{"id":52366,"date":"2020-03-05T22:25:23","date_gmt":"2020-03-05T19:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=52366"},"modified":"2025-07-09T23:41:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T20:41:58","slug":"the-death-of-saint-perpetua-and-felicitas-what-does-it-teach-us-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/03\/05\/the-death-of-saint-perpetua-and-felicitas-what-does-it-teach-us-today\/","title":{"rendered":"The Death of Saint Perpetua and Felicitas \u2013 What Does It Teach Us Today?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The story of <\/span>Saint Perpetua and Felicitas<\/strong> is more than just a historical account\u2014it’s a testimony of unwavering faith, self-denial, and the cost of following Christ. Their martyrdom teaches us deep truths about the Christian life, especially the call to suffer for Christ’s name, regardless of status, age, or relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Historical Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Perpetua was born around 182 AD<\/strong> in Tunis<\/strong>, North Africa. She came from a wealthy and noble family. Her father was a pagan, but Perpetua became a Christian\u2014evidence of God\u2019s saving grace reaching into every class of society. The exact time of her conversion is unclear, but her transformation was evident in her total surrender to Christ.<\/p>\n

At that time, Emperor Septimius Severus<\/strong> had outlawed Christianity and Judaism across North African provinces. The persecution was intended to preserve Roman religious unity by suppressing “foreign religions.” This mirrors Jesus’ own warning:<\/p>\n

John 15:18\u201319\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cIf the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you… because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Perpetua was arrested while undergoing catechism (Christian instruction) and was baptized shortly before being imprisoned, along with four other believers. She was also a young mother, still nursing her infant child. Among those arrested with her was Felicitas<\/strong>, her servant, who was pregnant<\/strong> at the time.<\/p>\n

\n

A Test of Faith<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When her father came to visit her in prison, he begged her to deny Christ to save her life. But Perpetua responded:<\/p>\n

\u201cCan this water jar be called anything other than what it is?\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cNo,\u201d he said.<\/em>
\n\u201cThen neither can I be called anything other than what I am\u2014a Christian.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This statement reflects her understanding of identity in Christ<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 5:17\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To Perpetua, being a Christian wasn’t just a label\u2014it was her very nature. She couldn\u2019t deny Christ without denying her own existence.<\/p>\n

Her father returned a second time, this time broken and pleading, saying:<\/p>\n

\u201cHave pity on me and your family\u2026 just say you’re not a Christian!\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But again, Perpetua held firm. Her boldness reminds us of Christ\u2019s words:<\/p>\n

Matthew 10:37\u201339\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cHe who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me… and he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

The Final Trial<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At their trial, the group stood before the Roman governor. One by one, they confessed Christ and refused to worship the emperor. When Perpetua was asked, she boldly said:<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I am a Christian.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her father, still hoping to save her, held her child and begged her again. But she would not compromise. The governor sentenced them to die in the arena<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There, wild animals were released. The men were thrown to leopards and bears; the women\u2014including Perpetua and Felicitas\u2014were thrown to a wild cow. Despite being injured and bleeding, Perpetua rose to help Felicitas.<\/p>\n

This act of love and perseverance is a picture of Christian fellowship and bearing one another\u2019s burdens<\/strong>, even in suffering:<\/p>\n

Galatians 6:2\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cBear one another\u2019s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Eventually, Roman executioners were brought in to finish them off with the sword. Perpetua died at the age of 22<\/strong>. Despite her youth, wealth, and noble status, she chose Christ above all. She counted nothing in this world worthy to be compared with knowing Him.<\/p>\n

Perpetua\u2019s life reminds us that true discipleship<\/strong> costs everything. Jesus Himself said:<\/p>\n

Luke 14:27\u201328\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cAnd whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost\u2026?\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She exemplified the faith described in Hebrews:<\/p>\n

Hebrews 11:35\u201337\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201c…Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings… they were stoned, sawn in two, slain with the sword…\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These are the heroes of faith\u2014the \u201ccloud of witnesses\u201d who surround us and challenge us to run our own race faithfully:<\/p>\n

Hebrews 12:1\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cTherefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight… and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

A Personal Challenge to You\u2014Especially Women of Faith<\/strong><\/h3>\n

How do you<\/strong> value your salvation?<\/p>\n

Perpetua gave up everything\u2014status, comfort, and even her child\u2014for the sake of Christ. Yet many today find it difficult to let go of things like revealing clothes, worldly entertainment, or the fear of people’s opinions.<\/p>\n

You might say, \u201cBut I\u2019m young.\u201d So was Perpetua.<\/p>\n

You might say, \u201cBut I come from a struggling background.\u201d She came from wealth\u2014yet didn\u2019t cling to it.<\/p>\n

You might say, \u201cBut I\u2019m a mother.\u201d So was she\u2014and she left her baby in God\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

The truth is, we often make excuses. But Jesus calls us to deny ourselves:<\/p>\n

Mark 8:34\u201335\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cWhoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Perpetua and Felicitas were not superhuman. They were ordinary women, just like you and me, who simply chose to obey Christ no matter the cost.<\/p>\n

James 5:17\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cElijah was a man with a nature like ours\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What set them apart was their willingness to die to self<\/strong>. They remind us that this world is temporary, but Christ is eternal. One day, we will all stand before Him. What will you say?<\/p>\n

May the courage of Perpetua and Felicitas inspire us to love Christ above all\u2014above family, reputation, youth, or fear. Let us run our race faithfully.<\/p>\n

Revelation 2:10\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cBe faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Be blessed. Let your faith be genuine. Let Christ be everything.<\/strong><\/p>\n