Sts. Perpetua and Felicity were North African friends martyred for their Christian faith in the amphitheater at Carthage. We know precise details of their imprisonment because Perpetua kept a detailed journal. Perpetua was a twenty-two year old mother of an infant son and member of a distinguished noble family. Her journal is the first known written document by a woman in Christian history, with a concluding narrative by an eyewitness.

 

Perpetua mentions that those arrested with her were a slave named Felicity and three men, Saturninus, Secundulus, and Revocatus. She details the misery of their cell, the naming of her family members, everyone who helped the martyrs, and the efforts her father made to persuade her to recant:

 

"Father," she said, pointing to a water jug, "do you see this container? Can you call it by any other name than what it is -- a jug?" "No," he replied. "And in the same way, I cannot call myself by any other name than what I am – a Christian."

 

As a noblewoman, she would have been married, but, for whatever reason, he was not there for her when one would think he would have been most needed. The person there for her was Felicity, who was expecting to give birth at any time. Perpetua wanted so much to be with her own infant. Felicity was worried that she might not be allowed to die with her companions because of her pregnancy. In answer to her prayer, she gave birth to a girl. The pain of the delivery was compounded by the mockery of the jailer; but she was assisted and comforted by Perpetua. Felicity's sister took the baby girl before he mother was sent to death.

 

Perpetua and her companions were tried before an angry mob. All refused to worship the emperor as a god and so were condemned to death by fighting wild beast. Then at the emperor's birthday celebration, she and her companions were paraded into the arena, the crowd roaring for blood. An eyewitness gave this account:

 

For Perpetua and Felicity, the devil had reserved a vicious bull. Perpetua was first thrown and landed on her side. When she sat up, she noticed her dress had been torn, and she adjusted it to cover her thigh. Modesty was more on her mind than pain. And then she pinned up her disheveled hair because she didn't think it was right for a martyr to appear to be grieving at the moment of glory. She stood up, and when she saw Felicity struck down, she went over and helped her up.

 

At this point, Perpetua and Felicity were moved from the field to the arena gate. She seemed to be dazed in an ecstasy, not even realizing that she had been gored.

 

Soldiers were ordered to finish the women off by slitting their throats. Perpetua shrieked as a nervous solder, a novice, awkwardly struck her with his sword. Knowing her eminent death, Perpetua took charge of her own martyrdom.

 

TELL US LIKE IT IS! 

Has something wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did God answer your prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like Isaiah, meet God’s whisper?

Have you felt His powerful hand working in your life recently?

Everyday, people are experiencing God’s mighty Word in their lives and it is a pity that very few know about it. Do you have a story to tell? Some Good News to share?

E-mail us (genesis@catholic.org) or fax us (021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You don’t have to be a great writer to do this. We can help you write it – just tell us like it is!

Don’t forget to write the subject: “Let Me Tell You A Story”

Please take a moment to sign our guestbook.