Gospel in Art: Feast of Saints Perpetua and Felicity

Sacra Conversazione with Mary & Child, St Felicity and St Perpetua, Anon. 1520 © National Museum, Warsaw

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 7 March 2024
Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was casting out a devil and it was dumb; but when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But some of them said, 'It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.' Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? - since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.

'He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.'

Reflection on the icon

Today we celebrate Saints Felicity and Perpetua. They are early Christian martyrs who died in Carthage, in the Roman province of Africa, on 7 March 203 AD. Perpetua was a young, well-educated noblewoman, and Felicity was a pregnant slave girl. Despite coming from different social backgrounds, they were united in their conversion to Christianity, a decision that led to their arrest during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus (reigned 192-211 AD). At the time, the emperor had decreed a ban on conversions to Christianity, which he viewed as a threat to Roman religious traditions and authority.

The 'Passion of Saint Perpetua, Saint Felicitas, and their Companions' (Latin: Passio sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis) is an early Christian text that includes Perpetua's own diary, making it one of the oldest, most vivid, and most personal accounts of early Christian martyrdom. Along with the experiences of Perpetua and Felicity, the text also appears to contain, in his own words, the accounts of the visions of Saturus, another Christian martyred with Perpetua. An editor who states he was an eyewitness has added further accounts of the martyrs' suffering and deaths.

The Passio sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis narrates their imprisonment, the visions Perpetua received while incarcerated, and the steadfastness of their faith despite the pleas of their families and the threat of a brutal death in the arena. Felicity, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her arrest, gave birth to a daughter while in prison, just days before her execution. Together, they were subjected to public humiliation and were ultimately killed by wild animals and gladiators.

Our early 16th century icon painting depicts the Coronation of Our Lady. She is seen holding the Christ child with one arm and in the other she is holding an apple, referencing to Mary as the New Eve and her role in the story of salvation. We see saint Felicity on the left, pregnant; on the right stands Perpetua holding the book of the Passio sanctarum writings. Both are seen resting on a large sword, the instrument of their martyrdom.

Saints Felicity and Perpetua. Pray for us.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-11-14-23-2024/