St. Tarsicius
FREE Catholic Classes
Martyr. The only positive information concerning this Roman martyr is found in the poem composed in his honour by Pope Damasus ("Damasi epigrammata", ed. Ihm, 14). In these lines Damasus compares Tarsicius to the protomartyr Stephen: just as the latter was stoned by the people of Judea so Tarsicius, carrying the Blessed Sacrament, was attacked by a heathen rabble, and he suffered death rather "than surrender the Sacred Body [of Christ] to the raging dogs". This tradition so positively asserted by Damasus is undoubtedly historical. Nothing definite is known concerning the personality of this martyr of the Eucharist. He may have been a deacon, as Damasus compares him to Stephen. An addition to the sixth-century legend of the martyrdom of Pope St. Stephen makes Tarsicius, for some unknown reason, an acolyte ; this addition, however, is based on the poem of Damasus. It is evident that the death of this martyr occurred in one of the persecutions that took place between the middle of the third century and the beginning of the fourth. He was buried in the Catacomb of St. Callistus, and the inscription by Damasus was placed later on his tomb. In the seventh century his remains rested in the same grave as those of Pope Zephyrinus ; according to Willpert they lay in the burial vault above ground (cella trichora) which was situated towards the west over the Catacomb of St. Callistus. The feast of the saint is observed on 15 August.

To all our readers,
Please don't scroll past this. We interrupt your reading to humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online School's independence. 98% of our readers don't give; they look the other way. If you are an exceptional reader who has already donated, we sincerely thank you. If you donate just $10.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online School could keep thriving for years. Most people donate because Catholic Online School is useful. If Catholic Online School has given you $10.00 worth of knowledge this year, take a minute to donate. Show the world that access to Catholic education matters to you. Thank you.Help Now >
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
Saint of the Day for Friday, Aug 19th, 2022
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
-
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
-
St. John Eudes
-
Female / Women Saints
-
The Apostles' Creed
-
Bible
-
Saints & Angels
'Jesus said to his disciples: 'I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ...
-
Are these the Greatest Recipes on Earth?
-
Primacy of Peter, First Pope CONFIRMED by Discovery
-
WHAT? - If you pray the Rosary, you may be a 'violent extremist'
-
Tony Magliano: I Have Been Blacklisted by Ukrainian Government
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Saturday, August 20, 2022
St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Saint of the Day for Saturday, August 20, 2022
Soul of Christ: Prayer of the Day for Saturday, August 20, 2022
- Daily Readings for Friday, August 19, 2022
- St. John Eudes: Saint of the Day for Friday, August 19, 2022
- A Spirit to Know You: Prayer of the Day for Friday, August 19, 2022
FREE Catholic Classes Pick a class, you can learn anything
Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.