St. Tarcisius, Acolyte and Martyr (3rd Century)
St. Tarcisius gave his life in defense of our Lord in the Blessed Eucharist. He and Blessed Imelda Lambertini are two of the great patron saints for First Communicants.
CATACOMBS AND PERSECUTIONS
In the middle of the third century, a fierce persecution broke out against the Christians of Rome. These Christians had long lived under the imminent threat of death for their belief, and their faith had been tested and purified like gold in fire. Yet the persecution of Emperor Valerian (253-259) was perhaps the most intense since the days of the maniacal Nero.
Our story centers upon a youth named Tarcisius. Tradition tells us he was an acolyte, which is the minor sacerdotal order which centers upon giving oneself in service for the Holy Eucharist. He was asked by his bishop, most likely Pope St. Sixtus II, to carry the Holy Eucharist to a group of Christian priests and faithful who were in prison awaiting their death sentence. They had been praying in the catacombs when their secret location had been revealed by a betrayer. Soldiers had chained them all, whipped them, and dragged them to a dungeon near the coliseum. Knowing of the manifold graces contained in the Holy Eucharist, the Christians had begged their Shepherd to nourish them with the Bread of Heaven so that they would be able to persevere and remain faithful to Christ in the face of torture and death. With our Lord in their hearts and souls, they knew they would be able to bear all pains for love of Him.
THE BRAVE ACOLYTE
This request reached the Pope just as he was about to begin Holy Mass within one of the other catacombs. The underground chapel was quite dark except for the candles on the altar, but all who were kneeling there could see the Pope as he turned round before he began his Mass and asked all present to pray that he might choose the best messenger to carry the Blessed Sacrament to the prisoners. No priest could do this, because he would be at once seized and imprisoned, and many of the other Christians were well known. When the Mass was over, the Pope turned round again and asked who would be willing to risk his life to carry Holy Communion to the prisoners. Two or three men offered, but Pope Sixtus feared they would be caught and put to death. He preferred a clandestine operation. It was then that the youth, Tarcisius, bravely stepped forward and begged to be allowed to carry Our Lord to those who needed Him so much. "I am so young," he said, "the pagans will think I am only a messenger boy, and let me pass."
Tarcisius was an orphan, and well known to all for his great love of the Blessed Sacrament. At first Pope Sixtus thought he might be too young. But Tarcisius begged so ardently and the people had prayed so fervently, that the Holy Ghost surely moved Pope Stixtus to acquiesce. He ordained him an acolyte and then placed several Sacred Hosts within a ‘makeshift ciborium,’ a white linen cloth within a case. Tarcisius placed it within his tunic, just over his heart, and with his hand clasped over his Sacred Burden he started off.
MARTYRDOM
As Tarcisius hastened towards the dungeons of the condemned, he was intercepted by his peers who enjoined him to participate in their leisure games and activities. When Tarcisius declined, several grew curious and wished to know what was so important that he could not tarry with them. Tarcisus attempted to discreetly explain that he had to fulfill his duties. The suspicions of the pagan youths were aroused, especially when they noted how he protectively carried something beneath his cloak. They questioned him and yet he refused to reveal the priceless treasure he carried. Now the indignation of these violent youths had been aroused. They formed a ring about Tarcisius and began to berate him and manhandle him. They caused such a commotion that very quickly a mob began to gather. Pressed from all sides, Tarcisius could only use his body to shield the Sacred Hosts. He preferred death rather than betraying our Lord by allowing any sacrilege to befall His Real Presence. Someone in the mob accused him of being a Christian, another of cooperating in the Christian Mysteries, and yet another of some devilry. This incited the pagan mob to a maddened frenzy and they beat and stoned Tarcisus. Soon his body lay twisted, broken and bleeding upon the ground.
A group of Roman soldiers arrived and dispersed the unruly mob. One of them happened to secretly be a Christian and recognized Tarcisius. The mob having scattered, he stooped down and lifted Tarcisius in his arms. He carried him down a solitary alley and gently called his name. Tarcisius opened his eyes and recognized the soldier as one of the men he had often seen worshipping with the Christian in the catacombs. Before expiring, Tarcisus was able to unclasp his hands from his heart and entrust his Sacred Charge to this fellow Christian. We might imagine him saying with his last breath, "I am dying, but I have kept my God safe from them." He handed his Precious Treasure to the soldier, who must have reverently placed It within his tunic. "Carry Him for me… to those in prison…. To those in need.”
As a martyr for Christ, his soul would have gone directly to heaven. Reflecting upon his life, we recall the words of our Lord "Greater love than this no man hath, that that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Jn 15:13).
VENERATION
In the 4th century, Pope St. Damasus (366-384) composed a poem in honor of this Roman martyr and compared him to the proto martyr, Deacon St. Stephen. Part of that poem reads as follows: “When an insane gang pressed saintly Tarsicius, who was carrying the sacraments of Christ, to display them to the profane, he preferred to be killed and give up his life rather than betray to rabid dogs the heavenly body.” (Tarsicium sanctum Christi sacramenta gerentem * cum male sana manus premeret vulgare profanis,* ipse animam potius voluit dimittere cæsus * prodere quam canibus rabidis cælestia membra.) This inscription was placed upon his tomb in the Catacombs of San Callisto. Some time later his relics were moved to the Church of San Silvestro in Capite in Rome. Since his feast day is August 15th, he is not listed in the General Roman Calendar, but only in the Roman Martyrology.
(Note, Pope St. Damasus is the pope who finally ended the Arian Heresy within the Church. It took more than fifty years to rid the Church of this pernicious error, yet he made it clear that unless one held the orthodox and true Faith, one was outside of the Church. It was under this leadership that Catholicism became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and not just tolerated. The Arian heresy did continue for several centuries, but from then on it was clear to all that the Arians were outside the Church.)
For centuries, Tarcisius was a very popular saint, especially on account of his love for the Blessed Sacrament. He is often depicted being stoned and protecting the ciborium. All of us can imitate his example, but he is particularly helpful for First Communicants. Young boys especially have an innate desire to be courageous and defend that which they cherish. This spirit must be strengthened in them because a man has such a solemn obligation to protect his wife and children, his nation and Church. By St. Tarcisus' intercession these holy and pious sentiments can be fostered among our youth.
FOR TODAY
Today, the Holy Eucharist is under many attacks, both from within and without the Church. We hear that black satanic masses will be publicly sanctioned. We hear that those who scandalously live in a state of sin may be allowed to receive Holy Communion. All around us, unconsecrated hands manhandle Our Lord as His Body falls to the ground and is then stepped upon, swept up and thrown away – all within our Catholic Churches! The sacrileges against the Holy Eucharist have been decried time and time again by our Blessed Mother in her heavenly apparitions. Let us pray to St. Tarcisius, that by his intercession we may receive the grace necessary to be willing to defend, at all costs, the Holy Eucharist from sacrilege and profanation.
A final note: People mistakenly often cite St. Tarcisius as a "saintly precedent" to laypeople acting as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion or in taking Holy Communion to the sick. An important distinction needs to be made: St. Tarcisius was ordained for this role as an acolyte, which gave him permission to touch the ciborium. In no way was he allowed to touch the Sacred Host as this is only allowed for those who have consecrated hands. He was simply carrying the ciborium from his bishop in the catacombs to his priests in the dungeon. As a priest told me recently, "I am a sinner like all of you, but my hands are holy because they have been consecrated to God. That is why I can touch His Sacred Body."
St. Tarcisius, ora pro nobis!