The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity

Young catechumens were arrested: Revocatus and Felicitas his fellow-slave, Saturninus and Secundulus. Among them also Vivia Perpetua, of honorable birth, liberally educated, honorably married, having a father and mother and two brothers, one of whom was likewise a catechumen, and an infant son at the breast. She was herself about twenty-two years of age. She herself shall henceforth narrate the whole order of her martyrdom, as she left it written by her own hand and in her own words.

"While we were still," she says, "with our persecutors, and my father persisted in trying to turn me aside and cast me down out of his affection: 'Father,' I said, 'do you see, for example, this vessel lying here, this little pitcher, or whatever it may be?' And he said: 'I see it.' And I said to him: 'Can it be called by any other name than what it is?' And he said: 'No.' 'So also I cannot call myself anything other than what I am, a Christian.' Then my father, moved by this word, threw himself upon me as though to tear out my eyes: but he only distressed me, and departed, overcome together with the arguments of the devil. Then for the few days that I was without my father, I gave thanks to the Lord, and his absence was a relief to me. In that same space of a few days we were baptized; and the Spirit dictated to me that I should seek nothing from the water but endurance of the flesh.

After a few days we were taken into prison, and I was terrified, because I had never experienced such darkness. O bitter day! The fierce heat of the crowd, the rough handling of the soldiers: lastly I was tormented with anxiety for my infant. Then Tertius and Pomponius, blessed deacons who ministered to us, arranged by payment that we might be let out for a few hours into a better part of the prison to refresh ourselves. Then going out of the prison all took their ease. I suckled my infant who was already faint from hunger. Anxious for him I spoke to my mother, and comforted my brother, and commended my son to their care. I was wasting away because I saw them wasting away on my account.

Such anxieties I suffered for many days, and I obtained leave for my infant to remain with me in prison: and straightway I recovered my strength, and was relieved of my toil and anxiety for the infant; and the prison became to me suddenly as it were a palace, so that I preferred to be there rather than anywhere else. Then my brother said to me: 'Lady sister, you are already in great honor, such that you may ask for a vision, and it may be shown to you whether suffering or release awaits you.' And I, who knew that I conversed with the Lord, whose great benefits I had experienced, confidently promised him, saying: 'Tomorrow I will bring you word.' And I made request, and this was shown to me: I see a golden ladder of wondrous height reaching up to heaven, and narrow, so that only one at a time could ascend; and on the sides of the ladder every kind of iron implement was fixed.

There were swords, lances, hooks, daggers; so that if anyone went up carelessly, or without looking upward, he would be torn and his flesh would cling to the iron implements. And beneath the very ladder lay a dragon of wondrous size, who lay in wait for those who would ascend, and terrified them lest they should go up.

But Saturus went up first, who afterwards had given himself up voluntarily for our sake, and had not been present when we were brought in; and he reached the top of the ladder, and turned toward me, and said to me: 'Perpetua, I am waiting for you. But take care that the dragon does not bite you.' And I said: 'He will not harm me, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.' And from beneath the very ladder, as though fearing me, he slowly raised his head; and as soon as I had set foot on the first rung, I trod upon his head. And I went up and saw an immense space of garden, and in the middle of the garden a man with white hair, tall, in the dress of a shepherd, milking sheep; and around him many thousands clad in white.

And he raised his head and looked at me, and said to me: 'Welcome, child.' And he called me, and gave me as it were a morsel from the cheese he was milking, and I received it with joined hands and ate it; and all those standing around said, Amen. And at the sound of the voice I awoke, still chewing something sweet, I know not what. And I straightway told my brother, and we understood that suffering was to come; and we began to have no further hope in this world.

After a few days a rumor ran that we were to be heard. My father also came up from the city, worn out with anxiety, and came to me to cast me down, saying: 'Have pity on my gray hairs; have pity on your father, if I am worthy to be called father by you. If with these hands I have brought you to this flower of your age; if I have set you before all your brothers, do not give me over to the reproach of men. Look upon your brothers, look upon your mother and your aunt, look upon your son who will not be able to live after you. Lay aside your resolution, lest you destroy us all. For none of us will speak freely if you suffer anything.' These things my father said out of his love for me, kissing my hands and casting himself at my feet, and with tears calling me not daughter but lady.

And I grieved for my father's gray hairs, that he alone of all my family would not rejoice at my suffering; and I comforted him, saying: 'That will happen on the scaffold which God shall will. For know that we are not placed in our own power, but in God's.' And he departed from me in sorrow. On another day, while we were at dinner, we were suddenly snatched away to be heard; and we came to the forum. A rumor at once ran through the neighboring parts of the forum, and an immense crowd gathered. We went up onto the scaffold. The others when questioned confessed. It came also to me, and my father appeared at once with my son, and drew me down from the step, saying in supplication: 'Have pity on the infant.' And Hilarianus the procurator, who had at that time received the power of the sword in place of the proconsul Minucius Timinianus who had died, said: 'Spare your father's gray hairs; spare the infancy of the boy.

Offer sacrifice for the welfare of the emperors.' And I answered: 'I will not.' Hilarianus said: 'Are you a Christian?' And I answered: 'I am a Christian.' And when my father stood there to cast me down, he was ordered by Hilarianus to be thrown down, and was struck with a rod. And the fall of my father grieved me as though I myself had been struck: so did I grieve for his wretched old age. Then he pronounced sentence upon us all, and condemned us to the beasts; and we went down joyfully to the prison. Then, because my infant had been accustomed to receive the breast from me and to remain with me in prison, I straightway sent to my father the deacon Pomponius, asking for the infant: but my father was unwilling to give him; and as God willed it, neither did the infant any longer desire the breast, nor did my breasts cause me fever, so that I was not tormented by anxiety for the infant and by pain in my breasts.

After a few days, while we were all praying, suddenly in the midst of prayer a voice came forth from me, and I named Dinocrates; and I was astonished that he had never come into my mind until that moment, and I grieved at the recollection of his fate. And I knew at once that I was worthy, and that I ought to pray for him. And I began to make much prayer for him, and to groan to the Lord. That very night this was shown to me in a vision: I see Dinocrates coming out of a dark place, where there were also many others, hot and very thirsty, with a dirty face and pale color, and on his face the wound which he had when he died. This Dinocrates had been my brother in the flesh, seven years old, who had died miserably of a cancer of the face, so that his death was an object of horror to all men.

For him I had made prayer; and between me and him there was a great gulf, so that neither of us could approach the other. In that same place where Dinocrates was there was a pool full of water, having a rim higher than the stature of the boy, and Dinocrates stretched himself up as if to drink. I grieved that the pool had water in it, and yet because of the height of the rim he would not be able to drink. And I awoke, and I knew that my brother was in distress. But I was confident that my prayer would avail for his distress, and I prayed for him every day until we were transferred to the military prison; for we were to fight at the military games. It was then the birthday of Geta Caesar; and I made prayer for him day and night, groaning and weeping, that he might be granted to me.

On the day when we remained in the stocks, this was shown to me: I see that place which I had before seen dark, now bright; and Dinocrates with a clean body, well clothed, refreshed. And where the wound had been, I see a scar; and the pool which I had before seen, with its rim lowered to the level of the boy's navel; and he was drawing water from it without ceasing, and above the rim there was a bowl full of water; and Dinocrates drew near and began to drink from it, and the bowl did not fail. And when he was satisfied he went away from the water to play joyfully after the manner of children; and I awoke. Then I understood that he had been translated from punishment.

Then, after a few days, Pudens, a soldier and optio in charge of the prison, who began to hold us in great esteem, understanding that the great power of God was in us, admitted many brethren to us, so that both we and they might refresh one another in turn. But as the day of the spectacle drew near, my father came in to me, consumed with grief, and began to tear out his beard, and to throw himself upon the ground and prostrate himself on his face, and to reproach his years, and to speak such words as would move all creation. I grieved for his unhappy old age. On the day before we were to fight, I see in a vision that Pomponius the deacon had come here to the door of the prison and was knocking loudly. I went out to him and opened to him; he was dressed in a white robe with many folds, wearing elaborate sandals. And he said to me: Perpetua, we are waiting for you, come.

And he took my hand, and we began to go through rough and winding places. At last, breathless, we barely reached the amphitheatre, and he led me into the middle of the arena, and said to me: Do not be afraid, I am here with you, and I will labour alongside you; and he departed. And I looked upon a great astonished crowd. And, because I knew that I had been given to the beasts, I marvelled that no beasts were sent against me. And there came out against me a certain Egyptian, foul in appearance, with his helpers, to fight with me. And there came to me also fair young men, my helpers and supporters, and I was stripped, and I became male. And my supporters began to rub me down with oil, as is the custom before a contest, and I saw that Egyptian on the other side rolling in the dust.

And there came forth a man of wondrous stature, so great that he even surpassed the top of the amphitheatre, wearing a loose tunic, and a purple stripe between two bands across the middle of his chest, and wearing sandals of varied form made of gold and silver, and carrying a rod like a lanista, and a green branch on which were golden apples. And he called for silence and said: This Egyptian, if he shall conquer her, shall kill her with the sword; and if she shall conquer him, she shall receive this branch. And he withdrew. And we drew near to one another, and began to exchange blows. He sought to seize my feet; but I struck his face with my heels, and I was lifted up into the air, and began to strike him as though treading upon the ground. But when I saw that there was a delay, I joined my hands together, so as to interlock finger with finger.

And I seized his head, and he fell upon his face; and I trod upon his head. And the people began to shout, and my supporters to sing psalms. And I went to the lanista and received the branch. And he kissed me, and said to me: Daughter, peace be with you. And I began to walk in glory toward the Gate of Life. And I awoke; and I understood that I was to fight not against beasts, but against the devil; but I knew that victory awaited me. Thus far I wrote up to the day before the spectacle; but the account of the spectacle itself, let whoever wishes write it."

But also the blessed Saturus set forth this vision of his, which he himself wrote down. "We had suffered," he says, "and we departed from the flesh, and we began to be carried by four angels toward the east, whose hands did not touch us. And we went not lying on our backs looking upward, but as though ascending a gentle slope. And being set free, we saw at last a first immense light; and I said: Perpetua (for she was at my side), this is what the Lord promised us: we have received the promise. And while we were being borne by those same four angels, there was made for us a great open space, which was like a garden having rose-trees and every kind of flower. The height of the trees was like that of cypress trees, whose leaves were falling without ceasing.

And there in the garden there were four other angels, more radiant than the rest, who, when they saw us, gave us honour, and said to the other angels: Behold, here they are, here they are, with wonder. And those four angels who were carrying us, being filled with awe, set us down; and on our own feet we crossed a stadium by a broad way. There we found Jocundus and Saturninus and Artaxius, who, having suffered the same persecution, were burned alive; and Quintus, who had also himself departed as a martyr in prison; and we asked of them where the others were. But the angels said to us: Come first, enter, and greet the Lord.

"And we came near to a place, the walls of which were such as if built of light; and before the door of that place four angels stood, who clothed those entering in white robes. And being clothed we entered, and we saw an immense light, and we heard a united voice of those saying: Agios, agios, agios, without ceasing. And we saw in the midst of that place one seated as it were like a man with white hair, having snowy locks and a youthful countenance, whose feet we did not see. And on the right and on the left were twenty-four elders, and behind him many others stood. We entered with great wonder, and stood before the throne; and four angels lifted us up, and we kissed him, and he drew his hand across our face. And the other elders said to us: Let us stand. And we stood, and made peace. And the elders said to us: Go, and play. And I said: Perpetua, you have what you wished.

And she said to me: Thanks be to God, that as I was joyful in the flesh, so I am yet more joyful here now.

"And we went out, and we saw before the doors Optatus the bishop on the right, and Aspasius the presbyter and teacher on the left, separated and sorrowful, and they cast themselves at our feet, and said to us: Set things right between us, because you have gone out, and so left us. And we said to them: Are you not our father, and you a presbyter, that you should cast yourselves at our feet? And we cast ourselves down, and embraced them. And Perpetua began to speak with them, and we drew them apart in the garden under a rose-tree. And while we were speaking with them, the angels said to them: Let them alone, let them refresh themselves, and whatever dissensions you have among yourselves, forgive one another; and they rebuked them. And they said to Optatus: Correct your people, for they come together to you as though returning from the circus and contending about factions. And so it seemed to us as though they wished to close the gates.

And we began to recognise there many brethren, and also martyrs. We were all nourished by an indescribable fragrance which satisfied us. Then I awoke rejoicing."

These are the more notable visions of those most blessed martyrs themselves, Saturus and Perpetua, which they themselves wrote down. Secundulus, however, God called out of the world by an earlier departure, while still in prison, not without grace, so that he might be spared the beasts. Yet, if not his soul, at least his flesh acknowledged that joy.

Concerning Felicitas, moreover (for upon her too the grace of the Lord came in like manner), when she was already eight months with child (for she had been arrested while pregnant), as the day of the spectacle drew near, she was in great distress lest she should be put off on account of her pregnancy, since it is not lawful for women with child to be presented for punishment; and lest she should afterwards shed her holy and innocent blood among some criminals. Her fellow-martyrs also were deeply grieved that they should leave behind so good a companion, as though a comrade alone on the same road of hope. And so, joining together in one united groan, they poured forth prayer to the Lord three days before the spectacle. Immediately after the prayer, her pains came upon her.

And when, owing to the natural difficulty of an eighth month's labour, she was suffering in her travail, one of the assistants of the prison-keepers said to her: "You who suffer so now, what will you do when thrown to the beasts, which you despised when you refused to sacrifice?" And she answered: "Now it is I who suffer what I suffer; but then there will be another in me who will suffer for me, because I too am to suffer for him." So she gave birth to a girl, whom a certain sister brought up as her own daughter.

Since, therefore, the Holy Spirit has permitted, and in permitting has willed, that the order of the spectacle itself be written down, even though we are unworthy to complete the description of so great a glory; yet, as though carrying out the command of the most holy Perpetua, or rather the trust committed to us by her faith, we do so, adding one further proof of her constancy and loftiness of spirit. When they were being treated with greater harshness by the tribune, because, on the warnings of most foolish men, he feared lest they might be spirited away from prison by some magical enchantments, Perpetua answered him to his face and said: "Why do you not at least permit us, who are condemned, to refresh ourselves, seeing that we are to fight on the birthday of the most noble Caesar?

Or is it not to your credit if we are brought out in better condition on that day?" The tribune shuddered and blushed; and so he ordered that they be treated more humanely, so that permission was granted to her brothers and the others to enter and refresh themselves with them; and by now even the optio of the prison himself believed. Likewise on the day before, when they were eating what is called the free meal, as far as in them lay, they made it not a free meal but a love-feast; with the same constancy they cast these words at the people, threatening them with the judgment of the Lord, bearing witness to the happiness of their own passion, mocking the curiosity of those who came running together, while Saturus said: "Is tomorrow not enough for you, that you so eagerly look upon what you hate? Friends today, enemies tomorrow.

Yet take careful note of our faces, so that you may recognise us on that day of judgment." So all departed from there astonished; and of these many believed.

The day of their victory dawned, and they proceeded from the prison into the amphitheatre as though into heaven, joyful, fair of countenance; if indeed trembling with joy, not with fear. Perpetua followed with a calm countenance and a steady step, as a matron beloved of Christ God, casting down the vigour of her eyes from the gaze of all. Likewise Felicitas, rejoicing that she had safely given birth, so that she might fight with the beasts, going from blood to blood, from the midwife to the net-fighter, about to be washed after childbirth in a second baptism. And when they were brought to the gate and were compelled to put on the costume—the men that of the priests of Saturn, the women that of the consecrated priestesses of Ceres—that noble woman resisted with constancy to the end. For she said: "We came to this of our own free will for this very reason, that our freedom should not be obscured.

For this reason we pledged our lives, that we should do no such thing: this was our agreement with you." Injustice acknowledged justice: the tribune conceded that they should be brought in simply as they were. Perpetua was singing a psalm, already treading upon the head of the Egyptian. Revocatus, and Saturninus, and Saturus threatened the watching people with this. When they came within sight of Hilarianus, they began to say to Hilarianus by gesture and nod: "You judge us, but God will judge you." At this the people, enraged, demanded that they be tormented with scourges in the manner of the beast-fighters' procession. And indeed they rejoiced that they had obtained some share also in the sufferings of the Lord.

But he who had said: Ask and you shall receive, granted to those who asked the manner of death which each had desired. For whenever they spoke among themselves of their wish for martyrdom, Saturninus indeed declared that he wished to be exposed to all the beasts, so that he might wear a more glorious crown. And so at the opening of the spectacle, he and Revocatus, having encountered a leopard, were also tormented by a bear upon the platform. Saturus, however, abhorred nothing so much as a bear; but he already presumed that he would be dispatched by a single bite of a leopard. And so, when a boar was provided, it was rather the beast-fighter who had provided that boar who was gored by the same beast, and died after the days of the spectacle. Saturus was only dragged. And when he had been bound to the bear on the bridge, the bear refused to come out of its den. And so Saturus was called back a second time unharmed.

For the young women, the devil prepared a most savage cow, one procured contrary to custom, thereby rivaling their sex even in the choice of beast. And so they were stripped and brought out clothed in nets. The crowd shuddered, looking upon one girl as delicate, and the other with breasts still dripping from recent childbirth. Thus they were called back and unbound. Perpetua was brought in first; she was tossed and fell upon her loins: and when she saw her tunic torn at the side, she drew it over to cover her thighs, mindful rather of modesty than of pain. Then, having been helped up, she fastened her scattered hair with a pin: for it was not fitting that a martyr should suffer with hair disheveled, lest she should seem to mourn in her hour of glory. So she rose up; and when she saw Felicitas lying bruised, she went to her, gave her her hand, and lifted her up.

And both stood together, and the hardness of the people being overcome, they were called back to the Gate of Life. There Perpetua was received by a certain catechumen named Rusticus, who was then attached to her, and being as one awakened from sleep—so deeply had she been in the spirit and in ecstasy—she began to look about her, and to the amazement of all she said: "When are we to be led out to that cow, I wonder?" And when she heard that it had already happened, she did not at first believe it, until she recognized certain marks of ill-treatment on her body and clothing, and that catechumen. Thereupon she called her brother and that catechumen to her, and addressed them, saying: "Stand fast in the faith, and love one another, all of you, and be not scandalized by our sufferings." Saturus likewise at another gate was exhorting the soldier Pudens, saying: "Here I am, as I promised and foretold; not a single beast have I felt thus far.

And now believe with your whole heart. Behold, I go forth, and I shall be consumed by a single bite of the leopard." And straightway at the end of the spectacle, being thrown to the leopard, he was drenched with so much blood from a single bite of it, that the people, as he came back, cried out in testimony of a second baptism: "Well washed, well washed." Truly he was well saved indeed, who had been made glorious by that spectacle. Then to the soldier Pudens he said: "Farewell, and be mindful of my faith; and let these things not trouble you, but confirm you." And at the same time he asked of him a small ring from his finger, and having dipped it in his wound, gave it back to him, leaving it to him as a pledge of inheritance, and a memorial of his blood. Then, now lifeless, he was laid down with the rest in the usual place for the throat-cutting.

And when the people demanded that they be brought into the middle, so that, as the sword pierced their bodies, they might join their eyes as partners in the murder, they rose of their own accord and moved to where the people wished, having first kissed one another, that they might consummate their martyrdom with the customary rites of peace. The others indeed received the sword motionless and in silence: much more so Saturus, who, as he had also been the first to mount the ladder, was the first to give up his spirit; for he was waiting for Perpetua as well. But Perpetua, that she might taste something of pain, was pierced between the ribs and cried out; and she herself guided the wavering right hand of the novice gladiator to her own throat. Perhaps so great a woman could not otherwise have been slain, since she was feared by the unclean spirit, unless she herself had willed it. O most valiant and blessed martyrs! O truly called and chosen for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

He who magnifies and honors and adores Him ought likewise to read these examples, no less than the ancient ones, for the edification of the Church, so that new virtues too may bear witness that one and the same Holy Spirit is still working even to this day.