Saints Perpetua and Felicity Saint Patrickwas born in England in the fourth century, when it was part of the Roman Empire. At age sixteen, hewas kidnapped by Irishbrigands, taken to Ireland, and sold into slavery. Alone in the mountains tending his master’s sheep, he spent countless hours in prayer and came to know the Lord. After six years of servitude, Patrick escaped. He walked two hundred miles on foot, until he came to a seaport and the ship that took him home. Back in England, Patrick became a priest. After Irish voices haunted his dreams, begging him to return to the land of his captivity to spread theGospel, he obtainedpermission from the pope to be a missionary to the Irish. Patrick performed many miracles in Ireland. He healed the sick, toppled pagan idols, and built churches and monasteries. By the time of his death, Patrick had brought the Irish fromthe darkness of paganism into the light of Christ. His feast day is celebratedas amajor holiday in Ireland and by those of Irish descent all over the world. The shamrock, which legend says Patrick used to illustrate the Trinity, remains a symbol of the country where he shared the love of Christ. March 7 Perpetua and Felicity were arrested during the third-century persecution of Christians for refusing to worship the Roman gods. Perpetua was a noblewoman, twenty-two years old, and the mother of a young son. Felicity was anenslavedwomanandeight months pregnant. Days before their execution in the Carthage arena, Felicity gave birth inprison toa littlegirl. The childwas adopted by a Christian woman, with the aid of a jailer who had secretly converted to Christianity because of the prisoners’ inspiring example. When the women were led to the arena, wild beasts were loosed upon them and some other prisoners. The animals killed the others, but not Perpetua and Felicity, who ultimately died by the gladiator’s sword. We know the story of Saints Perpetuaand Felicity fromaprison journal written largely by Perpetua herself, making her one of the earliest female Christian writers whose words we still have today. Saint Patrick March 17 Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left. — saint patrick’s breastplate 26 27
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