SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 7TH

MEMORIAL OF SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITY, MARTYRS – FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 7TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs (Patron Saints of Mothers, Expectant Mothers, ranchers, butchers, Carthage, Catalonia). Through the intercession of our of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray persecuted Christians, for all mothers, all those seeking for the fruit of the womb, may God grant them gift of children, for all expectant mothers, we pray for safe delivery and for all children who are sick, especially those suffering from cancers and other terminal illnesses, we pray for God’s divine healing and intervention upon them…Amen 🙏🏽

“Blessed Saints Perpetua and Felicity, please watch over all mothers and children who are separated from each other because of war or persecution. Give special attention to mothers who are imprisoned and guide them to follow your example of faith and courage…Amen.” 🙏🏽

“Stand fast in the faith, and love one another, all of you, and be not offended at my sufferings”. ~ St. Perpetua. May our faith never falter despite the trials and pain in life. 🙏🏽

Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITY, MARTYRS: St. Perpetua and St. Felicity (d. 203 A.D.) were friends who lived in Carthage, North Africa. They were both catechumens preparing to receive the Church’s sacraments: St. Perpetua (Vibia Perpetua) was a well educated recently married noblewoman nursing her first child, baby boy and St. Felicity was a pregnant Christian slave who worked as a household servant. Sts. Perpetua and  Felicity were arrested under the anti-Christian edict of 202 along with three fellow Christians, Saturninus, Secundulus, and Revocatus. All had been converted by Saturus, a layman, who joined them voluntary in the dungeon in which they were imprisoned for refusing to sacrifice to the gods. These two courageous women were martyred, along with the three heroic fellow Christian men, Saturus, Saturninus, and Revocatus. Secundulus is said to have died in prison. They were martyred as part of the persecution of Septimus Severus, the Roman emperor from 193 to 211 AD. Their deaths took place on March 7, 203, in Carthage, a city in North Africa located in the modern country of Tunisia. St. Perpetua and Felicity are held in such high esteem that they are two of only seven women on the second list of saints in the Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer I.

St. Perpetua was born in approximately 180 AD. She came from a family of nobility, was a catechumen, and at the age of twenty-two, was married and recently had given birth to a baby boy. St. Felicity, also a catechumen, was Perpetua’s servant. She was also married and late in her pregnancy. Sts. Perpetua and Felicity were apprehended because of their Christian faith and held under guard in a private home. St. Perpetua’s elderly pagan father came to the place and tried to convince her to repudiate her Christian faith, but she flatly refused. St. Perpetua yielded her nursing child to her pagan father but remained firm in her Faith in spite of his pleas. St. Felicity who gave birth to her child in prison, also remained steadfast in the Faith when the child was taken from her. The two catechumens were baptized, and shortly thereafter they were transferred to prison. St. Perpetua prayed for a vision to see if she would suffer or be released, and she was shown a golden ladder of great length that reached up to heaven. There was a huge dragon at the bottom which tried to frighten anyone from making the ascent, and there were dangerous weapons on the side that would mangle those who climbed carelessly or without looking upward. The vision confirmed her upcoming martyrdom, but also her final glorious destination.

St. Felicity gave birth to a baby girl in prison three days before suffering a martyr’s death despite her initial concern that she would not be permitted to suffer martyrdom with the others, since the law forbade the execution of pregnant women. While she was suffering from the pains of childbirth, one of the guards called out to her, “If you are suffering so much now, what will you do when you are thrown to the wild beasts?” “Now I suffer,” she answered, “but there Another will be in me, who will suffer for me, because I will suffer for Him.” When she was in travail she had sorrow, but when she was set before the wild beasts she rejoiced. The guard tried to persuade her to avoid martyrdom and save her life so she could take care of her newborn child by renouncing her faith. The guard’s plea fell on deaf ears. Her child was adopted by a fellow Christian.

Finally, all five were brought before Hilarion, the procurator of the province, interrogated, convicted as Christians, and sentenced to a gruesome death, to be killed by wild animals before a large crowd of spectators during the games in the amphitheater. As they were led to the arena, they went joyfully with cheerful looks and a graceful bearing, as if they were going to heaven. The three men were mauled by ravenous leopards, bears, and wild boars. Saturus perished almost instantly, while Saturninus and Revocatus, both bleeding profusely, still were breathing. Meanwhile, Perpetua and Felicity were attacked by a savage cow with sharp, curved horns. The heifer charged them, gored Perpetua, and crushed Felicity. Perpetua was in a state of spiritual ecstasy, and although wounded, she was oblivious to her pain. Seeing the others covered in blood, she exhorted them, “Stand firm in faith, love one another and do not be tempted to do anything wrong because of our sufferings.”

The sadistic and bloodthirsty crowd shrieked for more. The four were led to the middle of the amphitheater where they gave each other the kiss of peace. Gladiators advanced toward them, drew their blades, and thrust them through, to the crowd’s frenzied delight. Perpetua’s gladiator was inexperienced and his blow missed the mark, so she guided his knife to her throat herself. They “defied their persecutors and overcame the torment of death” (Collect). Saints Perpetua and Felicity are both buried in the basilica in Carthage. Their martyrdom became known throughout the Church—St. Augustine preached in their honor at least three times. Sts. Perpetua and Felicity are mentioned in the Roman Canon and are Patron Saints: Perpetua – Cattle, death of children, martyrs.  Felicity – Death of children; martyrs; sterility; to have male children; widows.

PRAYER: Blessed Saints Perpetua and Felicity, please watch over all mothers and children who are separated from each other because of war or persecution. Give special attention to mothers who are imprisoned and guide them to follow your example of faith and courage…Amen🙏🏽

Heavenly Father, your love enabled the saints Perpetua and Felicity to have the courage to endure a cruel martyrdom. By their prayers, help us to develop in love of you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever… Amen 🙏🏽