13 Saint Tarcisius (third century) Rome, A.D. 257. Emperor Valerian launched a vast persecution against Christians. Imperial soldiers arrested them without cause and con scated their belongings, lling the empire’s treasury. Many Christians languished in prison, and the ones who were still free lived in fear. Among these who lived under threat was the young altar server Tarcisius. Danger in the Air The celebration was over, but the Christians in the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus took their time finishing their silent prayer. No one was in a hurry to go back into the daylight. Over the past few months, Rome had become a dangerous city for Jesus Christ’s followers. The number of arrests was growing, especially among Christians whose nobility and wealth were coveted by the emperor. Even the catacombs were not a safe refuge, since soldiers knew these underground tunnels well. Pope Stephen I had been put to death in there just a few weeks before, while he was celebrating Mass. Despite the risk, it was comforting to stay together to pray in these cool, dark galleries, the resting place of many fellow Christians who had already returned to God. Important Mission Suddenly, the voice of the priest broke the silence: “Who would like to go and give Communion to our brothers in prison? I have to visit Trophimus, who is sick at home.” A boy looked up. He was Tarcisius, the altar server. Under the light of the torch, he looked at the faces around him and saw that everyone was hesitating. Visits to the prisoners were allowed, but if you came across an unwilling guard, you risked finding yourself on the wrong side of the bars, or even thrown into the dungeon without a trial. “I will go!” Tarcisius said. “No, not you,” the priest replied. “You are too young.”
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