Martin Scorsese Shares the Hilarious Reason Why He ‘Wasn’t So Great’ at Being a Church Altar Boy as a Kid (Exclusive)

A boy who would grow up to direct The last temptation of Christ apparently he couldn’t resist the temptation to sleep in on Sundays.

When Martin Scorsese was a child growing up in New York in the 1940s and ’50s, he spent several years serving as an altar boy at the Old Cathedral Basilica of St. Patrick, the Catholic church his family attended.

But Scorsese is the first to admit that it didn’t make sense to be an altar server, the kid who helps priests during liturgical services like the Catholic Mass.

“I wasn’t that good at it,” Scorsese, 82, tells PEOPLE. “It was very difficult for me to be on time for the 7:00 mass. I would always be late. The priest had to say: ‘You can’t go on like this’. ”

Martin Scorsese March 10.

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Yet he did – and he remained an altar server for several years.

Although Scorsese was often late, the time spent in the church left an indelible impression. “The effect of being there while the big mass was being celebrated is incredible,” he says.

Martin Scorsese February 20.

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The Evil streets and Gangs of New York the director became fascinated by the statues of saints that were placed around this house of prayer.

Saints—deceased individuals who lived holy lives and are believed to have performed miracles—“had a spell on me,” Scorsese remembers. “Who are these people? And why were they elevated, so to speak, into something special, into holiness?”

Martin Scorsese’s life in photos

“Were these saints human? As a young person, you thought maybe they were more than human, and that’s something I’ve been fascinated by ever since,” he continues.

A scene from the movie ‘Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints’.

Courtesy of FOX Nation

With his new docudrama Fox Nation Martin Scorsese presents: The SaintsScorsese highlights eight of these historical figures, including Mary Magdalene, Joan of Arc, Francis of Assisi and Maximilian Kolbe.

Scorsese, who also serves as an executive producer, narrates episodes that show re-enactments of parts of the saints’ lives.

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He explained that The New York Times why he thinks the series is timely. “In the world as it is now, it’s good to have examples of people who have led their lives through compassion and love,” Scorsese said.

“Some are martyrs; some died for it. Some of the eight selected deal with legend, but the legend comes from one or two facts. Legends grow out of actions that really meant someone’s sacrifice. It’s all about faith, something a person fights for. It was always important to me,” added the star.

The first four episodes Martin Scorsese presents: The Saints air on Sundays this fall, starting November 17th. Four more will debut in 2025.

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Source: HIS Education