The vision of Perpetua.

One of the earliest and most interesting passions is the Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis, which is said to be the verbatim account of Perpetua, who is telling of what is happening to her and her slave Felicitas, when they and other Christians were imprisoned at Carthage waiting for their execution for refusing the give up their faith. The account must somehow have been smuggled out of prison and it was edited by an unknown author, though in older studies it is believed to be Tertullian. According to the Passio, the execution by being thrown before wild animals took place under emperor Geta in honour of his birthday at March 7, 203. The cult of Perpetua and Felicitas soon spread and a basilica was raised over their tombs. The popularity is also attested by Augustine, who in various writings mentions these martyrs.

There are many problems with this text, but it is generally accepted that the words of Perpetua are mostly genuine. If true, this would make this text highly important as it would contain the first voice of a female Christian in literature.

Perpetua is about 22 years old and has her young child with her in prison. Felicitas is pregnant and as the execution of pregnant women is forbidden, she fears not to die on the same day with her fellow martyrs, but fortunately she gives birth early. For us moderns the eagerness to be martyred to death for one’s faith is incomprehensible and it is certainly not true that all Christians stood at their faith when confronted with this punishment: many must have given up their religion, but for obvious reasons they have no place in the records of the Church.

In the following excerpt Perpetua’s brother is visiting her in prison and he asks her if she can have a vision whether there will a passion or that she will be released. Granted that these are Perpetua’s own words, it gives a fascinating insight into the mind of a martyr.

Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis, chapter 4.

[4] Tunc dixit mihi frater meus: Domina soror, iam in magna dignatione es, tanta ut postules uisionem et ostendatur tibi an passio sit an commeatus. 2. et ego quae me sciebam fabulari cum Domino, cuius beneficia tanta experta eram, fidenter repromisi ei dicens: Crastina die tibi renuntiabo. et postulaui, et ostensum est mihi hoc. 3. uideo scalam aeream mirae magnitudinis pertingentem usque ad caelum et angustam, per quam non nisi singuli ascendere possent, et in lateribus scalae omne genus ferramentorum infixum. erant ibi gladii, lanceae, hami, machaerae, ueruta, ut si quis neglegenter aut non sursum adtendens ascenderet, laniaretur et carnes eius inhaererent ferramentis. 4. et erat sub ipsa scala draco cubans mirae magnitudinis, qui ascendentibus insidias praestabat et exterrebat ne ascenderent. 5. ascendit autem Saturus prior, qui postea se propter nos ultro tradiderat (quia ipse nos aedificauerat), et tunc cum adducti sumus, praesens non fuerat. 6. et peruenit in caput scalae et conuertit se et dixit mihi: Perpetua, sustineo te; sed uide ne te mordeat draco ille. et dixi ego: Non me nocebit, in nomine Iesu Christi. 7. et desub ipsa scala, quasi timens me, lente eiecit caput. et quasi primum gradum calcarem, calcaui illi caput et ascendi. 8. et uidi spatium immensum horti et in medio sedentem hominem canum in habitu pastoris, grandem, oues mulgentem. et circumstantes candidati milia multa. 9. et leuauit caput et aspexit me et dixit mihi: Bene venisti, teknon. et clamauit me et de caseo quod mulgebat dedit mihi quasi buccellam; et ego accepi iunctis manibus et manducaui; et uniuersi circumstantes dixerunt: Amen. 10. et ad sonum uocis experrecta sum, conmanducans adhuc dulce nescio quid. et retuli statim fratri meo; et intelleximus passionem esse futuram, et coepimus nullam iam spem in saeculo habere.

in magna dignatione: Perpetua had recently been baptized and would soon have the glory of being put to death

postulo: to ask

ostendo ostendi ostentum (or ostensum): to point out, make clear

commeatus –us (m.): release

fabulor: to talk, converse

fabulari cum Domino: in his Ad Uxorem 1.4, Tertullian speaks of the intimate relationship North African virgines have with God.

experior expertus sum: to experience

crastina die: tomorrow

scala: ladder (Of course this refers to the ladder Jacob saw in his dream in Gen. 28,12)

aereus: made of bronze

pertingo: to reach at

angustus: narrow

latus lateris (n.): side, flank

ferramentum: iron tool

hamus: hook, spike

machaera: single-edged sword

verutum: dart

neglegenter: carelessly

sursum adtendens: looking straight ahead

lanio (laniare): to tear, mutilate

caro carnis (f.): flesh, body

inhaereo inhaesi inhaesum: to cling, stick

draco: the dragon is symbol for the devil.

cubo cubui cubitum: to lie down

insidiae –arum: ambush

praestabat = parabat (as for the whole: was waiting in ambush.)

Saturus: one of the martyrs

prior: as first

qui postea se propter nos ultro tradiderat (quia ipse nos aedificauerat): who had later handed himself over out of free will (ultro) because of us (as he had edified us (i.e.: made us Christians)

adducti: i.e. into prison

mordeo morsi morsum: to bite

desub (+ abl.): below

lente: softly, calmly

eicio eieci eiectum: to throw out, put forward

calco: to tread, trample

illi: dativus incommodes

canus: grey, white

habitus, -us: dress

mulgeo mulsi mulctus: to milk

candidatus: dressed in white clothes

levo: to lift up

teknon: (Greek word) child

caseus: cheese, curd

bucella: mouth-full, morsel

iunctis manibus: with joined hands

manduco: to eat

expergiscor experrectus sum: to awake

commanduco = manduco

coepio coepi coeptum: to begin

saeculum: world

Translation:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/perpetua.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetua_and_Felicity

 

Mosaic of Perpetua at the Euphrasian Basilica in Croatia, of which the oldest parts go back to the 4^th century.

 

Inscription found at the Basilica Maiorum at Carthage: Here are the martyrs Saturus, Saturinus, Revocatus, Secundulus, Felicitas, Perpetua, who suffered on the Nones (7th) of March