St. Tarsicius

Patron Saint of Altar Servers and First Communicants

Little is known about this heroic martyr. Since Damasus compares him to Stephen, he may have been a deacon. A sixth century account refers to him as an acolyte, that is, a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession.

The only historical information concerning this early Roman martyr is found in a poem composed in his honor by Pope Damasus (366–384), who compares him to the deacon Saint Stephen and says that, as Stephen was stoned by a crowd, so Tarcisius, carrying the Blessed Sacrament, was attacked by a group and beaten to death.

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