Passion of Saint Perpetua, Saint Felicitas, and their Companions

Saints Perpetua and Felicity

Stained-glass window of St Perpetua of Carthage (church of Notre-Dame of Vierzon, France, 19th century): martyrdom of St Perpetua and her fellows in the stadium of Carthage; Saint Felicity on her left
Martyrs
Born unknown
Died c. 203
Carthage, Roman Province of Africa (modern-day Tunisia)
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church
Canonized Pre-Congregation
Feast

Roman Catholic Church:

  • 7 March
  • 6 March (1908–1969)

Anglican Communion

  • 7 March (most provinces)[1]

Eastern Orthodox Church:

Lutheran Church

Patronage Mothers, Expectant Mothers, ranchers, butchers, Carthage, Catalonia

The Passion of Saint Perpetua, Saint Felicitas, and their Companions is one of the oldest and most notable early Christian texts. It survives in both Latin and Greek forms, and purports to contain the actual prison diary of the young mother and martyr Perpetua. Scholars generally believe that it is authentic although in the form we have it may have been edited by others. The text also purports to contain, in his own words, the accounts of the visions of Saturus, another Christian martyred with Perpetua. An editor who states he was an eyewitness has added accounts of the martyrs' suffering and deaths. Catalogued by the Bollandists as BHL 6633-6636,[5] BHG 1482 [6]

Perpetua and Felicity (believed to have died in 203 AD) were Christian martyrs of the 3rd century. Vibia Perpetua was a married noblewoman, said to have been 22 years old at the time of her death, and mother of an infant she was nursing. Felicity, a slave imprisoned with her and pregnant at the time, was martyred with her. They were put to death along with others at Carthage in the Roman province of Africa.

According to the passion narrative, a slave named Revocatus, his fellow slave Felicitas, the two free men Saturninus and Secundulus, and Perpetua, who were catechumens, that is, Christians being instructed in the faith but not yet baptized, were arrested and executed at the military games in celebration of the Emperor Septimus Severus's birthday. To this group was added a man named Saturus, who voluntarily went before the magistrate and proclaimed himself a Christian.

Text and content

Summary of the Passion text

The traditional view has been that Perpetua, Felicity and the others were martyred owing to a decree of Roman emperor Septimius Severus (193–211). This is based on a reference to a decree he is said to have issued forbidding conversions to Judaism and Christianity but this decree is known only from one source, the Augustan History, an unreliable mix of fact and fiction.[7]:184 Early church historian Eusebius describes Severus as a persecutor, but the Christian apologist Tertullian states that Severus was well disposed towards Christians, employed a Christian as his personal physician and had personally intervened to save several high-born Christians known to him from the mob.[7]:184 Eusebius' description of Severus as a persecutor likely derives merely from the fact that numerous persecutions occurred during his reign, including those known in the Roman martyrology as the martyrs of Madaura as well as Perpetua and Felicity in the Roman province of Africa, but these were probably as the result of local persecutions rather than empire wide actions or decrees by Severus.[7]:185

The details of the martyrdoms survive in both Latin and Greek texts (see below). Perpetua's account of events leading to their deaths, apparently historical, is written in the first person. A brief introduction by the editor (chapters i–ii) is followed by the narrative and visions of Perpetua (iii–ix), and the vision of Saturus (xi–xiii). The account of their deaths, written by the editor who claims to be an eyewitness, is included at the end (xiv–xxi).

Perpetua’s account opens with conflict between her and her father, who wishes her to recant her belief.[8] Perpetua refuses, and is soon baptized before being moved to prison (iii). After the guards are bribed, she is allowed to move to a better portion of the prison, where she nurses her child and gives its charge to her mother and brother (iii), and the child is able to stay in prison with her for the time being (iii).

Painting showing the martyrdom of Perpetua, Felicitas, Revocatus, Saturninus and Secundulus, from the Menologion of Basil II (c. 1000 AD)

At the encouragement of her brother, Perpetua asks for and receives a vision, in which she climbs a dangerous ladder to which various weapons are attached (iv). At the foot of a ladder is a serpent, which is faced first by Saturus and later by Perpetua (iv). The serpent does not harm her, and she ascends to a garden (iv). At the conclusion of her dream, Perpetua realizes that the martyrs will suffer (iv).

Perpetua’s father visits her in prison and pleads with her, but Perpetua remains steadfast in her faith (v). She is brought to a hearing before the governor Hilarianus and the martyrs confess their Christian faith (vi). In a second vision, Perpetua sees her brother Dinocrates, who had died unbaptized from cancer at the early age of seven (vii). She prayed for him and later had a vision of him happy and healthy, his facial disfigurement reduced to a scar (viii). Perpetua’s father again visits the prison, and Pudens (the warden) shows the martyrs honor (ix).

The day before her martyrdom, Perpetua envisions herself defeating a savage Egyptian and interprets this to mean that she would have to do battle not merely with wild beasts but with the Devil himself (x).

Saturus, who is also said to have recorded his own vision, sees himself and Perpetua transported eastward by four angels to a beautiful garden, where they meet Jocundus, Saturninus, Hinda, Artaius, and Dennis Quinntus, four other Christians who are burnt alive during the same persecution (xi–xii). He also sees Bishop Optatus of Carthage and the priest Aspasius, who beseech the martyrs to reconcile the conflicts between them (xiii).

As the editor resumes the story, Secundulus is said to have died in prison (xiv). The slave Felicitas gives birth to a daughter 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 (xv). On the day of the games, the martyrs are led into the amphitheatre (xviii). At the demand of the crowd they were first scourged before a line of gladiators; then a boar, a bear, and a leopard were set on the men, and a wild cow on the women (xix). Wounded by the wild animals, they gave each other the kiss of peace and were then put to the sword (xix). The text describes Perpetua’s death as follows; "But Perpetua, that she might have some taste of pain, was pierced between the bones and shrieked out; and when the swordsman's hand wandered still (for he was a novice), herself set it upon her own neck. Perchance so great a woman could not else have been slain (being feared of the unclean spirit) had she not herself so willed it" (xix). The text ends as the editor extols the acts of the martyrs.

Debate over editor

Scholars generally believe that the Passio SS Perpetuae et Felicitatis narrative was in fact, written by Perpetua.[9] If this is true, the text is important because Perpetua is one of the first Christian female writers before the fourth century whose works have survived.[10] The personal account of a female martyr is also rare, as the stories of other female martyrs were recorded collectively.[9] Perpetua’s style is described as “emotional”, “personal”, “fragmented” and “colloquial”, which is fitting with the circumstances under which she would have been writing. It should still be acknowledged that the style could have been crafted to give the impression of a female martyr’s diary.[11]

Although some have suggested that the editor of the text is Tertullian, the editor’s identity remains uncertain.[12] The writing style and content of the edited material do seem to suggest that the editor is male.[13]

Many scholars have examined the male modification and transmission of a female martyrdom story that challenged power dynamics and gender hierarchies within the organized church.[14] This issue of gender may have influenced the redaction tendencies of the editor. Brent Shaw argues that the editor of the story rewrites Perpetua’s experience in such a way that affirms the technical value of her martyrdom while simultaneously presenting her actions as unnatural.[15] Furthermore, the dream vision of Saturus is considered to be the result of editorial activity, unlikely to have been written by Saturus himself because of its distinctive construction and impersonal bent.[16] If the editor is male, he may have been seeking to show that men and women, rather than women alone, are responsible for the dreams and visions received in the narrative. Others argue that Felicity may have been the initial source for the dream, an attribution changed by the editor in order to circumvent the problematic implications of a female slave who can receive visions.

Dating issues

The date of their martyrdom is traditionally given as 203 AD. The association of the martyrdom with a birthday festival of the Emperor Geta, however, might seem to place it after 209, when Geta was made "Augustus" (having held the junior title Caesar since 198 when his elder brother had been made "Augustus"), though before 211, when he was assassinated. The Acta notes that the martyrdom occurred in the year when Minucius Timinianus was proconsul in the Roman province of Africa, but Timinianus is not otherwise attested in history. Werner Eck notes that the Greek version of the Acta calls the proconsul Μινούκιος Ὀππιανός, or Minucius Opimianus, who is recorded as proconsul for 202/203.[17] The Golden Legend, however, places the martyrdom in 256, under the emperors Valerian and Gallienus.[18]

Christians challenging the traditions of the family within the text

In the Passion, Christian faith motivates the martyrs to reject family loyalties and acknowledge a higher authority.[19] In the text, Perpetua’s relationship with her father is the most prominently featured of all her familial ties, and she directly interacts with him four times (iii, v, vi, and ix).[20] Perpetua herself may have deemed this relationship to be her most important, given what is known about its importance within Roman society.[21] Fathers expected that their daughters would care for them, honor them, and enhance their family reputation through marriage. In becoming a martyr, Perpetua failed to conform to society’s expectations.[22] Perpetua and Felicity also defer their roles as mothers to remain loyal to Christ, leaving behind young children at the time of their death.[15]

Although the narrator does describe Perpetua as “honorably married”, no husband appears in the text.[23] Possible explanations include that her husband was attempting to distance himself from the proceedings as a non-Christian, that he was away on business, or that her mention of him was edited out; because Perpetua was called the bride of Christ, omission of her husband may have been intended to reduce any sexual implications (xviii).[24] Regardless, the absence of a husband in the text leads Perpetua to assume new family loyalties and a new identity in relation to Christ.[21]

Perpetua belonged to an aristocratic family with Roman citizenship, as indicated by her name Vibia Perpetua.[25] Perpetua’s execution alongside slaves demonstrated Christianity’s ability to transcend social distinctions, in contrast to the inequality that pervaded Roman religion and society.[26] As Perpetua and Felicity were equal in martyrdom despite differences in class, they made the dramatic statement that Christianity transcended social structure.[27]

Evidence for Montanism in the text

Most scholars believe that The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity present a Montanist theology.[28][29] Montanism was a doctrine of early Christianity[30] that arose in Phrygia, modern Turkey. The movement was founded by Montanus; a recent convert to Christianity, said by early church father Saint Jerome to have been previously a priest of Cybele,[30] who had shared his heretical ideas with followers. The group emphasized a belief in the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit visible in the prophetic words of Christians.[31]

Perpetua and Saturus had received new dreams and prophesies within the text in accordance with the beliefs and tenets of Montanism.[32] Further evidence for Montanism is that Perpetua and Felicity may have separated themselves from their partners in accordance with Montanist teachings, which allowed and sometimes even encouraged women to leave non-Christian husbands in favor of celibate lives devoted to preaching the Gospel.[33] However, nothing in the text is explicitly Montanist. Opponents of the new prophecy accused its members of having avoided martyrdom, which makes the identification of the Passion text as Montanist less likely.[34]

The editor’s additions may be an attempt to validate Montanist beliefs, praising prophecy and visionary gifts from the spirit.[35] In the introduction for example, the editor includes a biblical reference to the sons and daughters who shall prophesy in the last days (i). The editor also asserts the importance of acknowledging and honoring both “new prophecies” and “new visions” (i).

Veneration

Mosaic of Saint Perpetua, Croatia.

In Carthage a magnificent basilica was afterwards erected over the tomb of the martyrs, the Basilica Maiorum, where an ancient inscription bearing the names of Perpetua and Felicitas has been found.

Saints Felicitas and Perpetua (mentioned in that order) are two of seven women commemorated by name in the second part of the Canon of the Mass. The Blessed Virgin Mary is commemorated in the first part.

The feast day of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas, 7 March, was celebrated even outside Africa, and is entered in the Philocalian Calendar, the 4th-century calendar of martyrs venerated publicly at Rome. When Saint Thomas Aquinas's feast was inserted into the Roman calendar, for celebration on the same day, the two African saints were thenceforth only commemorated. This was the situation in the Tridentine Calendar established by Pope Pius V, and remained so until the year 1908, when Pope Pius X brought the date for celebrating them forward to 6 March.[36] In the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas was moved, and that of Saints Perpetua and Felicity was restored to their traditional 7 March date.[37]

Other Churches, including the Lutheran Church and the Episcopal Church, commemorate these two martyrs on 7 March, never having altered the date to 6 March. The Anglican Church of Canada, however, historically commemorated them on 6 March (The Book of Common Prayer, 1962), but have since changed to the traditional 7 March date (Book of Alternative Services, 1985).

In the Eastern Orthodox Church the feast day of Saints Perpetua of Carthage and the catechumens Saturus, Revocatus, Saturninus, Secundulus, and Felicitas is February 1.[2][3]

Controversy over Dinocrates

The account of Saint Perpetua comforting her dead brother has been a point of controversy. The text specifically says that the child had not been baptized. Renatus used this account to bolster his claim that unbaptized infants could attain paradise, if not the kingdom of heaven. Augustine in turn proposed an explanation for how Dinocrates could have been baptized but later estranged from Christ by his pagan father.[38]

The once-flowering rambling rose "Félicité et Perpétue" (R. sempervirens x 'Old Blush'[39]) with palest pinks buds opening nearly white, was introduced by Robert Jacques[40] in 1828.[41]

A new translation by Walter H. Shewring in 1929 of The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity was printed in a new typeface by Eric Gill given the name Perpetua.

Two historical fiction novels have been written from the point of view of Perpetua. Amy Peterson's Perpetua: A Bride, A Martyr, A Passion (ISBN 978-0972927642) was published in 2004, and Malcolm Lyon's The Bronze Ladder (ISBN 978-1905237517) in 2006.

National Geographic documentary entitled Jesus Rise to Power featured the story of Perpetua in its 2nd episode (Martyrs) which was aired in 2013.[42][43][44]

BBC's documentary series and book[45] Andrew Marr's History of the World recreates the death of Perpetua[46] in Episode 3[47]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Calendar" (PDF). Church of England. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ἁγία Περπέτουα ἡ Μάρτυς καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῇ. 1 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
  3. 1 2 Martyr Perpetua, a woman of Carthage. OCA – Feasts and Saints.
  4. ↑ Lutheran Woman Today, Volume 11. Publishing House of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 1998. Perpetua is commemorated by the church on March 7.
  5. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/BibliothecaHagiographicaV2#page/n281/mode/2up/search/Perpetua
  6. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/bibliothecahagi00boll#page/206/mode/2up/search/Perpetua
  7. 1 2 3 Tabbernee, William (2007). Fake Prophecy and Polluted Sacraments: Ecclesiastical and Imperial Reactions to Montanism (Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae). Brill. ISBN 978-9004158191.
  8. ↑ Foley O.F.M., Leonard. Saint of the Day, (revised by Pat McCloskey O.F.M.), Franciscan Media ISBN 978-0-86716-887-7
  9. 1 2 Shaw, p.14.
  10. ↑ Ross, p.1048.
  11. ↑ Ross, p.1055.
  12. ↑ Shaw, p.30.
  13. ↑ Shaw, pp.30–31.
  14. ↑ Shaw, pp.33, 36.
  15. 1 2 Shaw, p.36.
  16. ↑ Shaw, p.32.
  17. ↑ Eck, "Ergänzungen zu den Fasti Consulares des 1. und 2. Jh.n.Chr.", Historia, 24 (1975), p. 326
  18. ↑ de Voragine, Jacobus (1995). William Granger Ryan, ed. The golden legend: readings on the saints. Volume II. Princeton UP. pp. 342–43. ISBN 978-0-691-00154-8. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
  19. ↑ Farina, pp.48–49.
  20. ↑ Farina, p.51.
  21. 1 2 Salisbury, p.8.
  22. ↑ Shaw, p.25.
  23. ↑ Farina, p.52.
  24. ↑ Shaw, p.31.
  25. ↑ Shaw, pp.10–11.
  26. ↑ Farina, p.49.
  27. ↑ Salisbury, p.13.
  28. ↑ Litfin, Bryan (1 October 2007), "Perpetua", Getting to Know the Church Fathers, Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, p. 128, ISBN 978-1-58743-196-8, retrieved 5 January 2013
  29. ↑ Butler, Rex D. (May 1, 2014). The New Prophecy and 'New Visions': Evidence of Montanism in 'The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas (1st ed.). BorderStone Press, LLC. ISBN 978-1936670963.
  30. 1 2 "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Montanists". newadvent.org. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  31. ↑ Salisbury, p.156.
  32. ↑ Farina, p.76.
  33. ↑ Farina, pp.52–53.
  34. ↑ Ross, p.1061.
  35. ↑ Salisbury, p.158.
  36. ↑ "Calendarium", p.89.
  37. ↑ "Calendarium", p.119.
  38. ↑ "Church Fathers Volume 14 Augustin". catholicfirst.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  39. ↑ Its French equivalent name is R. 'Noisette'.
  40. ↑ Robert Jacques was director of horticulture for King Louis-Philippe.
  41. ↑ Marie-Thérèse Haudebourg, Roses et jardins Hachette, ISBN 2-01-236947-2, p.177
  42. ↑ "About Jesus: Rise To Power Show – National Geographic Channel – Sub-Saharan Africa". National Geographic Channel – Videos, TV Shows & Photos – Sub-Saharan Africa. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  43. ↑ "Perpetua: The Ultimate Christian Martyr". National Geographic Channel. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  44. ↑ Ghazwan Mattoka. "Jesus Rise to Power: Season 1 Episode 2 – Martyrs – National Geographic – Video Dailymotion". Dailymotion. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  45. ↑ A History of the World, Andrew Marr, Pan Macmillan, 2014. ISBN 978-1447236825.
  46. ↑ 'Cavalier' Marr is accused of ignoring Jesus while honouring Buddhism in his BBC history of the world, Chris Hastings and Jonathan Petre, 30 September 2012, The Mail on Sunday.
  47. ↑ The Word and the Sword, Andrew Marr's History of the World, BBC One.

Thomas J. Heffernan, The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity. Oxford University Press, 2012. 557Pp. A new critical edition of the Latin text with a printing of the Greek text and an extensive historical and philological commentary. The only edition which provides a detailed account of all the extant manuscripts.

Sources

Bibliography

Books and articles

Videography

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