02/08/2021
Mga bok at ter, it’s already August, during which we also acknowledge the many efforts of our altar servers. As we remember the roles and contributions of our hardworking and devoted-to-service servers, let us also appreciate the wonderful lives of some of their guides in their mission.
Here are six of the patron saints of altar servers. Please take note that the list does not end here. There are many other saints that can be recognized as such. Feel free to share their names and life stories with us through the post’s comments section. May these saints help our modern altar servers remain steadfast in their duty in serving Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and hopefully consider responding to the call to priesthood. 😃
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(1.) St. Tarcisius
- He was a 12-year-old acolyte during one of the fierce Roman persecutions of the third century, possibly during that of Valerian. Each day, from a secret meeting place in the catacombs where Christians gathered for Holy Mass, a deacon would be sent to the prisons to carry the Eucharist to those Christians who awaited martyrdom in prison. At one point, there was no deacon to send and so Tarcisius was entrusted with taking the Blessed Sacrament secretly to the imprisoned Christians. Eventually, his initiative was discovered, leading him to his demise.
(2.) St. John Berchmans
– He was a Jesuit novice from Belgium, and is considered as patron of altar servers, Jesuit novices and students. He wanted to become a priest. At 13 years old, he became a servant in the household of one of the Cathedral canons at Malines, John Froymont. The saind was also known for his diligence and piety, impressing all with his holiness and stress on perfection in little things.
(3.) St. Dominic Savio
- He was born into a peasant family at Riva, Italy, and had joined St. John Bosco as a student at the Oratory in Turin at the age of 12. He impressed Don Bosco with his desire to be a priest and to help him in his work with neglected boys. As a youth, he spent hours rapt in prayer. However, his health eventually declined, leading to his early demise. He died on March 9, 1857, after receiving the Last Sacraments.
(4.) St. Lorenzo Ruiz
- At a young age, the first Filipino saint served as an altar server at the Binondo Church. He studied under the Dominican friars. After a few years, he earned the title of calligrapher because of his skillful penmanship. He also became a member of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary.
(5.) St. Dominguito del Val
- This altar boy and choir boy, also recognized as “Little Dominic”, was reportedly killed by Jews in Aragon, Spain. He is listed as a martyr, being only seven when murdered.
(6.) St. Pedro Calungsod
- The second Filipino saint was also known to be a migrant, sacristan, and missionary catechist. Along with the Spanish Jesuit missionary Diego Luis de San Vitores, he suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam for their missionary work in 1672.
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Sources:
(1.) Life of Saint Tarcisius, Martyr for the Holy Eucharist — San Lazaro de Betania (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(2.) Saint Dominic Savio — Franciscan Media (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(3.) Saint of the Day – 13 August – Saint John Berchmans SJ (1599-1621) — Ana St. Paul (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(4.) Saint of the Day – 15 August – St Tarcisius (3rd century) Martyr of the Eucharist — San Lazaro de Betania (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(5.) St. Dominic del Val — Catholic Org (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(6.) St Dominic Savio (1954) — Salesian Missions (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(7.) St. John Berchmans — Catholic Org (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(8.) St. John Berchmans — New Advent (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(9.) St. Lorenzo Ruiz (Chinese-Filipino) — Asian Catholic Initiative (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(10.) St. Lorenzo Ruiz: first Filipino saint and martyr — Catholic News Herald (Retrieved on July 31, 2021; Published on September 24, 2019)
(11.) St. Pedro Calungsod (Filipino) — Asian Catholic Initiative (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
(12.) St. Tarcisius — EWTN (Retrieved on July 31, 2021)
