Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/157

145 ST. PERPETUA 145 when you are exposed to the wild heasts ? " '' It is I that suffer what I now suffer," she answered, "but then there will be Another in me, Who will suffer for me, because I shall suffer for Him." One more vision came to Perpetua. She wrestled in the arena with an Egyptian, overcame him and trod upon his head. She wrote it down with the other visions. " I have completed this np to the day before the games," she added, *' but what passes at the exhibi- tion, let who will, write." A crowd assembled to see them eat their last meal, known as the "Free supper." It was the custom for pri- soners to make an orgie of it. But the Christians partook of it as a solemn '* Agape." They went from the prison to the amphitheatre as joyfully as to a feast. Perpetua moved in the procession vrith calm dignity, her eyes cast down before the gaze of the spectators. At the gate of the amphitheatre they were bidden to put on heathen costumes, the men, the scarlet robe of the priests of Saturn, and the women, the fillet of those dedicated to Ceres. Perpetua, in the name of the little band, remonstrated, and the tribune allowed them to go forward, clad simply as they were. Perpetua sang psalms, thinking she was already treading underfoot the head of the Egyptian, but the men addressed the spectators with scornful threats, and the populace, enraged, cried out for them to be scourged. As they passed down the ranks, each received a lash^ and they counted themselves happy to have in- curred one of their Lord's Passions. A wild cow had been prepared for Perpetua and Felicitas. When they had been tossed Perpetua sat up, and seeing her tunic open at the side, where the cow had gored her, she drew it together, more conscious of her modesty than her pain. Then she bound up her hair, which had fallen loose, that she might not appear to be mourning in the hour of her triumph. Felicitas lay crushed on the ground ; Perpetua took her hand and raised her up, and they stood waiting. Perpetua looked around her like one awakened from sleep. " I cannot think," VOL. n. she cried, " when wo are to be led out to that cow." And until she was shown the marks of injury upon her body and garments, she could not believe that she had already fought and conquered. The audience demanded to see the mar- tyrs butchered by the gladiators. Satu- rus was already dead. Perpetua, Felicitas, Saturninus and Bevocatus arose, gave each other the kiss of peace, and took their station where the people had de- sired. Motionless and silent for the most part, they met their death ; but the sword of a clumsy gladiator pierced Perpetua in the ribs; she cried out loudly and herself guided his wavering right hand to her throat. Their day, March 7, is in a Eoman Calendar as old as the year 354. Their names are in the Canon of the Mass. The Acts detailing the trial and death of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas are among the most interesting records of the early Christian Church. Their authenticity is undoubted. They were compiled by an unknown witness of the martyrdom, from the account of her visions and im- prisonment, written by Perpetua*s own hand, and from a vision related by St. Saturus, in which he describes the ar- rival in Paradise of the martyrs, the violet path, the singing trees, and the joyful " Here they are I " of those who were eagerly awaiting the new-comers. AA,SS. Bindley, The Passian of St. Perpetua, Harris and Qiffonl, The Acts of the Martyrdom of Pcipetua and Felicitas. Butler. SS. Perpetua (r,, O), Jan. 27, Feb. 2, MM. in Africa. AA.SS. St. Perpetua (7;, + c. 420, a widow and nun, said to be Superior of many holy virgins and sister of St. Augustine, who called her Saint. She is regarded as the founder of the primitive nuns of St. Augustine. Torelli. Compare Placida. St. Perpetua (8), sister of Synclb- TICA (4). St. Perpetua (9), Sept. 12, V. Abbess of Bemiremont in Lorraine. Daughter of a man of importance at the Court of France. He was very anxious to have a son, and threatened to kill his wife if she had a daughter. L