We'll start out our series with a look at two women who have an interesting story: Saints Perpetua and Felicity.
First off, we need some historical background. During the budding years of Christianity's growth, the Roman Empire had inconsistent policies concerning those who adopted the Christian faith. Policies regarding persecution were subject to who was emperor. Emperor Trajan (98-117CE) had a policy in effect that said Christians could not be sought out for persecution. However, should a person not worship the emperor or the gods of the Roman Empire, they could be punished. This led to some sporadic and mostly localized persecutions toward the Christian community. This policy on Christian conversion stayed in effect until Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211). We don't have official record of a change in legal policies concerning Christians, but he is rumored to have wanted to promote religious harmony during his reign. Under that claim for harmony, Severus is rumored to have issued an edict punishing conversion to either Judaism or Christianity. The reason for this rumor comes from the spike in persecutions that took place under his reign. Several famous martyrologies (or "stories of the martyrs") were written and became popular during this time. One such martyrology is the Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity.
This work is unique not least of all because it was written in part by Perpetua herself. A faithful Christian came along after Perpetua's execution and added an introduction and conclusion. However, a bulk of the text was written by Perpetua's own hand, recounting her imprisonment.
So, who exactly are these women: Perpetua and Felicity? They were both African women who would go on to be executed in Carthage. Felicity was a slave woman and she was 8 months pregnant at the time of her arrest. Perpetua, on the other hand, was a noble woman by birth. She was highly educated. She was likely a young widow since the text never mentions her husband, but does mention that she had a small child. She was 22 years old when she was arrested. It's worth noting that there were other Christians who were apprehended along with Perpetua and Felicity. Revocatus, Saturninus, Secundulus, and Saturus were four men who would also be executed in Carthage.
The martyrology begins with the description of the events that led up to Perpetua's arrest. She was speaking with her pagan father and he was trying to dissuade her from holding on to the Christian faith. It was then that she turned to a vase (some translations call it a water pitcher) and asked her father if he could call it by any other name than that which it is. In other words, can you call that vase anything other than a vase? He answered her, of course not! If it is a vase, you must call it a vase. That is when she responded that so too could she not be called anything than what she was: a Christian.
Infuriated at this response, her father attacked her. Thankfully she escaped and was separated from her father for a period of time. It was during this period of separation, however, that she, along with the others, were arrested.
Later on, while still in prison, Perpetua began praying for a vision. She was granted this gift. In her dreams she saw a ladder, so narrow that only one person could ascend at a time. Swords, spears, and knives lined the edges so that unless you travelled straight up, you would be cut. At the bottom of the ladder was a Dragon who stood guard against anyone wishing to climb. She watched her fellow prisoner, Saturus, ascend first. He beckoned for Perpetua to follow, but to be careful that the Dragon not bite her. Perpetua bravely declared that the Dragon posed no threat, and as she approached, the Dragon laid its head down and let her pass. When she reached the top, she found an old shepherd who welcomed her and gave her some curds to eat. When she awoke from the dream, she still had the sweet taste of the curds in her mouth. She knew in that moment that what awaited her and her companions would lead to death.
Here the story turns to recount Felicity's time in prison. As previously mentioned, she was 8 months pregnant at the time of her arrest. It was illegal in the Roman Empire to execute a pregnant woman because it was believed that such an execution was taking the life of an innocent child. So as the day of execution approached, it appeared that Felicity would continue to be left in prison while her companions went to face the Roman arena. Felicity grieved this. She had already endured so much alongside Perpetua and the others, and she desired to endure death alongside them as well. Three days before the gladiatorial games were to take place, however, Felicity went into labor. She suffered intense pain in childbirth in prison. The soldiers standing guard mocked her. If she couldn't even handle the pain of childbirth, they said, how would she ever handle the pain of being thrown to the beasts in the arena? Her response was that in that moment she was suffering alone, but in the arena Christ would suffer on her behalf because it would be because of him that she was suffering. Felicity would go on to give birth to a healthy baby girl who was given up to be raised by a local Christian sister.
The day of the games came. The men were attacked by a bear, boar, and a leopard. Perpetua and Felicity were stripped and thrown to a rabid heifer in an attempt to mock their sex. In the midst of the attack, Perpetua noticed that Felicity had been knocked to the ground. She went over to Felicity, pulled her to her feet, and the two of them bravely stood together against the heifer. The crowd called out that they had had enough, and so the women were taken out of the arena and clothed. They were then handed over to the gladiators. Perpetua and Felicity went through the ritual of the kiss of peace, and then they were both killed by the sword.
The story of these two women is one that stirs our hearts and minds. Many people, when they encounter stories of those killed for their faith, wonder if they would have the bravery and resolve to do the same. While that is an important thing to consider, I find that there are even more important things to consider from the story of Perpetua and Felicity.
The first goes back to the beginning of their story. Recall Perpetua's conversation with her father about the vase? She said that she could not be called by any other name than that which she was: a Christian. We use so many different words to describe who we are. I know for myself, I use words like graduate, female, golfer, daughter, Vols fan... the list goes on with silly and random ways that I can describe myself. What would be different about my life, or your life, if the primary descriptor was not the arbitrary descriptors, but the one based on Christ? What would be different if others looked at us and could call us by no other name than a Christian?
Next, let's evaluate some aspects of our lives inspired by Felicity's story. Recall her time in prison giving birth? She bravely spoke up amidst scorn and derision from the guards and told them that when she suffered in the arena, she knew she wouldn't be suffering alone. I don't know about you, but I find this to be one of the more amazing statements that anyone could make. Suffering so often makes us feel isolated. To remember that when we suffer we do not do so alone shows unspeakable amounts of faith. I'm not sure where you stand right now in life. But one thing I do know: you are either coming out of a time of suffering, in the midst of suffering, or heading into a time of suffering. That just seems to be the cycle of life. Regardless of where you are in this cycle, please remember the words of Felicity. You do not suffer alone. Christ suffered on the cross, and in doing so he identifies with even the most intense suffering we can go through. He sees, and he understands. You are not alone, my friend.
Today, as you pray, take a moment to thank God for the lives and deaths of Perpetua and Felicity. Thank God for what they teach us about how to live as faithful followers of Christ.