Why Martin Scorsese ‘wasn’t that great’ as an altar boy (Exclusive)

The boy who would grow up to direct The last temptation of Christ apparently couldn’t resist sleeping in on Sunday.

When Martin Scorsese was a child growing up in New York City in the 1940s and 1950s, he served for a few years as an altar boy at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, the Catholic church where his family attended.

But Scorsese is the first to admit that he was not gifted as an altar boy, a child who assists priests during liturgical services such as the Catholic Mass.

“I wasn’t very good at it,” Scorsese, 82, tells PEOPLE. “It was very difficult for me to arrive on time for the 7 o’clock mass. I was always late. The priest had to say: ‘We cannot continue like this.’ ”

Nevertheless, he did so – and remained an altar boy for a few years.

Although Scorsese was often late, the time he spent in church left an indelible impression. “It’s amazing how much of an impact it is to be there while High Mass was being celebrated,” he says.

The Mean streets And Gangs of New York filmmaker became fascinated by statues of saints that stood around this place of worship.

The saints—deceased figures who lived holy lives and are believed to have performed miracles—“cast a spell on me,” Scorsese recalls. “Who are these people? And why are they, so to speak, elevated to something special: holiness?”

“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.

With his new Fox Nation docudrama 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 executive producer, narrates the episodes, which reenact parts of the saints’ lives.

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

“Some are martyrs; some died for it. Some of the eight chosen are about legends, but the legend comes from one or two facts. Legends arise from actions that truly meant someone’s sacrifice. It’s all about faith, something you struggle for. It has always been important to me,” the star added.

The first four episodes of Martin Scorsese presents: The Saints stream on Sundays this fall, starting November 17. Four more to debut in 2025.