Felicity: Name Day and Patron Saint

St Perpetua was a young woman of a noble family in Carthage, in North Africa. About the year 203 she was arrested as a Christian with Felicity, a servant, and several other catechumens who were still preparing for baptism: Saturus, Revocatus, Saturninus and Secundulus. Perpetua was about twenty-two and had an infant son, and she took the baby with her into prison. Again and again her father came and pleaded with her, appealing to her love as a mother, to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, and again and again she refused. Perpetua and Saturus were given visions from God that strengthened them, and they wrote down what they saw and suffered, so that the Church still has their own account of those days. Felicity was eight months with child. She gave birth to a daughter in prison and rejoiced, because the law would not allow a pregnant woman to be put to death, and now she could die with her companions. On the day of the games the martyrs were led into the amphitheatre and set before wild beasts; Perpetua and Felicity were thrown down by a wild heifer. At last they were taken to be killed by the sword. When the young gladiator’s first blow failed, Perpetua guided his hand to her own throat and so received the crown of martyrdom. The Church remembers them on 1 February (14 February on the Old Calendar). The faithful ask their prayers for courage in confessing Christ, even against the pleading of those they love.

What the faithful pray for

• mothers and their infant children
• expectant mothers and a safe birth
• courage to confess Christ
• catechumens preparing for baptism
• those whose families oppose their faith
• those held in prison