Welcome to the one and only Saturday vote of Lent Madness 2021. After today, your weekends will be free from difficult and heart-wrenching electoral/sanctoral decisions. Today, though, it's Tarcisius vs. Egeria
Yesterday, Constantine dominated Miguel Pro 62% to 38% in a controversial matchup that left some voters abstaining, but every voter thinking, contemplating, and learning. Which is precisely the point!
Enjoy the Lord's Day tomorrow and we'll see you bright and early on Monday morning as we begin the first full week of Lent Madness 2021, with the Battle of the Greats as Leo the Great takes on Albert the Great. Thanks for joining us on this journey. We are truly grateful you've made Lent Madness part of your Lenten devotions this year.
Tarcisius
Very little is known about the young boy martyr, Tarcisius. Our earliest reference to him comes from Pope Damasus in the late fourth century ce. In a poem honoring martyrs, Pope Damasus writes of Tarcisius, “When an insane gang pressed saintly Tarcisius, who was carrying the sacraments of Christ, to display them to the profane, he preferred to be killed and give up his life rather than betray to rabid dogs the heavenly body.” Tarcisius then, like Stephen, is a Christian witness who fell victim to mob violence.
Later stories fill in what might have transpired. According to those stories, during the reign of Valerian (253-259 ce), Tarcisius was a young altar server. Many Christians had been rounded up and put into jail for their belief. After the host had been consecrated in clandestine worship services, it was delivered to those who were imprisoned. Priests were easily recognized and targeted for harassment and arrest, so they would send others to deliver the consecrated host. One Sunday, young Tarcisius volunteered to deliver the eucharist to those in prison.
On his way to deliver the host, he passed a group of young friends who invited him to play a game. They were perplexed when he declined and began to jostle and tease him in good fun. They noticed he was clutching something to his chest, and they began to try to pry it from him. He knew the value of this treasure and the importance of his mission, and he held the host ever closer to his chest. The scrum, playful at first, grew more violent. In the tussle, one of the attackers saw a fish etched into the box holding the host. The playful abuse turned to violent assault as the boys began to pummel him for being a Christian.
A Roman soldier saw the disturbance and rushed over to rescue Tarcisius from the cruel gang. The Roman soldier revealed himself to be a Christian before little Tarcisius died in his arms. In some accounts, as he died, Tarcisius begged the soldier to finish his errand for him, and the soldier obliged. In other accounts, as he lay dying in the soldier’s arms, the host simply disappeared.
Tarcisius is the patron saint of altar servers and first communicants. His feast day is August 15.
Collect for Tarcisius
Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Tarcisius triumphed over suffering and was faithful even to death: Grant us, who now remember him in thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Egeria
Egeria was a fourth-century woman who traveled to the Holy Land and wrote about her experiences, leaving the world an invaluable record of the development of language, liturgy, and Christianity.
We don’t know all that much about Egeria, the person. From her writing, it would appear that she had some status—the ability to travel from Europe to Palestine in the late 300s was not common. We also know she was a woman of deep faith, in that she undertook such a journey.
Her extant writing consists of a lengthy letter, now in two fragments, that she sent back to her community in Europe. Scholars are divided as to whether this community was based in Spain or perhaps France. She addresses them as “her sisters,” which could signify a monastic community, but this was early enough that all Christians tended to address fellow believers with sibling nomenclature.
One fragment of her letter describes her approach from Mount Sinai to Constantinople, and the other fragment describes, in great detail, the liturgical practices of the church in Jerusalem and Galilee over a year. Egeria, it would seem, spent at least three years in Palestine, making notes and observations. This provides us with invaluable information about the liturgical life of the early church and how various reforms and ideas moved throughout the Christian world. Her letter, for example, gives us the first record of such familiar rituals as the Palm Sunday procession, the Easter Vigil, and the Good Friday remembrance.
Her letter also offers an important insight into the development of Romance languages. Because it’s written in a casual form of post-classical Latin, it forms a bridge between what was classical Latin and what would become the Romance languages. (In fact, Egeria’s letters feature some of the first known uses of the definite article.)
Egeria’s bravery and creativity enabled the entire Western world to access the liturgical life we now enjoy, as well as the language we use every day.
Collect for Egeria
Almighty God, whose will it is to be glorified in your saints and who raised up your servant Egeria to be a light in the world: Shine, we pray, in our hearts, that we also in our generation may show forth your praise, who called us out of darkness into your marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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198 comments on “Tarcisius vs. Egeria”
The first agonizing decision of the current season. But in a year when "facts" must outweigh "legend", I am compelled to cast my ballot (via email, imagine that!) For Egeria. We owe her a debt. Also, having gone nearly a year without partaking of a communion host, I've survived. At least we have a zoom liturgy, with or without in-person attendance in my diocese. Imagine if Egeria had had the ability to do a Facebook Live or instagram or TikTok from her travels. Who would we love more? The essential worker (Tarcisius, the bread delivery guy), or social media influencer (Egeria, the witness to liturgical reform)??
What an interesting modern "take" you have constructed from this match-up. *chef's kiss*
I voted for Tarcisus because my son is making his first communion this year! I didn’t know about this Saint and now I can share him with my children. Thanks and many blessings to you!
Egeria considered all her journeys through life a Light in the darkness. I believe this is what all Christians are called to do. Her recording her life were probably the same thing my journaling does. I call mine my Letters to God.
As I was not allowed to be an altar server because of my gender, I'll be darned if I'd vote for their patron saint, pious as he was. I also think Egeria's contribution to the church's understanding of worship in the early church is a greater contribution. And finally, as a retired Spanish teacher, I have to vote for the one who knew how to speak what was the beginning of the Romance languages I love: Spanish and French.
Hard choices. Impossible to compare using any empirical approach. What do we say, "Comparing apples and whatever." What they have in common is allegiance to the church and willingness to make a contribution. Like yesterday, how do you compare a personal sacrifice to a massive contribution to Christianity? So, like Mary we ponder in our heart. As a professor, I go with Egeria. As a former alter boy, I go with Tarcisius. My heart says Tarcisus. Thanks for this opportunity to learn and to think.
I remember learning about Tarcisus in grade school.
Even then, I just sat in awe thinking of such bravery and love of God in a child!❤️
As a lover of liturgy and an actor who has played Wilde's Miss Prism a few times, I had to vote for Egeria, to whom Dr. Chasuble compares the aspiring writer Prism.
Learn something new every day! Egeria is my girl.
Is Egeria a saint? I could not find anything definitive, but I thought all contestants are saints.
As a long-standing Liturgy Nerd, I have to support Egeria. Her little text has played a huge role in my spiritual life. And I second the motion that someone write an historical novel about her travels. It could contain a ton of information about the "Springtime" of the Church.
Tarcisus -- there may not be concrete facts but for many of the saints there are not concrete facts. My husband was an acolyte, all three of our children have been acolytes, I was an acolyte mistress. That he protected the bread -- the Body of Christ -- grabs my heart. I am a chalice bearer and a lay Eucharistic visitor. There is something in serving that blessed bread to others as I also partake. And have been a member of the altar guild. There is a special reverence and quiet worship in participating in these activites. Scott and Tim made this one difficult. But thank you for this opportunity to learn more about our saints.
I'm preparing second graders for first Holy Eucharist, so it's probably obvious who my allegiance is to today 🙂
After reading the bios, I was all set to vote for Egeria. I'm somewhat of a liturgy enthusiast as well as a big fan of language in general--where words come from, how grammar holds them together.
But after reading the comments, I had to go for Tarcisius, the teenage boy who stayed true to his faith and his mission even in the midst of a riot.
Maybe Egeria nest year?
I treasure my time as an acolyte; I think it was part of the journey that led me to seminary. But it is seminary that encourages me to vote for Egeria. I grew up Methodist, and when I went to Candler, I took a liturgy course from Don Saliers, and I learned for the first time about the Triduum and the fabulous Easter Vigil. It was my introduction to Egeria as well. The realization that we are today recreating what was done by the early church gave me chills. (Is this part of Tim’s and Scott’s promised “thrills and spills”?). I am so grateful to Egeria.
The more I think about it, the more I picture a heartbroken Jesus embracing young Tarcisius at the heavenly gates, weeping copious tears for the loss of young life ... saying, "No! No, my child -- it was YOU and all of my people who are My Body sent out to bring me to others; YOU who were the Sacrament showing forth life in Me to the world!" The history of the Church is the history of mortals trying to get their priorities straight, walking a thin line between idolatry and valuing people over holy vessels, trappings, and traditions. Being the Church during the current pandemic has challenged us anew to discern What Really Matters. I pray we are learning.
Looks like everyone had as tough of a time as I did. As a former acolyte and someone who's dealt with bullies, Tarcisius rang a lot of bells for me but I still went with Egeria because I couldn't imagine not voting for someone of faith who so advanced our knowledge of early Christianity. Do you ever bring back early candidates for a "Miss Congeniality" round? Re Janet's above comment, we've voted for what I guess you would call secular saints before--Harriet Tubman comes to mind.
Thanks for the mention - I was hoping somebody would respond! Yes I understand there are various 'calendar of saints' for different religions - RC, Lutheran, Anglican, and so on - it was just that I googled Egeria and never saw a mention of her as a saint; my search was hardly exhaustive though! She is in the matchups so a saint she must be. Thanks again!
Egeria, for breadth of impact. (Although I know my limited mortal understanding may be missing complete perception of the impact of Tarcisius the martyr.)
Please try to calm your hysteria
For pilgrim and writer Egeria;
She journaled trends clergical
And also liturgical,
While roaming the Holy Land area.
* I was waiting for the original Lent Madness poet, but as it's mid-day, I thought I'd go ahead and drop one of my own.
Thank you! I just wrote that I am missing those limericks. This is wonderful. Well done. Egeria it is.
Sorry for the delayed drop, Josh; I was otherwise occupied and clearly missed deadline. You can find it below at http://www.lentmadness.org/2021/02/tarcisius-vs-egeria/#comment-76198.
Much obliged for the moniker "original Lent Madness poet", but many others precede me in that department. It appears, however, that our minds work alike: I also incorporated the rhyme "Holy Land area", as I could find no evidence that Egeria got to Samaria — a pity.
Hard to make this choice without the limericks! (Where are they?? I miss you!) But actually, I have set up my preferences ahead of time, and will stick to first impressions... maybe. Here I voted for Egeria. She is a pilgrim, a historian, and a committed member of a sisterhood who speaks to me over seventeen centuries, a remarkable and important feat.
Tim and Scott dare to pose us hard choices
and make us declare our votes with our voices
should we choose the bruised kid?
or for the dauntless journalist bid?
one way or the other we have to get off our toishes!
Bwahahaha!
Oh my, two limericks to choose from (see John Cabot below)...
As a journalist and journalism teacher, I voted for Egeria. But as a woman who navigated the perils of a newspaper newsroom before it was politically correct to be nice to women and as a mother I know about bullying and wish I could have voted for Tarcisius too.
Question.....As a newbie I've been amused by the oblique connections to each days contenders. However I'm struggling to see today's connection. They are both on a journey? They are both all about church traditions? They are both ......I don't know.....
Egeria's writings have been a great treasure to the Church. But in honor of our acolytes, my vote goes to Tarcisius.
I believed Tarcisius died for his cause.
As a lover of liturgy and also of language and etymology, I had to vote for Egeria. The first time I read the diary of her pilgrimage, it made a great impression on me. I also appreciate the boldness of a woman of her day--no matter how well-connected she may have been--who undertook such long and arduous journey.
And Egeria really existed! The story of Tarcisius is a touching one, but it is probably mostly fantasy. I think the saints we commemorate ought to have some claim to actually having lived.
I worked on a doctorate in liturgics. I have been my church's acolyte master for over a decade, and have also served as acolyte master for diocesan convention. Tough choice. Tarcisius is new to me. But he got my vote!
Let us walk with the pilgrim Egeria
On her trip to the Holy Land area.
Scholars too should take note
Of the journal she wrote:
A gem among itineraria.
Itineraria... impressive rhyme.
Wonderful rhyming ... thank you
The limericks master is Back! My joy is complete.
I cast my vote for Miguel Pro yesterday, and today I voted for Tarcisius- if martyrdom for the faith doesn’t entitle one to a Golden Halo, what would?
I did the same thing. I guess this year I am moved more by those who gave all for thier Faith. Tarcisius and Miguel Pro were everyday people, Saints of God as the hymn says.
Scholarly writing's are laudable. Actually living ones Faith in the world seems critical right now.
At first blush, I was inclined to vote for Tarsus. However, Egeria used her Gog-given talents to do lasting good. I wonder if she was aware of the significance of her translation at the time. Or if it was simply a gap that she could fill. That's a powerful lesson for me. When we use our gifts and do what we can, we live in our holiness.
I love Egeria and know that much of how we observe Holy Week today would be impossible without her writings, but I think our Church right now needs the message of Tarcisius and his absolute reverence for the blessed sacrament. Tough choice but the patron of acolytes got my vote.
Egeria. A woman writer who recorded what she found interesting in a moment in time, in the 4th century. And that information continues to capture our interest today.