In the early days of Christianity, there lived a young boy named Tarcisius. Saint Tarcisius was a devoted Christian who lived during one of the worst persecutions of the Roman Empire. Saint Tarcisius went to Mass in the catacombs every day. Every day, a deacon would take the Eucharist to the Christians in prison. One day, there was no deacon available to do this. Saint Tarcisius, a young boy, volunteered to do this deadly work for Jesus.
As he carried the sacred Host, a group of boys who were not Christians confronted him, demanding to know what he was carrying. Saint Tarcisius would not show the boys what he was carrying. He chose to protect the Eucharist with his life. The boys gave him a terrible beating. Another Christian found Tarcisius badly injured and bleeding and carried him to the catacombs where he died.
Saint Tarcisius reminds us that even young boys can be saints. It takes great faith and great courage. If you would like to be a brave and faith-filled saint, ask Saint Tarcisius to intercede for you. Because Saint Tarcisius died protecting the Eucharist, he is also the patron saint of altar servers.