Deepertruth: The Saint Perpetua and Felicity story

In the year 203, St. Perpetua was a woman raised with nobility.  She was raised with great promise with one exception? Her Mother was a Catholic which was a dangerous way of life at the time because of the Roman Emperor's decree.  It would not be long before St. Perpetua would be affected because of her families ties to the underground Church.  Some of them, one of her Brothers especially, became a catechumen learning the faith from his sister.

St. Perpetua's father was a Pagan who loved his family but could not control them as their faith in Christ was too strong.  At 22 years of age, you would think St. Perpetua, who had a small child, would have every reason to want to live, yet, her faith in Christ and the knowledge of everlasting life was even more important to her.  It is believed that her husband was already a martyr, she was already a widow.

When the father challenged St. Perpetua's faith, pointing to a water jug, she asked her father, "See that pot lying there? Can you call it by any other name than what it is?" Her father answered, "Of course not." Perpetua responded, "Neither can I call myself by any other name than what I am -- a Christian."

Losing this argument, her father went on the attack, he lost it, had St. Perpetua arrested and imprisoned.  She was arrested along with four other teachers, two slaves,  (Felicity and Revocatus) and Saturninus and Secundulus. 

Their chief catechist, Saturus, was also captured and imprisoned.  He had ensured baptism for St. Perpetua before their imprisonment.  St. Perpetua was gifted by God for her ability to speak before others, receiving messages from Jesus and Our Lady who encouraged her during trials and persecutions.