March 7, 2024

Hello John,

I love today's messages! First, the stories of Saints Perpetua and Felicity bring me much-needed hope given the state of the world. The Three Minutes with God excerpt centers me back into the God's holy truth. The aggression we experience every day can trouble our hearts, but Msgr. Bognanno reminds us that, in turning to God, the truth is revealed. I pray in gratitude for the beautiful, strong women who have impacted my spiritual journey thus far, and I ask God to help me be that person for others as well. 

I pray you feel hope, live in the truth, and express gratitude for the women in your life today. Why not make a gift to Franciscan Media in the name of someone who impacted your life? Click here to donate now.

With profound gratitude, 

Patty Crawford
Director of Marketing

Saint of the Day for March 7: Perpetua and Felicity

(d. 203)

Saints Perpetua and Felicity’s Stories

“When my father in his affection for me was trying to turn me from my purpose by arguments and thus weaken my faith, I said to him, ‘Do you see this vessel—water pot or whatever it may be? Can it be called by any other name than what it is?’ ‘No,’ he replied. ‘So also I cannot call myself by any other name than what I am—a Christian.’”

So writes Perpetua, the young, beautiful, well-educated noblewoman of Carthage in North Africa, mother of an infant son, and chronicler of the persecution of the Christians by Emperor Septimius Severus.

Perpetua’s mother was a Christian and her father a pagan. He continually pleaded with her to deny her faith. She refused and was imprisoned at 22.

In her diary, Perpetua describes her period of captivity: “What a day of horror! Terrible heat, owing to the crowds! Rough treatment by the soldiers! To crown all, I was tormented with anxiety for my baby…. Such anxieties I suffered for many days, but I obtained leave for my baby to remain in the prison with me, and being relieved of my trouble and anxiety for him, I at once recovered my health, and my prison became a palace to me, and I would rather have been there than anywhere else.”

Despite threats of persecution and death, Perpetua, Felicity—a slavewoman and expectant mother—and three companions, Revocatus, Secundulus and Saturninus, refused to renounce their Christian faith. For their unwillingness, all were sent to the public games in the amphitheater. There Perpetua and Felicity were beheaded, and the others were killed by beasts.

Felicity gave birth to a daughter a few days before the games commenced.

Perpetua’s record of her trial and imprisonment ends the day before the games. “Of what was done in the games themselves, let him write who will.” The diary was finished by an eyewitness.

Reflection

Persecution for religious beliefs is not confined to Christians in ancient times. Consider Anne Frank, the Jewish girl who, with her family, was forced into hiding and later died in Bergen-Belsen, one of Hitler’s death camps during World War II. Anne, like Perpetua and Felicity, endured hardship and suffering and finally death because she committed herself to God. In her diary, Anne writes, “It’s twice as hard for us young ones to hold our ground, and maintain our opinions, in a time when all ideals are being shattered and destroyed, when people are showing their worst side, and do not know whether to believe in truth and right and God.”

Saint Perpetua is the Patron Saint of:

Widows
Mothers of Deceased Sons

Tune your ears to God's Love Song!

Using the Canticle of the Creatures as a framework, authors Murray Bodo, OFM, and Susan Saint Sing reflect on the vision and legacy of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. With their new book, you can understand how these two beloved saints bring God's love song to life!

We are not on a lonely journey. Our loving Father never takes his eyes off us. We all are subject to feelings of fear and anxiety. All the great saints repeatedly tell us, “Don’t let those negative feelings control you.”

It’s damaging to the good that God has created in you. It paralyzes your potential and your natural gifts and talents. How do you thrust those feelings away? Know the truth! There is another who loves you as you are and cares deeply about your situation. Your loving, ever-present, ever-caring Heavenly Father is only a breath away.

—from Three Minutes with God: Reflections to Inspire, Encourage, and Motivateby Monsignor Frank Bognanno

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