Saint Tarcisius

Tarcisius lived in Rome during a time when the Christians were persecuted by the pagans. Christians had to worship in a series of tunnels called the Catacombs. One day Tarcisius was taking the Eucharist to martyrs in prison. But while he was walking, he was caught and beaten. But he protected the Eucharist until he had been beaten to death. The Christians buried his body with honour in the Catacombs. This happened in the third century. Saint Tarcisius is the patron saint of altar servers. His feast day is August 15.