Tarcisius was a 3rd-century acolyte and martyr from Rome. According to historical accounts, most notably a poem by Pope Damasus I, he died during a period of intense Christian persecution. While some sources suggest he may have been a deacon, he is frequently identified as a young boy serving as an acolyte. He is celebrated for his courage in protecting the Eucharist, choosing to face a violent mob rather than surrender the Blessed Sacrament to those who sought to desecrate it.