THE LIFE OF ST. TARCISIUS

(came from an internet source...)

ST. TARCISIUS

Tarcisius was a twelve-year-old acolyte during 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, he was stopped by boys his own age who were not Christians 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 boys, anxious to view the Christian "Mysteries," became a mob and turned upon Tarcisius with fury. He went down under the blows, and it is believed that a fellow Christian drove off the mob and rescued the young acolyte. The mangled body of 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. 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 a 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. Thought for the Day: Mere boys can become saints, and youth is no barrier to holiness. The call to holiness begins at baptism, and we do not have to wait for old age and gray hair to serve God. Youthful saints tell us something about sanctity, and their example is especially luminous as they dedicate their young lives to God. From 'The Catholic One Year Bible': In a race, everyone runs but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. - 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Feastday: August 15 Patron of first communicants

Tarsicius was an acolite or perhaps a deacon at Rome. He was accosted and beaten to death on the Appian Way by a mob while carrying the Eucharist to some Christians in prison. The incident is included in Cardinal Wiseman's novel "Fabiola", and Pope Damasus wrote a poem about it. Tarsicius is the patron of first communicants and his feast day is August 15

St. Tarcisius (or Tarsicius) (Italian

San Tarsicio or Tarcisio) was a martyr A martyr A martyr A martyr (Greek: μάρτυς, mártys, "witness"; stem μάρτυρ-, is somebody who suffers persecution and death, a country or an organization, usually religious, political or rights of the early Christian  His story was greatly expanded by Nicholas Cardinal Wiseman, who portrays him as a young acolyte in his novel the feast day of said saint is celebrated on 15 August, but, since that day is occupied by the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary he is not mentioned in the General Roman Calendar Roman Rite is used, but only in the Roman Martyrology. He is the patron saint of altar servers and first communicants or First Holy Communion, is a Catholic Church ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Catholic Church... Bell (instrument) is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck... is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, OP... Vienna is the capital of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...is named after him. Blessed José Sánchez del Río was a young Mexican Cristero who was put to death by government officials because he refused to renounce his Catholic faith. He has been declared a martyr and was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on November 20, 2005.-Life:José Luis Sánchez del Río was born on March was nicknamed "Tarcisius."

Society of St Tarcisius : Sodality of Traditional Altar Servers Saturday, 14 August 2010 Pope Benedict XVI on St Tarcisius. In a General Audience in St Peter's Square, on 4th August this year, Pope Benedict XVI referred to St Tarcisius. A large group of mainly German altar servers presented the Pope with a statue of St Tarcisius. The Pope refers to the life of our saint as an inspiration to altar servers today, and calls us to greater fidelity to the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament:

"Martyrdom will probably not be required of us, but Jesus asks of us fidelity in small things, inner recollection, inner participation, our faith and our efforts to keep this treasure present in every day life. He asks of us fidelity in daily tasks, a witness to his love, going to church through inner conviction and for the joy of his presence."

The copy of the full address below is takenfrom:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20100804_en.html# and is copyright of Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to express my joy at being here with you today in this Square, where you have gathered festively for this General Audience, attended by such large numbers of the great European pilgrimage for altar servers! Dear boys and girls and young people, welcome to Rome! Since the vast majority of the altar servers present in the Square are German-speaking, I shall speak to them first of all in my mother tongue. Dear altar servers, dear friends, dear German-speaking pilgrims, welcome to Rome! I greet cordially all of you and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State. He is called "Tarcisio" like your Patron Saint. You have had the courtesy to invite him and he, who is called Tarcisius after the Saint, is happy to be able to be here among the world's altar servers and the German altar servers. I greet my dear Brothers in the episcopate and in the Priesthood, and the Deacons who have wished to take part in this Audience. I warmly thank Bishop Martin Gächter, Auxiliary of Basel, President of "Coetus Internationalis Ministrantium", for his greeting to me, for the important gift of the statue of St Tarcisius and for the scarf he has given me. It all reminds me of the time when I too was an altar boy. I also thank Bishop Gächter on your behalf for the great work he carries out among you. I likewise thank your co-workers and all who got together to make this joyful meeting possible. My gratitude also goes to the Swiss sponsors and to all who have worked in their various capacities to make the large statue of St Tarcisius a reality. How many of you there are! While flying over St Peter's Square in the helicopter I saw all the colours and the joy filling this Square! Thus not only do you create a festive atmosphere in the Square but you also fill my heart with joy! Thank you! The statue of St Tarcisius has come to us after a long pilgrimage. In September 2008 it was unveiled in Switzerland in the presence of 8.000 altar servers; some of you were certainly present. From Switzerland it travelled through Luxembourg on the way to Hungary. Let us greet it festively today, glad at being able to become better acquainted with this figure of the early Church. Later, as Bishop Gächter told us, the statue will be taken to the Catacombs of St Calixtus, where St Tarcius was buried. The hope that I express to all is that this place, namely the Catacombs of St Calixtus, and this statue, may become a reference point for altar servers, boys and girls, and for all who wish to follow Jesus more closely through the priestly, religious or missionary life. May they all be able to look at this strong and courageous boy and renew their commitment to friendship with the Lord, to learn to live with him always, following the path he points out to us with his word and the witness of so many Saints and Martyrs whose brothers and sisters we have become through Baptism. Who was St Tarcisius? We do not have much information about him. We are dealing with the early centuries of the Church's history or, to be more precise, with the third century. It is said that he was a boy who came regularly to the Catacombs of St Calixtus here in Rome and took his special Christian duties very seriously. He had great love for the Eucharist and various hints lead us to conclude that he was presumably an acolyte, that is, an altar server. Those were years in which the Emperor Valerian was harshly persecuting Christians who were forced to meet secretly in private houses or, at times, also in the Catacombs, to hear the word of God, to pray and to celebrate Holy Mass. Even the custom of taking the Eucharist to prisoners and the sick became increasingly dangerous. One day, when, as was his habit, the priest asked who was prepared to take the Eucharist to the other brothers and sisters who were waiting for it, young Tarcisius stood up and said: "send me!". This boy seemed too young for such a demanding service! "My youth", Tarcisius said, "will be the best shield for the Eucharist". Convinced, the priest entrusted to him the precious Bread, saying: "Tarcisius, remember that a heavenly treasure has been entrusted to your weak hands. Avoid crowded streets and do not forget that holy things must never be thrown to dogs nor pearls to pigs. Will you guard the Sacred Mysteries faithfully and safely?". "I would die", Tarcisio answered with determination, "rather than let go of them". As he went on his way he met some friends who approached him and asked him to join them. As pagans they became suspicious and insistent at his refusal and realized he was clasping something to his breast that he appeared to be protecting. They tried to prize it away from him, but in vain; the struggle became ever fiercer, especially when they realized that Tarcisius was a Christian; They kicked him, they threw stones at him, but he did not surrender. While Tarcisius was dying a Pretoria guard called Quadratus, who had also, secretly, become a Christian, carried him to the priest. Tarcisius was already dead when they arrived but was still clutching to his breast a small linen bag containing the Eucharist. He was buried straight away in the Catacombs of St Calixtus. Pope Damasus had an inscription carved on St Tarcisius' grave; it says that the boy died in 257. The Roman Martyrology fixed the date as 15 August and in the same Martyrology a beautiful oral tradition is also recorded. It claims that the Most Blessed Sacrament was not found on St Tarcisius' body, either in his hands or his clothing. It explains that the consecrated Host which the little Martyr had defended with his life, had become flesh of his flesh thereby forming, together with his body, a single immaculate Host offered to God. Dear altar servers, St Tarcisius' testimony and this beautiful tradition teach us the deep love and great veneration that we must have for the Eucharist: it is a precious good, a treasure of incomparable value; it is the Bread of life, it is Jesus himself who becomes our nourishment, support and strength on our daily journey and on the open road that leads to eternal life; the Eucharist is the greatest gift that Jesus bequeathed to us. I am addressing those of you who are present here and, through you, all the altar servers of the world! Serve Jesus present in the Eucharist generously. It is an important task that enables you to be particularly close to the Lord and to grow in true and profound friendship with him. Guard this friendship in your hearts jealously, like St Tarcisius, ready to commit yourselves, to fight and to give your lives so that Jesus may reach all peoples. May you too communicate to your peers the gift of this friendship with joy, with enthusiasm, without fear, so that they may feel that you know this Mystery, that is true and that you love it! Every time that you approach the altar, you have the good fortune to assist in God's great loving gesture as he continues to want to give himself to each one of us, to be close to us, to help us, to give us strength to live in the right way. With consecration, as you know, that little piece of bread becomes Christ's Body, that wine becomes Christ's Blood. You are lucky to be able to live this indescribable Mystery from close at hand! Do your task as altar servers with love, devotion and faithfulness; do not enter a church for the celebration with superficiality but rather, prepare yourselves inwardly for Holy Mass! Assisting your priests in service at the altar helps to make Jesus closer, so that people can understand, can realize better: he is here. You collaborate to make him more present in the world, in everyday life, in the Church and everywhere. Dear friends! You lend Jesus your hands, your thoughts, your time. He will not fail to reward you, giving you true joy and enabling you to feel where the fullest happiness is. St Tarcisius has shown us that love can even bring us to give our life for an authentic good, for the true good, for the Lord. Martyrdom will probably not be required of us, but Jesus asks of us fidelity in small things, inner recollection, inner participation, our faith and our efforts to keep this treasure present in everyday life. He asks of us fidelity in daily tasks, a witness to his love, going to church through inner conviction and for the joy of his presence. Thus we can also make known to our friends that Jesus is alive. May St John Mary Vianney's intercession help us in this commitment. Today is the liturgical Memorial of this humble French Parish Priest who changed a small community and thus gave the world a new light. May the example of St Tarcisius and St John Mary Vianney impel us every day to love Jesus and to do his will, as did the Virgin Mary, faithful to her Son to the end. Thank you all once again! May God bless you in these days and I wish you a good journey home!

Saint Tarcisius

We are fortunate to practice our Catholic Faith without fear or danger of death. Yet there are some of us who take our Faith for granted and don't even bother to attend Holy Mass on Sundays or receive Holy Communion. Tarcisius lived at that point in our Church history when the mere mention of "Christian" or "Christ" was enough to get someone arrested and thrown to the lions or be beheaded.

The place was Rome in the third cen­tury. Tarcisius served Holy Mass in the cata­combs. These are underground cemeteries that served a double purpose: first, as burial place for Christians who had died or had been martyred; and second, as a place to which Christians could go to perform devo­tions, administer sacraments, and celebrate the Eucharist in secrecy. This had to be done to keep the Christians from being per­secuted by the pagans. One day Tarcisius was carrying the Blessed Sacrament to the martyrs in prison when he was caught and beaten. But he did not give up the Eucharist. He died as a boy-martyr of the Holy Eucharist. The Christians buried his body with honor in the catacombs. The story of Tarcisius reminds us how much the Christians loved the Blessed Sac­rament. Holy Mass and Holy Communion gave them strength to die for their Faith. Tarcisius' example teaches us to love Jesus as our best Friend. He helps us to be good and to make sacrifices for our Holy Faith, for he gave his life for the love of Jesus. We celebrate his feast day on August 15—the same day we celebrate the solem­nity of Mary's Assumption. On this day, when we take Holy Communion, let us ask his intercession for greater love for the Eucharist.

August 15th - St. Tarcisius

Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 11:08:08 -0500

August 15th - St. Tarcisius, martyr Third Century
A tradition dating from the sixth century says that St. Tarcisius was an acolyte whose fidelity and courage so impressed the leaders of the Church during the persecution of Valerian that he was entrusted with taking the Blessed Sacrament secretly to the Christians who awaited martyrdom in prison. This custom arose when the priests who ministered to the prisoners would be easily discovered, while the acolytes were less known to the heathens .. The Roman Martyrology, based on the fourth-century poem of Pope St. Damasus, gives the story of the "boy martyr of the Eucharist" in these words: "At Rome, on the Appian way, the passion of St. Tarcisius the acolyte, whom pagans met carrying the sacrament of the Body of Christ and asked him what it was he was carrying. He deemed it a shameful thing to cast pearls before the swine, and so was assaulted by them for a long time with clubs and stones until he gave up the ghost. When they turned over his body, the sacrilegious assailants could find no trace of Christ's Sacrament either in his hands or in his clothing. The Christians took up the body of the martyr and buried it with honor in the cemetery of Callistus." In his poem Pope Damasus compares St. Tarcisius with St. Stephen who was stoned by the Jews, and praises the martyr for suffering a cruel death rather than surrender "the divine Body to raging dogs." The body of St. Tarcisius was most probably laid to rest with those of Pope St. Zephyrinus and others in the Basilica of St. Sixtus and Cecilia, but at present it is said to be in the Church of San Silvestro in Capite. St. Tarcisius is venerated as a model for altar boys and as an example of loving and heroic devotion to our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. St. Tarsicius is a good saint to pray to for teens, because he is a patron saint for teenagers. Ask him to help you stand up for your faith by praying to him about your problems.

Reflection: To honor the martyrs and duly celebrate their feasts, we must learn their spirit and study to imitate them according to our state of life. We must, like them, resist evil, subdue our passions, suffer afflictions with patience, and bear with others without murmuring or complaining. The cross is the ladder by which we must ascend to heaven.
Taken from "A Saint A Day" by Berchmans Bittle, O.F.M.Cap., published by The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee (c) 1958 Quote If the world goes against the truth, then Athanasius goes against the world. -St. Athanasius

Bible Quote: 1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them, 3 And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And he that shall receive one such
little child in my name, receiveth me. (Matthew 18:1-5)

This prayer taken from venerable Pope Pius XII's solemn pronunciation of the Assumption, "Munificentissimus Deus,";  “O most merciful God our Father, Thou hast bestowed on Thy creation a plan for the salvation all souls that would adore Thee and follow Thy commandments. By the power of the Holy Ghost, Holiness Incarnate willed to be made man and be born of a chaste and sanctified vessel. In Thine infinite wisdom and purpose of Mind, Thou didst choose our Mother Mary as that blessed abode, the Holy of Holies, the Ark of the Covenant. For this purpose of Redemption of mankind, we render praise to Thee that the Mother of God wast kept from every stain of Original Sin, and by this entirely unique privilege was completely absolved through her Immaculate Conception. We know in the wonderful harmony and order of those privileges which Thee, most provident God, hath lavished upon this loving associate of our Redeemer, that there are graces which reach such an exalted plane that, except for her, nothing created by Thee, other than the human nature of Jesus Christ, hath ever reached. By her Immaculate Conception, when her life here had finished, our Blessed Mother was not subject to the law of remaining in the corruption of the grave, but instead was given glory in her Divine appointment by her glorious Assumption into Heaven with Thee, body and soul. It was fitting that she, who hath kept her virginity intact in childbirth, should be kept in body free from all corruption, even after death; and she who hath carried the Creator as a Child at her breast, should dwell in the Divine tabernacles; and whom you, Father, hath taken to yourself, should live in the Divine mansions; and who hath seen her Son upon the tree of the Cross and had thereby received into her heart the sword of sorrow which she had escaped in the act of giving birth to Him, should look upon Him as He sits at Thy right Hand; and that the Mother of God should possess what belongs to Thy Divine Son; and that she should be honored by every creature as the Mother of Thy Son and as the handmaiden of the Lord. And so, O God, we joyfully celebrate this wondrous Feast that glories not only that the perished body of the Blessed Virgin Mary remained incorrupt, but that she gained a triumph out of death, and by Thy Son she obtained a Heavenly glorification in her Assumption. As she was assumed to a place of honor in Heaven, we desire too for a share of her eternal glory, and beseech the perpetual intercession of our Blessed Lady that we may praise Thee without ceasing, and we ask this as we ask all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the Unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, forever, and ever. Amen.”