St. Tarsitius - figure in the altar of the church of S. Lorenzo fuori le mura in Rome
Fr. PONTIFEX - Heart of Gold, is a song
that is about the beauty and perseverance of the Church,
the Body of Christ, and all of its members.
Saint Tarcisius, pray for the children to preserve their innocence and to be prevented from bad example and abuse. Amen.
Also on August 15
St. Tarcisius: Boy Martyr of the Eucharist
Vocazione: "La storia di San Tarcisio"
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http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/TARCIS.htm
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 Taken from "The One Year Book of Saints" by Rev. Clifford Stevens, published by Our Sunday Visitor Books, Huntington, IN 46750. |
WOULD YOU DIE FOR THE EUCHARIST ? - https://www.gloria.tv/media/mjaVkRdcBAR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylZlCD4HL3k
St. Tarcisius
(3 Aug 2010) Saint Peter's Square has welcomed a new statute in its midst -- that of Saint Tarcisius -- patron of altar servers. The statue is here in this unique place for the international meeting of altar servers taking place in Rome from August 3rd to 4th.
This is a Pyx. It is used to carry consecrated hosts to people who cannot attend mass.
"If you will not look with the eyes of your soul on the many mercies which I have bestowed on you, open at least the eyes of your body, and behold Me before you, enclosed in a little pyx [small round container used to carry the Consecrated Host], and know assuredly that the rigor of My justice is even thus limited within the bounds of the mercy which I exercise toward men in the dispensation of this Sacrament. Consider in how small a space I give you My entire Divinity and My Humanity. Compare the size of this with the size of the human body, and judge then the greatness of My love. For as the human body surpasses my Body in size - that is to say, the quantity of the species of bread under which My Body is contained - so My mercy and charity in this Sacrament reduce Me to this state, that the soul which loves Me is in some sort above Me, as the human body is greater than My Body.
In order that you may know that My mercy is above all My works, and that the abyss of My mercy cannot be exhausted, I am ready to grant you, through the merit of this life - giving Sacrament [Holy Eucharist], more than you dare ask Me." Jesus to St. Gertrude the Great.
"I praise, adore, bless and thank you to the best of my ability for your wise mercy and your merciful wisdom! For you, my Creator and my Redeemer, have sought to curb my stiff-necked obstinacy under your sweet yoke with the remedy best suited to my infirmity." St. Gertrude the Great
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