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Lives of the Saints:

How They Changed the World

Saint Tarcisius (third or fourth century)

Saint Tarcisius (third or fourth century)

Patron saint of altar servers and first communicants

Feast day: August 15




Saint Tarcisius was either a layman or a deacon who lived sometime in the third or fourth century. He was attacked by a pagan gang while he was on his way to deliver the Eucharist to a bedridden Christian friend. He was killed defending the Host. After the pagan gang had killed Tarcisius, they looked for the Hosts that he was carrying, but they had miraculously disappeared. (Image by Rama, Wikimedia Commons)