FEMALE SAINTS

The Passion of Saint Perpetua

• Authenticity of cast of characters

  Account whose main protagonists were of the city of Carthage, in northern Africa, and were martyred early 3d c. A. D. (year 203) under Septimus Severus. Feast Day: March 7

• Good guys:
  (Vibia) Perpetua, a young married woman of a good family, probably a widow; with child.

  Felicitas, a slave-girl

  Revocatus, also a slave (husband of Felicitas)

  plus, Secundulus, Saturninus, cathechumens (under instruction in the elements of Christianity)

  Saturus;

  Perpetua's brother: Dinocrates;

  dead deacon, Pomponius.

• Bad guys:
  Hilarianus the governor (section 6, p. 113)

  adjutant (military staff officer) Pudens (section 9, p. 117; and p. 131)

  a military tribune (magistrate, in Roman culture; section 16, p. 125)

  soldier Pudens.

• Authenticity of cultural environment

Documentary interest of narrative re. religious beliefs and practices of Christians in early 3d. c.: "montanism" (belief inspired by Montanus, a charismatic prophet in 157, who believed in imminent return of Christ, Paraclet), i. e. eagerness for asceticism and martyrdom. Hence eagerness of adherents for asceticism and martyrdom. Ex., Perpetua's joy when condemned to face beasts in the arena, ph. p. 115; led joyfully to place of martyrdom ("desire to die," ph. p. 125).

• Authenticity of narrative

Claimed by author himself, perhaps Tertullian (born in Carthage, 160-230, "Father of Latin theology", apologist of the Christian faith) who wrote sections 1-2 (Intro), and 14-21 (Conclu) = biography. Author claims that sections 3-10 (account of Perpetua) were written from the martyr's own words, and same of sections 11-13 (account of Saturus, Perpetua's spiritual mentor) = autobiography.