What's in a Name

SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITAS:
TOGETHER, THEIR NAMES MEAN "ETERNAL HAPPINESS"
Image from catholic.org

Today we are celebrating the Memorial of two martyrs of the early Church, Saints Perpetua and Felicity. Perpetua was an educated woman while Felicitas was a slave. They became acquainted inside the prison. 

Their martyrdom has been acknowledged by the Church because there are records of their fate in the account variously called "The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas", "The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas" or "The Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas" unlike many other martyrs who we only know about through legends and other unverifiable stories. Of course it does not mean that the other martyrs have not really given up their lives for the Lord but that there are no concrete records to attest to their martyrdom. The account of their martyrdom is a compilation of records provided by Perpetua herself who kept a diary while in prison, their teacher Saturus [name means to beget, bring forth or produce] who was imprisoned together with them, and others who knew them. Their martyrdom have been properly recognized by the Church and listed in the General Roman Calendar with the rank of Memorial. Hence their commemoration is celebrated in the entire Church not just in a local church. Their names are also included in the list of saints invoked during the recitation of the Litany of Saints.

Their martyrdom is unique in such a way that their names somehow give meaning to what they have died for: Perpetua means Eternal while Felicitas means Happiness, therefore their names put together aptly means Eternal Happiness. And what else could give us eternal happiness than being with the Lord in the Father's house? They died together and surely have received their rewards in heaven together too. 

But more than their proper names, the most important name that Perpetua did claim to be her own is the name "Christian". When her father tried to dissuade her from becoming a Christian, she just asked him if he could call a pot by any other name. When he answered "Of course not!" she replied, "Neither can I call myself by any other name than what I am - a Christian." Perpetua paid dearly for bearing the name Christian, being martyred during the persecution of Septimus together with Felicitas, Saturus and two other male catechumens, Saturninus and Revocatus. 

"My name is 'Christian'!" That's what every Christian could and should proudly proclaim. And it is not only in word but most importantly in deed. Martyrdom does not only mean dying as in physical death but may also mean facing trials and persecutions like being considered merely conservative, outdated, or irrelevant when we stand up and fight for what the Church teaches and stands for in this modern age. The world needs a lot of "Christians" today in order to remind it that God loves us very much and wants us all to enjoy eternal happiness in His Kingdom.

During the martyrdom of these two, Perpetua was a mother of a son while Felicitas just gave birth inside the prison to a healthy child who was adopted by a Christian Carthaginian woman. Hence they are often invoked with this prayer:

"Saints Perpetua and Felicity, watch over all mothers and children who are separated from each other because of war or persecution. Show a special care to mothers who are imprisoned and guide them to follow your example of faith and courage. Amen."

For more about these Saints, visit Catholic Online.