Saint Perpetua

Saint PerpetuaAlso known as

  • Vivia Perpetua



Lay-woman born to a noble pagan family. Convert to Christianity. Wife and mother. Martyred with her maid, friend, and fellow convert Saint Felicitas. In centuries past, their story was so popular that Saint Augustine of Hippo warned against giving it the weight of Scripture.






The day of the martyrs‘ victory dawned. They marched from their cells into the amphitheater, as if into heaven, with cheerful looks and graceful bearing. If they trembled it was for joy and not for fear. Perpetua was the first to be thrown down, and she fell prostrate. She got up and, seeing that Felicity was prostrate, went over and reached out her hand to her and lifted her up. Both stood up together. Rousing herself as if from sleep (so deeply had she been in spiritual ecstasy), she began to look around. To everyone’s amazement she said, “When are we going to be led to the beasts?” When she heard that it had already happened she did not at first believe it until she saw the marks of violence on her body and her clothing. The people, however, had demanded that the martyrs be led to the middle of the amphitheater. They wanted to see the sword thrust into the bodies of the victims, so that their eyes might share in the slaughter. Without being asked they went where the people wanted them to go; but first they kissed one another, to complete their witness with the customary kiss of peace. Bravest and happiest martyrs! You were called and chosen for the glory and our Lord Jesus Christ. – from a story of the death of the martyrs at Carthage

MLA Citation

  • “Saint Perpetua“. CatholicSaints.Info. 20 April 2015. Web. 25 November 2015. <>