About Tarcisius
How old was Tarcisius in the story?
12 years old
What "treasure" was Tarcisius carrying under his shirt?
The Eucharist (the sacred bread)
Who surrounded Tarcisius on the street?
A group of Roman boys
On what day do people celebrate Saint Tarcisius?
August 15th
Saint Tarcisius is the patron saint of which group of children?
Altar servers and children making their First Communion
What year did these events happen in Rome?
257 AD
Where was he trying to take the sacred bread?
To the Christians in prison
How did Tarcisius protect the treasure while he walked?
He pressed one hand over his chest under his tunic
Where was he buried after he died?
In the catacombs (underground tunnels) beneath Rome
What does this story teach us about being a hero?
That heroes come in all sizes and holiness has no age limit
What did Tarcisius look like?
He was small for his age with dark eyes
Which leader of the Church had just been arrested?
Pope Sixtus II
Why did the Roman boys want to search him?
They thought he was hiding something valuable or Christian items
What was the miracle that happened to his body right after he died?
His arms stayed locked tight across his chest, and the attackers could not open them
How do artists usually show Tarcisius in pictures?
As a young guardian holding the sacred bread close to his heart
Who was the Roman Emperor who was hurting Christians?
Emperor Valerian
Why did the priest first say Tarcisius was not the right person for the job?
Because he was too young and too small to defend himself
Why didn't Tarcisius run away when the boys started to bother him?
He was afraid that if he ran, he might drop the sacred bread
When the priest finally opened Tarcisius’s arms, what did he find?
The sacred bread was still safe, unbroken, and pure
Tarcisius is a great example of what teaching about love
Giving up your life for your friends
What was the name for the special messengers, like Tarcisius, who carried the sacred bread?
Acolytes
Why did Tarcisius think being a child actually helped the mission
Because guards would not suspect a child, and he could move through the streets without being noticed
What were the last words Tarcisius said to his attackers?
"I'm sorry but I cannot do that. I will not do that"
How did this story change the minds of some Romans?
They started to wonder why a religion would make a child so brave
How does Tarcisius help kids today who feel pressured to "fit in"?
He shows how to be brave and stand firm in what you believe, even when it is hard