Tarcisius, friends (3), Pope Sixtus II, Lawrence, Christians, mob (3), Valerian
(Enter Tarcisius, friends)
In about 257 AD, a 12 year old kid named Tarcisius was playing a game with friends, that consisted in throwing a leather ball stuffed with feathers around.
The kids were all laughing and having a good time, when suddenly they were interrupted by the emperor Valerian.
(Enter Valerian)
Valerian addressed the audience directly, and said "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears! Henceforth, I declare Christianity to be illegal! Anyone who refuses to offer sacrifices to Jupiter or Mars will be banished. No... executed! Mwahahaha!"
(Exit Valerian)
Tarcisius looked frightened.
His friends looked at him and said "Wait, aren't you a Christian? What will you do?"
Tarcisius said "I don't know."
(Exit friends, enter Pope Sixtus, Lawrence, and Christians.)
Later Tarcisius met with the other Christians in the Catacombs. Pope Sixtus II led them in Mass. He had his back turned to them, and he held up unleavened bread and said "On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread and said 'This is my Body'.
Tarcisius and the Christians knelt in worship.
After Mass, Pope Sixtus II turned to the Christians and said "My brothers and sisters, thank you for meeting with me in these tombs. As you know it is very dangerous to be a Christian these days, and even more dangerous to come to the Eucharist. But you risked your lives for this!"
Tarcisius and the others all nodded.
Then Pope Sixtus II gave the cup to Lawrence and said "Lawrence, get this cup as far from Rome as possible. It is the Holy Grail, the one used by Jesus at the Last Supper. It has been passed down from Peter to Linus and to all the Popes."
Lawrence said "Did you say Holy Grill?"
Pope Sixtus II said "Not Grill, Grail. It means cup."
Lawrence grinned. "Too bad, I thought we were going to have a barbecue!"
Everybody laughed, and Pope Sixtus said "Oh, Lawrence always the comedian." Then he grew stern and said "Now, go!"
Lawrence nodded, took the cup, and rode away to Spain.
(Exit Lawrence)
Pope Sixtus sighed. "I wish I had another deacon, who could bring communion to all the Christians in prison..."
Tarcisius spoke up "I'll do it!"
Pope Sixtus smiled, but said "The risk is too great! If you get caught.."
But Tarcisius said "The treasure of the Eucharist is far more valuable than the cup which held it. I'll protect it with my life!"
So Pope Sixtus gave the Eucharist to Tarcisius to bring to the prisons. Tarcisius took the vessel and wrapped in in his robes, holding it close to his heart.
(Exit Pope Sixtus and Christians, enter friends)
But when Tarcisius was walking, he saw his friends. His friends said "Hey Tarcisius, come play ball with us!"
But Tarcisius said "Not right now, I have to do something."
One of his friends said "What are you holding?"
Tarcisius didn't answer.
Another friend said "Is that one of your Christian treasures?"
(Enter Mob)
Soon a Mob gathered saying "Show us the treasure!"
But Tarcisius said "What I am carrying is sacred, and I will not show it to you!"
The Mob and friends surrounded Tarcisius, and yelled "Give it to us!" Their yelling sounded like angry dogs.
Tarcisius said "No! I must protect it from raging dogs!"
So the mob and friends started beating Tarcisius. Tarcisius fell to the ground, but would not let go of the Eucharist.
(Enter Christians)
When Christians saw what was happening, they chased the friends and the mob away.
(Exit friends and mob)
Tarcisius was still alive, and was still holding the Eucharist. The Christians picked up his body, and carried it back to the Catacombs, but along the way Tarcisius died.
Saint Tarcisius- Pray for us!