Perpetua (d. 203 AD) would have died as an irrelevant person in a history of billions of irrelevant persons -- except she was willing to die for Jesus Christ

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

We have little idea what brought Perpetua to faith in Christ, or how long she had been a Christian, or how she lived her Christian life. Thanks to her diary, and that of another prisoner, we have some idea of her last days—an ordeal that so impressed the famous Augustine that he preached four sermons about her death.

Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (145 AD - 211 AD) decides to cripple Christianity

Septimius Severus at Glyptothek, Munich.

Perpetua was a Christian noblewoman who, at the turn of the third century, lived with her husband, her son, and her slave, Felicitas, in Carthage (in modern Tunis). At this time, North Africa was the center of a vibrant Christian community. It is no surprise, then, that when Emperor Septimius Severus determined to cripple Christianity (he believed it undermined Roman patriotism), he focused his attention on North Africa. Among the first to be arrested were five new Christians taking classes to prepare for baptism, one of whom was Perpetua.

Perpetua's pagan father tries to convince her to deny Jesus Christ

Mosaic of Saint Perpetua, Croatia.

Her father immediately came to her in prison. He was a pagan, and he saw an easy way for Perpetua to save herself. He entreated her simply to deny she was a Christian.

"Father do you see this vase here?" she replied. "Could it be called by any other name than what it is?"

"No," he replied.

"Well, neither can I be called anything other than what I am, a Christian."

In the next days, Perpetua was moved to a better part of the prison and allowed to breast-feed her child. With her hearing approaching, her father visited again, this time, pleading more passionately: "Have pity on my gray head. Have pity on me, your father, if I deserve to be called your father, if I have favored you above all your brothers, if I have raised you to reach this prime of your life."

He threw himself down before her and kissed her hands. "Do not abandon me to be the reproach of men. Think of your brothers; think of your mother and your aunt; think of your child, who will not be able to live once you are gone. Give up your pride!"

Perpetua was touched but remained unshaken. She tried to comfort her father—"It will all happen in the prisoner's dock as God wills, for you may be sure that we are not left to ourselves but are all in his power"—but he walked out of the prison dejected.

Perpetua is put on trial before governor Hilarianus and her father tries to dissuade her again

An acrylic painting depicting Christian martyrs Perpetua and Felicity by Mojaveprincess

The day of the hearing arrived, Perpetua and her friends were marched before the governor, Hilarianus. Perpetua's friends were questioned first, and each in turn admitted to being a Christian, and each in turn refused to make a sacrifice (an act of emperor worship). Then the governor turned to question Perpetua.

At that moment, her father, carrying Perpetua's son in his arms, burst into the room. He grabbed Perpetua and pleaded, "Perform the sacrifice. Have pity on your baby!"

Hilarianus, probably wishing to avoid the unpleasantness of executing a mother who still suckled a child, added, "Have pity on your father's gray head; have pity on your infant son. Offer the sacrifice for the welfare of the emperor."

Perpetua replied simply: "I will not."

"Are you a Christian then?" asked the governor.

"Yes I am," Perpetua replied.

Perpetua's father continues to try to convince her to deny Jesus Christ

Mary and Child with Saints Felicity and Perpetua (Sacra Conversazione), 1520, Anonymous (Polish)

Her father interrupted again, begging her to sacrifice, but Hilarianus had heard enough: he ordered soldiers to beat him into silence. He then condemned Perpetua and her friends to die in the arena.

Perpetua and the other convicts are sent to the gladiators to die

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

Perpetua, her friends, and her slave, Felicitas (who had subsequently been arrested), were dressed in belted tunics. When they entered the stadium, wild beasts and gladiators roamed the arena floor, and in the stands, crowds roared to see blood. They didn't have to wait long.

Immediately a wild heifer charged the group. Perpetua was tossed into the air and onto her back. She sat up, adjusted her ripped tunic, and walked over to help Felicitas. Then a leopard was let loose, and it wasn't long before the tunics of the Christians were stained with blood.

This was too deliberate for the impatient crowd, which began calling for death for the Christians. So Perpetua, Felicitas, and friends were lined up, and one by one, were slain by the sword.

As a result of the martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas at Carthage (North Africa) in 203, it was reported that the local prison governor was converted.

From Perpetua's Diary of Her Imprisonment

"Perpetua’s Ladder," Speculum Virginum, ca. 1140. London, British Library, MS Arundel 44, fol. 93v.

Perpetua confronts her father

La Grazia Perpetua

While we were under arrest, my father, out of his love for me, tried to persuade me to shake my resolve.

"Father," I said.  "Do you see this vase here, for example, or this water pot or whatever?"

"Yes," he said.

"Could it be called anything other than what it is?" I asked.

"No."

"Well, in the same way, I can't be called anything except what I am -- A Christian."

My father was so angry at the word "Christian" that he made as if he would tear my eyes out.  But he left it at that and departed, defeated along with his devilish arguments.

During those few days I was baptized, and I was inspired by the Spirit not to ask for any other favour after the water, except physical perseverance.

Perpetua had a baby before being imprisoned

Galleria di Francesco I, perdita della gioventù perpetua (1530)

A few days later we were lodged in the prison.  I was terrified, as I had never been in such a dark hole.  What a terrible time it was!  With the overcrowding, the heat was stifling.  There was also the extortion of the soldiers -- and on top of everything else, I was tormented with worry about my baby.

I had to endure these trials for days.  Then I obtained permission for my baby to be with me in prison.  Immediately I regained my health, relieved of worry and anxiety about the child.  Prison suddenly became a palace; I wanted to be there more than anywhere else.

Pepetua is put on trial for refusing to sacrifice to the emperors and her father pleads with her

Église Sainte-Perpétue et Sainte-Félicité de Nîmes

Then one day, while we were having breakfast, we were suddenly rushed off to court.  We arrived at the forum, and immediately the news flew around the neighbourhood and a huge crowd gatehred.  We entered the prisoners' dock.  When they were questioned, the others all admitted their guilt.  When my turn came, my father appeared with my son, dragged me from the bench, saying, "Make the sacrifice -- have pity on your baby!"

Hilarianus, the governor who succeeded the late proconsul Minicius Timianus as judge, said, "Have pity on your father's grey head; have pity on your infant son!  Offer the sacrifice for the well-being of the emperors!"

"I will not," I replied.

"Are you a Chrsitian?" said Hilarianus.

"I am!" I confessed.

Then Hilarianus passed sentence on all of us: we were condemned to the beasts.

We returned to prison in high spirits.

Perpétue et Félicité, Église de Tébourba, Public Library of Tebourba

Sources:

Perpetua's Diary of Her Imprisonment

Dowley, Tim, ed. Introduction to the History of Christianity, Second Edition. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2013, page 60.

Galli, Mark and Ted Olson, eds. 131 Christians Everyone Should Know. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2000, pages 362-363.