Perpetua and her Companions 	March 7
Martyrs at Carthage
Vibia Perpetua, a young married woman of good family, her personal slave Felicity, and three other young Christians, were executed by being thrown to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre in Carthage in March 203. In many respects they represent a sharp confrontation between the old Roman paganism and Christianity as it emerged on the world scene.
Under the emperor Septimius Severus (193-211), the Roman Empire reached its zenith, with relative prosperity and the vulgarity that often accompanies such success. A significant symbol of loyalty to the empire was the celebration of the imperial cult, often vigorously encouraged by the emperors themselves. The state found Christians disturbingly non-conformist; the public found Christians convenient scapegoats for any misfortune; but those unhappy with the empire and its values found Christianity an important and increasingly acceptable alternative. Conflict was inevitable, and early in the third century there were sporadic outbreaks of violence and state action against the church.
Perpetua and her companions were articulate followers of the Christian way in Carthage, North Africa. A contemporary diary, edited and published soon after their deaths, gives an insight into this group of faithful Christians who were prepared to defy the authorities and the accepted wisdom of family and Roman tradition for the sake of the gospel. Perpetua’s father remonstrated vehemently with her over her rebellious attitude. All the group were catechumens when they were arrested, and were baptised in prison. As the diary of their sufferings shows, they were determined to follow their Lord in his sufferings and in the hope of being with him in paradise. Perpetua’s companion, Felicity, gave birth in prison. Taunted by her gaoler about her labour pains, she said, “What I am suffering now, I suffer by myself. But then [in the arena] another will be inside me who will suffer for me, just as I shall be suffering for him.”
The attempt by the state to suppress the church was quite unsuccessful. Many people were sickened by the brutality of the persecutions and admired the courage and tenacity of Christians. By 212 the pressure had eased, and Christians were “allowed to exist”, at least for the time being.
For Liturgical Use
Perpetua, a young woman of twenty-two, her slave Felicity, and three men, all recently baptised, were thrown to the beasts in the arena in Carthage in 203. A contemporary diary details the events of their sufferings and witnesses to their willingness to die in order to fulfil their following of Jesus. The totalitarian empire, loyalty to which was more and more symbolised by worship of the emperor, tried to suppress Christianity, but the courage of Perpetua and her companions and others like them bore witness to the power of the gospel.
Sentence
These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.	Revelation 7:14
Collects
Good and gracious God,
you are the strength of those who suffer
and the reward of those who endure;
we praise you for the steadfast courage of Perpetua,
Felicity and their friends;
like them may we rise above pain and suffering, and endure
because we know you, the invisible God;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Jesus Christ, your glory shines
through pain and brutality;
we praise you for Perpetua and her four companions
who chose baptism
and therefore to be mauled by beasts and killed;
may we choose baptism,
wherever it may lead.
Psalms	54	124
Readings
Song of Songs 8:6-7		Love as strong as death
Revelation 7:13-17		The host of martyrs
Matthew 24:9-13		Standing firm to the end
Post Communion Sentence
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for God who has promised is faithful.	Hebrews 10:23