Saint of the Week
Perpetua & Felicity, Martyrs of Carthage (d. 202)
Next Friday, March 7, the Church commemorates Saints Perpetua and Felicity, third-century martyrs of Carthage, whose courage and faith have inspired Christians for generations.
During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Septimius Severus, a small group of believers was arrested and condemned to death in the arena. Their story is preserved in The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, an extraordinary firsthand account, partly written by Perpetua herself and completed by an anonymous narrator—perhaps the theologian Tertullian.
A Courageous Company
Vibia Perpetua, a young woman of noble birth, was a catechumen (a Christian preparing for baptism), recently widowed, and the mother of an infant son. Her companion, Felicity, was a slave and eight months pregnant. Arrested alongside them were Revocatus (also a slave), Saturninus, and Secundus.
Imprisoned in harsh conditions, they were soon visited by two deacons who, through a bribe, arranged for them to receive better treatment. Perpetua was even allowed to keep her child with her for a time.
Visions of Martyrdom
While awaiting trial, Perpetua experienced vivid visions that confirmed her coming martyrdom. In one, she climbed a golden ladder guarded by a fierce dragon and was welcomed at the top by a shepherd who gave her a morsel of cheese—an image she understood as a sign of her victory in Christ. In another, she saw herself as a gladiator triumphing over an opponent, signifying her spiritual conquest over evil.
Her father, a pagan, pleaded with her to renounce her faith for the sake of her family, even falling at her feet in tears. But Perpetua stood firm:
“On that scaffold, whatever God wills shall happen. For know that we are not placed in our own power but in that of God.”
Felicity’s Trial
As Felicity’s pregnancy progressed, she feared being left behind—Roman law forbade the execution of a pregnant woman. But just days before the scheduled execution, she gave birth to a daughter, who was adopted by a fellow Christian. When mocked by a jailer for her labor pains and asked how she would endure the torments of the arena, she replied:
“Now it is I who suffer what I suffer; but then Another will be in me, who will suffer for me, because I also am about to suffer for Him.”
The Martyrs' Reward
On the day of their execution, the prisoners walked to the arena with joy, refusing to wear the robes of Roman idols. The men were subjected to wild beasts, while Perpetua and Felicity faced a raging cow. Tossed and wounded, Perpetua remained composed, covering herself for modesty and helping Felicity to her feet.
Finally, all were to be put to the sword. They exchanged a final kiss of peace. Perpetua met death with fearless resolve—even guiding the trembling executioner’s sword to her throat.
“Possibly such a woman could not have been slain unless she herself willed it, because she was feared by the impure spirit.”
Their Witness Today
The courage of Perpetua and Felicity challenges us even now. Their story asks us: What does it mean to bear witness to Christ in the face of suffering? How do we stand firm in faith when the world urges compromise?