During a persecution of Christians under the emperor Septimius
Severus, a group of Christians died together in the arena at
Carthage. Their final days have been recorded for us in a document
that is partly in their own words, and partly in those of an
anonymous narrator (sometimes thought to be Tertullian). What follow
are extracts, sometimes condensed, from that document.

Vivia Perpetua was a catchumen (i.e. a convert not yet baptized),
well educated and from a prosperous family, about 22 years old,
married and apparently recently widowed, with a child at her breast,
and with two brothers and both parents still living. (Her father was
not a Christian.) Felicity (Latin: Felicitas) was a slave woman in
advanced pregnancy. With them were Revocatus (also a slave),
Saturninus, and Secundus.

They were arrested and placed in a dungeon, but after a few days two
deacons visited the prison and by a gift of money to the jailers
arranged (1) that they should have an interval in the better part of
the prison to refresh themselves, and (2) that Perpetua should be
allowed to keep her child with her.

Perpetua had a vision in which she saw a golden ladder, guarded by a
fierce dragon, but she climbed it, stepping on the dragon’s head to
do so. At the top, she found herself in a green meadow, with many
white-robed figures, and in their midst a shepherd, who welcomed her
and gave her a morsel of cheese from the sheep-milk. She awakened
and understood that their martyrdom was certain.

Perpetua writes:

After a few days there was a report that we were to have a
hearing in court. And my father came to me from the city, worn
out with anxiety. He came up to me, that he might cast me
down, saying: “Have pity, my daughter, on my grey hairs. Have
pity on your father, if I am worthy to be called a father by
you. If with these hands I have brought you up to this flower
of your age, if I have preferred you to all your brothers, do
not deliver me up to the scorn of men. Have regard to your
brothers, have regard to your mother and your aunt, have regard
to your son, who will not be able to live after you. Lay aside
your courage, and do not bring us all to destruction; for none
of us will speak in freedom if you should suffer anything.”

These things said my father in his affection, kissing my
hands, and throwing himself at my feet, and with tears he
called me not Daughter, but Lady. And I grieved over the grey
hairs of my father, that he alone of all my kindred would have
no joy in my death. And I comforted him, saying, “On that
scaffold, whatever God wills shall happen. For know that we are
not placed in our own power but in that of God.” And he
departed from me in sorrow.

Perpetua had had a brother who died of cancer when he was eight
years old. She prayed for him, and received assurance in a vision
that all was well with him.

Her narrative continues:

After a few days, Pudens, an assistant overseer of the prison,
began to hold us in high esteem, seeing that God was with us,
and he admitted many of the brethren to see us, that we and
they might be mutually refreshed.

Perpetua had another vision, in which she saw herself fighting
against a gladiator in the arena, and winning. She understood this
to signify victory over the devil.

Saturus also had a vision, which he records in his own words, in
which he and the others, having died in the arena, are borne by
angels into a beautiful garden, where they greet other martyrs who
have gone before them, and are brought before the throne of God,
surrounded by twenty-four elders (see Revelation 4), who greet them
and say, “Enter into joy.” Perpetua says to Saturus: “I was joyful
in the flesh, and here I am more joyful still.”

The narrator writes:

Now Felicitas was eight months pregnant, and the law did not
allow a pregnant woman to be executed. She was accordingly
fearful that her death would be postponed, and instead of dying
with her fellow Christians she would be put to death later in
the company of some group of criminals. She and her companions
accordingly prayed, and Felicity went into labor, with the
pains normal to an eight-month delivery. And a servant of the
jailers said to her, “If you cry out like that now, what will
you do when you are thrown to the beasts, which you despised
when you refused to sacrifice?” And she replied: “Now it is I
that 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.”
Thus she brought forth a little girl, whom a certain sister
brought up as her own.

The day of their victory shone forth, and they proceeded from
the prison to the amphitheater, as if to an assembly, joyous
and of brilliant countenance. At the gate, the guards were
going to dress them in the robes of those dedicated to Saturn
and to Ceres. But that noble-minded woman [Perpetua?] said: “We
are here precisely for refusing to honor your gods. By our
deaths we earn the right not to wear such garments.” The guards
recognized the justice of her words, and let them wear their
own clothing.

The men of their company were scheduled to be killed by beasts,
but the wild boar turned on its keeper instead, and the bear
refused to leave its cage. The leopard, however, attacked
Saturus and mortally wounded him. He bade farewell to his
guard, Pudens, encouraging him to obey God rather than man, and
then fell unconscious.

For the young women there was prepared a fierce cow. Perpetua
was first led in. She was tossed, and when she saw her tunic
torn from her side, she drew it as a veil over her middle,
rather mindful of her modesty than of her sufferings. Then she
was called up again, and bound up her dishevelled hair, for it
is not becoming for a martyr to die with dishevelled hair,
which is a sign of mourning. She saw Felicity wounded, and
took her hand and raised her up, and at the demand of the
populace they were given a respite.

Now all the prisoners were to be slain with the sword, and they
went to the center of the arena, first exchanging a farewell
kiss of peace. The others died unmoving and silent, but when
the awkward hand of the young executioner bungled her
death-stroke, Perpetua cried out in pain, and herself guided
his hand 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.

PRAYER (traditional language)
O God the King of saints, who didst strengthen thy servants
Perpetua and Felicitas and their companions to make a good
confession, staunchly resisting, for the cause of Christ, the
claims of human affection, and encouraging one another in their
time of trial: Grant that we who cherish their blessed memory
may share their pure and steadfast faith, and win with them the
palm of victory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language)
O God the King of saints, who strengthened your servants
Perpetua and Felicitas and their companions to make a good
confession, staunchly resisting, for the cause of Christ, the
claims of human affection, and encouraging one another in their
time of trial: Grant that we who cherish their blessed memory
may share their pure and steadfast faith, and win with them the
palm of victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever.

Psalm 34:1-8 or 124
Hebrews 10:32-39
Matthew 24:9-14 (St3)

+ For information, visit <http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/>