Today is the feast of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity – the account of their martyrdom is found here.
Of the several authentic accounts of early Christian martyrdom that have been preserved, none is so detailed as that of Saints Perpetua and Felicity of Carthage, and four Christian men. They died under the decree of the Emperor Septimius Severus. Severus was trying to stamp out Christianity by preventing conversion. Here the two women and three men arrested were catechumens, i.e., people under instruction for Christian baptism. The fourth man was Saturus, the priest who had been instructing them. Part of the account of their imprisonment was written by Perpetua herself; a second part by Saturus; and some eyewitness wrote the beginning and the conclusion
Composed by Perpetua herself, it is certainly the most detailed account of a woman’s experience of Christianity during those formative years (she died in North Africa in 203 A.D.). Perpetua’s narrative concerns itself with many experiences we don’t often find in the Fathers — childbirth and breastfeeding, for example. We also glimpse how a woman exercised spiritual leadership in the ancient Church. Perpetua’s Passion is an important early witness for the study of liturgy, sacramental theology, and the doctrine of purgatory. It is one of the key texts discussed in one of my favorite books, Robin Darling Young’s In Procession Before the World: Martyrdom As Public Liturgy in Early Christianity.
From Catholic Culture, patronage and symbols associated with the saints:
Patron: Perpetua — Cattle, death of children, martyrs.
Felicity — Death of children; martyrs; sterility; to have male children; widows.
Symbols: Perpetua — Wild cow; spiked ladder guarded by a dragon.
Felicity — Seven swords; cauldron of oil and sword; sword with seven heads; eight palms.
Speaking of audio and the liturgy and such, don’t forget Michael’s mp3 recordings of the Office of Readings, there for you every day, and as a subscription, if you like.
Read Previous Post