The only information about this third century Roman martyr is a reference to him by Pope Damasus (366–384). One day, young Tarcisius was entrusted with the task of bringing the Eucharist to condemned Catholics in prison. He preferred death at the hands of a mob rather than hand over the Blessed Sacrament. Burial took place in the catacombs of San Callisto, and later, Damasus wrote an inscription. Par meritum, quicumque legis, cognosce duorum, quis Damasus rector titulos post praemia reddit. Iudaicus populus Stephanum meliora monentem perculerat saxis, tulerat qui ex hoste tropaeum, martyrium primus rapuit levita fidelis. Tarsicium sanctum Christi sacramenta gerentem cum male sana manus premeret vulgare profanis, ipse animam potius voluit dimittere caesus prodere quam canibus rabidis caelestia membra. 1. reddit: second line reddit means to submit for consideration. 2. result: Tarcisius is listed in the Roman Martyrology. 3. source: Damasi Epigrammata, Maximilian Ihm, 1895, n. 14. Maximilian Ihm (1863 - 1909) was a German classical philologist, a person who studies historical and comparative linguistics.
2 Comments
Josef Ketzer
10/7/2021 10:48:40 am
Those "prayer cards" are so charming...
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10/7/2021 11:56:20 am
Hi Joe: I picked up the prayer card from St Joseph Auburn Ca. I switched to St Stephen the First Martyr in Sacramento because of church closures, and St Stephen and St Tarcisius are compared in the Damasus quote! Notice that we spell his name differently in English. Every time I write his name, I have to look twice at my spelling.
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