Tarcisius

Saint Tarcisius was born in Rome, likely in the mid–third century, during an age when confessing Christ could cost a believer his life. Though few details of his early years are known, the Church has long cherished the witness preserved in an ancient poem by Pope Damasus I. Like Saint Stephen, the first martyr, Tarcisius met a violent death at the hands of a hostile crowd. He was entrusted with a holy errand: carrying the Blessed Sacrament to imprisoned Christians awaiting condemnation. When he was confronted and pressed to hand over the sacred mysteries to those who would profane them, Tarcisius chose instead to protect the Eucharist at the price of his own life, suffering a fatal beating rather than betray the Lord he bore. He was first laid to rest in the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus, and devotion to him spread as a model of Eucharistic love and courage. Saint Tarcisius is especially honored as the patron of altar servers and first communicants, and also of Gazzo Veronese. His feast day is August 15.