|
Also known as: Vivia Perpetua
Profile
Born to a noble pagan family. Convert. Lay-woman. Wife. Mother. Martyred
with her maid, friend, and fellow convert Saint Felicitas. In centuries
past, their story was so popular that Saint Augustine had to warn
against giving it the weight of Scripture.
Died: martyred 7 March 203 at Carthage; beheaded after being
mauled by wild beasts.
Patronage: cattle, death of children, martyrs
Representation: cow; maiden with a wild cow or ox in an
amphitheater
Reading
The day of the martyrs' victory dawned. They marched from their cells
into the amphitheater, as if into heaven, with cheerful looks and
graceful bearing. If they trembled it was for joy and not for fear.
Perpetua was the first to be thrown down, and she fell prostrate. She
got up and, seeing that Felicity was prostrate, went over and reached
out her hand to her and lifted her up. Both stood up together. Rousing
herself as if from sleep (so deeply had she been in spiritual ecstasy),
she began to look around. To everyone's amazement she said, "When are we
going to be led to the beasts?" When she heard that it had already
happened she did not at first believe it until she saw the marks of
violence on her body and her clothing.
The people, however, had demanded that the martyrs be led to the middle
of the amphitheater. They wanted to see the sword thrust into the bodies
of the victims, so that their eyes might share in the slaughter. Without
being asked they went where the people wanted them to go; but first they
kissed one another, to complete their witness with the customary kiss of
peace.
Bravest and happiest martyrs! You were called and chosen for the glory
and our Lord Jesus Christ.
from a story of the death of the martyrs at Carthage
|
