Martyrdom of Felicitas

When thinking back on the historic martyrs, many people may recall learning of Perpetua, a woman in the early third century who graciously defied her father's entreaties to deny Christ, even for the sake of her own child, and live. She boldly went into the arena to die with her fellow Christians. Many people tend to forget the story of her friend and fellow prisoner, Felicitas. Here is her story as passed along to us by Tertullian.

But respecting Felicitas (for to her also the Lord's favour approached in the same way), when she had already gone eight months with child (for she had been pregnant when she was apprehended), as the day of the exhibition was drawing near, she was in great grief lest on account of her pregnancy she should be delayed (because pregnant women are not allowed to be publicly punished) and lest she should shed her sacred and guiltless blood among some who had been wicked subsequently. Moreover, also, her fellow-martyrs were painfully saddened lest they should leave so excellent a friend, and as it were companion, alone in the path of the same hope. Therefore, joining together their united cry, they poured forth their prayer to the Lord three days before the exhibition. Immediately after their prayer her pains came upon her, and when, with the difficulty natural to an eight months' delivery, in the labour of bringing forth she was sorrowing, some one of the servants of the Cataractarii said to her, "You who are in such suffering now, what will you do when you are thrown to the beasts, which you despised when you refused to sacrifice?" And she replied, "Now it is I that suffer what I suffer; but then there will be another in me, who will suffer for me, because I also am about to suffer for Him." Thus she brought forth a little girl, which a certain sister brought up as her daughter.

She is such an influential figure in Christian martyrdom that she should not be forgotten. My wife has decided to pass along that legacy in her new blog, Daugther of Felicitas. Be looking forward to seeing some wonderful writings on Christian women, women's issues and support for the Christian life.

"Now it is I that suffer what I suffer; but then there will be another in me, who will suffer for me, because I also am about to suffer for Him."