tarcisius ran into some pagan boys his own age who asked him to
come and join their game. Tarcisius thanked them, explained he had an errand to run, but
said he would join them later.
"Oh! Christian boy!" One of the pagan boys sneered. "Is it that you think you are too good
to play with us?" And they circled around Tarcisius.
"Not at all," said Tarcisius. "I have something to deliver and must be on my way."
"Well—show us what it is! What is the big secret, Christian boy?"
"It is no business of yours," said Tarcisius, looking each of the boys squarely in the eye.
"Now step aside and make way."
Rather than stepping aside, the pagan boys closed their circle around Tarcisius, and as they
did they picked up heavy sticks and rocks from the ground. One of them shouted, "I bet he's
carrying the Christian Mysteries! Are you Christian boy?" demanded another. "Show us!"
Tarcisius, clutching his precious cargo to his chest made a dash for what looked like an
opening in the circle, but he was not quick enough. The mob of boys closed around him and
they began to club him with the stones and heavy sticks. Tarcisius did not cry out, but
quietly prayed, ever clutching the Blessed Sacrament to his chest. The pagan boys beat him
to death.
With bloodied hands, they seized the bruised and broken body of Tarcisius and tried to twist
the silk cloth carrying the Eucharist out of his dead arms. Although he had no life left in
him, Tarcisius would not let go of our Lord. The boys tried for hours to pry his arms open
but they failed and failed again. They left Tarcisius's body by the side of the road for the
vultures to eat.
After a time, some Christians went looking for Tarcisius, and when they found his broken
and bloody corpse still clinging to the Blessed Sacrament, they guessed what had happened.
Carefully lifting the small boy's body, they gently bore it back to the priest, who by now had
grown deeply concerned about his young altar boy. The Christians set the boy's body at the
foot of the priest, who knelt down and quietly brushed Tarcisius's hair, matted with blood,
away from his face and with his thumb made the Sign of the Cross on his forehead. At that
moment, Tarcisius's body unfolded its arms and released the Blessed Sacrament to the priest,
and all who witnessed this knew that here was a holy Christian boy who had held Jesus in his
arms and who now was being held forever in the arms of Jesus.
