In North Africa in the year 203, Roman Emperor Severus began a terrible persecution of Christians. A 22-year-old noblewoman named Perpetua had a Christian mother and a pagan father. After an argument with her father where she refused to abandon Christianity, Perpetua, her servant Felicity, and three companions were arrested for being Christians. On the appointed day, they were marched into the amphitheater where they were martyred for the amusement of the crowds. Perpetua and Felicity died holding each other for strength, and Perpetua’s final words were a message to all Christians: “Stand fast in the faith and love one another. Do not let our sufferings be a stumbling block to you.”
CHALLENGE
Sts. Perpetua and Felicity are remembered in the liturgy of the Eucharist, and much of St. Perpetua’s story came from her diary, which she kept until her last hours. We draw strength in the practice of our faith by reflecting on the strength of those who came before us. Today, start a faith journal and record your challenges, failures, and victories to serve as inspiration for the next generations of Catholic Christians.
The end of life is a difficult time, and the Catholic Church has a rich history of teachings and traditions to help people have a holy death, as well as grieve and pray for those who have departed from this world. Passing Time is a rich resource on the topics of suffering, death, and Purgatory, compiled from a variety of classical Catholic texts. Buy your copy today.
