Saint’s Life Story

Perpertua’s Story

Vibia Perpetua was a noblewoman from Carthage (modern-day Tunisia), born in the late 2nd century to a wealthy and influential family. Perpetua’s father was a pagan. However, her mother, and two brothers were Christians, one being still a catechumen while a third brother, Dinocrates, had died a pagan at the age of seven.

She lived in Carthage, in present-day Tunisia, during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, when all Christians were facing persecution.

Perpetua was a 22-year-old recently married Roman noblewoman nursing a child. Perpetua had been touched by Christ and decided to become a Christian. The decision to convert to Christianity was not an easy one for Perpetua, as her father adhered to pagan beliefs.

Baptized in Prison

However, Perpertua was arrested before her baptism, along with four other catechumens, including Felicity, her slave woman, who was about to give birth to a child, her fellow-slave Revocatus, plus freemen Saturninus and Secundulus. After confessing their Christianity to the judge Hilarion, Perpetua and Felicity were beaten on the face and then kept for the gladiatorial shows.

Her pagan father came to visit her in prison. He pleaded with Perpetua to renounce her Christian faith and refuse baptism to save her life so she could raise her son. Perpetua records that conversation in her account in the Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity as follows:

“‘Father, do you see this vessel lying here to be a little pitcher, or something else? Can it be called by any other name than what it is?’

And he said, ‘No.’

‘Neither can I call myself anything else than what I am, a Christian’”. A few days later, Perpetua was secretly baptized in prison. After being baptized, Perpetua received several visions. The first is a vision of a ladder, and it concerns Perpetua’s martyrdom and arrival in heaven. She also has a pair of visions concerning her deceased brother, Dinocrates, who is trying to drink from a fountain. In another vision, she fights the devil in the form of an Egyptian gladiator.

Her Baby Joins Her

While in prison, Perpetua’s heart yearned for her baby. To her joy, the infant was brought to her so she could nurse him. When that happened, Perpertua said, “My prison suddenly became a palace to me and I would rather have been there than anywhere else.”

The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity

The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity is the document describing what happened to Perpetua and her companions. It is composed of a preface followed by six chapters.

What is particularly special is that about half of the document was written by the martyr herself:

Chapters 1–3 were penned by St. Perpetua while she was awaiting execution.

Chapter 4 was written by one of her companions and fellow martyrs, Saturus.

Chapter 5–6 (and the preface) were written by the anonymous editor, who was apparently an eyewitness of the martyrdoms.

Felicity’s Story

Felicity, also known as Felicitas, was born in the late 2nd century in Carthage, North Africa. She was a remarkable laywoman and convert who lived during the early Christian era. Felicity was also Perpetua’s slave and was pregnant. Felicity’s life became intertwined with that of Perpetua. The two women were close friends and fellow converts, both sharing an unwavering commitment to their faith. Felicity, who at the time of her incarceration was with child (in the eighth month), was apprehensive that she would not be permitted to suffer martyrdom at the same time as the others, since the law forbade the execution of pregnant women. Happily, two days before the “Games” she gave birth to a daughter, who was adopted by a Christian woman.

Perpetua and Felicity’s Story

When Perpetua and Felicity stood before their judge, Perpetua’s father showed up with her baby. He pleaded with her to renounce Christ, save her life, and be there for her son. The judge also encouraged her: “Spare your father’s white hairs. Spare the tender years of your child. Offer sacrifice for the prosperity of the emperors.”

Perpetua refused. When asked directly if she were a Christian, she responded, “Yes, I am.”

At that, her father violently inserted himself into the situation but was struck by the guard. When Perpetua saw this, her heart broke. She later recounted, “I felt this as if I myself had been struck, so deeply did I grieve to see my father treated thus in his old age.” The judge passed sentence and all were condemned to death by wild beasts. Still, they were filled with great joy as they returned to their prison. After the sentencing, Perpetua was no longer allowed to see her baby boy. Both women endured brutal conditions in prison but continued to support each other and remain resolute in their belief.

Their Martyrdoms

On the day of their martyrdom, Perpetua and Felicity walked to the arena with heads high and joyful spirits. With them were Revocatus, a fellow slave with Felicity, and the two freemen, Saturninus and Secundulus. The men were sent into the arena first to be devoured by a leopard, a wild boar, and a bear. Saturnius was the last standing. When a second leopard attacked and blood poured out, the crowd cried out, “He is well baptized now!”

Then, Perpetua and Felicity sent out into the arena and scourged. A wild cow was let loose as a way of mocking them as nursing mothers, tearing at their flesh. Perpetua was tossed first and fell on her back, but sat up and gathered her torn tunic round her, pinning up her disheveled hair lest she should seem to be mourning. Then, she went to help Felicity, who had also been tossed. Side by side bleeding, they stood up expecting another attack from the beast who had gravely wounded them.

But, since the beast did not kill them, an executioner was dispatched. Perpetua cried out to her brother, “Stand fast in the faith, and love one another. Do not let our sufferings be a stumbling block to you.” Then, Perpetua noticed the fear in the eyes of the executioner so she guided the shaking hand of the inexperienced gladiator to her throat. With that, Perpetua and Felicity received their eternal reward, dying as martyrs on March 7, 203 in Carthage, North Africa (present day Tunisia).

Their story was read publicly in the churches of North Africa. The great Saint Augustine of Hippo himself had to clarify for his people that these accounts were not of the same stature as Scripture, which indicates just how important people found their story.

Born:                   Late 2nd Century

Died:                   March 7, 203 in Carthage, North Africa (present day Tunisia)

Beatified:           Pre-Congregation

Canonized:        Pre-Congregation

Feast Day:         March 7

Patron Saint:    Carthage, Tunisia; Cattle; Expectant Mothers; Married Women; Martyrs; Mothers; Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Catalonia, Spain

Source:

• • St. Perpetua and St. Felicity – Martyr Saints of the Early Church – All Saint Stories
  • Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, Mothers and Martyrs – Catholic Fire
  • CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Felicity of Carthage
  • CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Perpetua
  • Saints Perpetua and Felicity – My Catholic Life!
  • Butler’s Lives Of The Saints Complete Edition – SS Perpetua, Felicity and Their Companions, Martyrs
  • Saint Felicity of Carthage – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
  • Saint Perpetua – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
  • Perpetua and Felicity – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

Sts. Perpetua & Felicity: United in Faith, Motherhood, and Martyrdom – YouTube (Awaken The Saint)