The third century work,
The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, offers a priceless window into the
powerful witness of the early Christian Church. While this ancient manuscript is
short in length, it contains numerous themes of eternal significance. Penned in
the year 203 A.D., The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity recalls the unwavering
faith and heroic deaths of five martyrs, illustrating both the historical and spiritual
components surrounding the profound testimony they gave of their Christian
beliefs. Termed a “prison diary,” this text was written in four separate segments.[1] While the first and last section
were written by an anonymous narrator, the author of the main portion was Saint
Perpetua (c. 182 A.D. – 203 A.D.), a catechumen of noble birth from the Roman Province of
North Africa who was arrested with her slave, Saint Felicity. She began this autobiographical
script with a narrative of her first days in prison, recording her experiences until
the day prior to her execution. Her nobility is made evident through her familiarity
with the Latin language, in which Saint Perpetua’s diary was penned. This book is
now considered “the earliest writing by a Christian woman that has been
preserved.”[2]
The third section of The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity was written by Saint Saturus, a Christian who was in the company of the faithful martyred with Saint
Perpetua. His words are few, and give way to the fourth segment, an account of their
deaths. This structure allows each of the four components of The Passion of
Perpetua and Felicity to complement the others, working together to relate
this remarkable story.
The Passion of
Perpetua and Felicity transports readers back nearly two thousand years, opening
before them the account's historical context. Throughout the early years of Christianity,
the Church often experienced persecution, leading to the courageous martyrdoms
of numerous men and women. The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity took
place at a time when Emperor Septimius Severus instated a “prohibition
against converting to Christianity.”[3] For this reason, the young
catechumens of this ancient text (Revocatus, Felicity, Saturninus, Secundulus,
and Vibia Perpetua) who, by embracing Christianity opposed his decree, were
imprisoned and sentenced to death. The method of martyrdom chosen for Saint
Perpetua and her companions was that of damnatio ad bestias, a form of
Roman execution by which convicted criminals were thrown to wild beasts.[4] The willingness of these
saints to undergo this inhumane death emphasizes a concept prevalent within The
Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, namely, witness.
Saint Perpetua opened
her prison diary recalling an encounter she had with her father, a conversation
in which he attempted to persuade her to renounce Christianity. In answer to
his pleadings, Saint Perpetua explained that, just as one does not call a
pitcher by anything other than its name, “so can I call myself nought other
than that which I am, a Christian.”[5] It was with this same heroic
determination that she and her fellow catechumens overcame the sufferings that accompanied
them in prison and in the arena. The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity speaks
of these trials, illustrating for the reader the cruelty of their imprisonment.
Saint Perpetua and Felicity underwent a heightened element of torture, as they
were both young mothers. The former had recently given birth and the latter would
have a premature delivery in prison. Regardless of these pains, each Christian
bore unwavering witness to the Faith, denying themselves, taking up their crosses,
and following Christ (Matt 16:24).
In addition to its
historical impact, The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity contains notable
spiritual significance. This is best demonstrated by a series of visions
recorded in the text. During her time in prison, Saint Perpetua was gifted
with multiple dreams in which she was given assurance of gaining the martyr’s
crown. These visions were intwined with symbolism, and offer the reader thought-provoking
parallels between the analogical and the actual. In one such dream, for example,
Saint Perpetua saw herself tread upon a serpent before ascending a ladder to Paradise.
This confrontation alluded to her ultimate triumph over the Devil through martyrdom.
Over the course of the time spent by Saint Perpetua and her companions in
prison, they turned with joyful anticipation to the moment of their individual
passions. This is conveyed in the hopeful character of Saint Perpetua and Saint
Saturus’ written accounts. Rather than cowering in fear at the prospect of facing
death by the jaws of wild beasts, they remained composed, looking past their suffering
to the eternal joy that was to follow. The concept of hope is also communicated
through the narrated account of the saints’ martyrdom in the arena, found in
the fourth section of the text.
Within The
Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, the reader discovers the instruments
necessary for Christians of the contemporary world to live their Faith to the
fullest. We can learn much from Saint Perpetua and her companions’ acceptance
of suffering and unwavering belief in the face of death. The examples set by these
martyrs of the ancient world encourage readers to remain steadfast in their Faith,
bearing witness to Christ regardless of the consequences. As we consider in
light of this text the numerous present-day attacks made on the Church,
we find the tools to respond to them with the heroic virtue seen in the actions
of this community of early Christians. I highly recommend reading The
Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, as it instills a desire to respond to
Christ with the same zeal and self-sacrificial love demonstrated by the third century martyrs. Furthermore,
it effectively reminds us that we are not alone in our journey to sanctity, but
rather, “our communion with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from
its fountain and head issues all grace, and the life of the People of God
itself.”[6] Although this text was
written nearly two millennia ago, the authors’ distinctive styles are not
confusing. They allow the reader to absorb the text without becoming lost in convoluted
speech. The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity is ultimately
successful in accomplishing the purpose for which it was written: “that…God may
be glorified and man strengthened.”[7]
[1] "Martyrdom
of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas," in Crossroads Initiative, at
www.crossroadsinitiative.com.
[2] Stephanie
L. Cobb, "Suicide by Gladiator? The Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas in its
North African Context," Church History 88, No. 3 (2019), 597.
[3] John
Vidmar, OP, The Catholic Church Through the Ages, A History, 2nd ed.
(Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2014), 28.
[4] Boris
A. Paschke, "The Roman ad bestias Execution as a Possible Historical Background
for 1 Peter 5.8," A Journal for the Study of the New Testament 28,
No. 4 (2006), 490.
[5] Saint
Perpetua, “The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity 203," in Fordham
University, at www.sourcebooks.fordham.edu.
[6] Catechism
of the Catholic Church, 957, at The Holy See, w2.vatican.va.
[7] Saint
Perpetua, “The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity 203," in Fordham
University.
Image Credit:
"Sts. Perpetua and Felicity," mosaic, www.catholicfireblogspot.com.
ISBN-10:
1643730908
ISBN-13:
978-1643730905
Pages:
38
List
Price: 7:10 USD
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