The Authentic Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas

Gloria Romanorum ^ | 3/6/17 | Florentius

[Antoninus]

On March 7, AD 203, during the reign of the emperor Septimius Severus, five Christians were martyred in the amphitheater of Carthage under the procurator Hilarian. The three men were named Revocatus, Saturus, and Saturninus. The two women, however, are more famous, having their names entered into the Roman Canon of the Mass: Felicitas, a slave eight months pregnant, and Perpetua, a young Roman matron of noble birth who had recently given birth to a child.

Unlike many of the Acts of these early martyrs, the antiquity and authenticity of the Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas is not seriously challenged by most scholars. Indeed, the first piece of the Acts is thought to have been written or dictated by Perpetua herself, in Latin. Here she describes her father's reaction to the fact that she was under official suspicion of being a Christian:

"When we were still under legal surveillance and my father was liked to vex me with his words and continually strove to hurt my faith because of his love:

'Father,' said I, 'Do you see (for examples) this vessel lying, a pitcher or whatsoever it may be?'

And he said, 'I see it.'

And I said to him, 'Can it be called by any other name than that which it is?'

And he answered, 'No.'

'So can I call myself nought other than that which I am, a Christian?'

Then my father angry with this word came upon me to tear out my eyes; but he only vexed me, and he departed vanquished, he and the arguments of the devil."

A few days later, Perpetua was thrown into prison along with other Christians....

[Antoninus]

On this day in history. The account of the martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicity is one of the oldest authentic accounts to have survived antiquity.

This is a rather long article, so excerpting.

[Antoninus]

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Posted on 03/06/2019 9:35:13 PM PST by OddLane
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3732727/posts