THE FIRST MARTYR OF THE EUCHARIST

It was in the early days of Christianity. Christians were persecuted, thrown to the beasts, and put to death.

Almost all sought first to receive Holy Communion.

The priests had to hide, for they were the most sought after by the enemies.

One day, after celebrating the divine mysteries in the catacombs, the priest turned to the faithful gathered there, showed them the Host, and said:

“Tomorrow many of ours will be led to the beasts. Which of you, less known than I, can secretly carry to them the Bread of the strong?”

At these words, a ten-year-old boy approached, named Tarcisius, who seemed to have stolen from the angels the purity of his soul and the beauty of his face. Kneeling before the altar, he stretched out his arms to the priest without speaking a word, as if wishing to say:

“I myself will bring Jesus to our imprisoned brothers…”

“You are very small,” said the priest. “How can I entrust you with such a treasure?”

“Yes, Father; precisely because I am small I shall approach the martyrs without anyone suspecting.”

He spoke with such ardor and innocence that the priest entrusted him with the “Mysteries of Jesus.”

Radiant with joy, the boy pressed his treasure to his breast and said:

“Before they tear me to pieces, no one shall take Him from me.”

He hurried off toward the Mamertine prison.

As he crossed the square, a group of boys surrounded him and tried to force him to join in their games.

“I cannot,” said Tarcisius, “I cannot, I am in a hurry.”

Seeing that he kept his hands pressed to his chest, they suspected that he carried the Christians’ mysteries. Shouting like madmen, they threw the poor boy to the ground, struck him, hurled stones at him, and left him lying there. Blood flowed especially from his mouth, but his hands did not loosen from his chest.

At that moment a Christian officer named Quadratus passed by. Leaping into the midst of the boys, he struck right and left and scattered the wicked gang.

Like a loving mother, he took the little martyr of the Eucharist with great reverence and carried him in his strong arms to the catacombs, where the priest, upon seeing the boy, could not hold back his tears. Tarcisius, the defender of Jesus, breathed his last there.