Sts. Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs

Sts. Perpetua and Felicitas were early Christian martyrs who lived in the 3rd century AD. Perpetua was a noblewoman from Carthage (modern-day Tunisia), while Felicitas was her slave. They were arrested for their Christian faith and executed in the arena around the year 203 AD. Perpetua kept a diary during her imprisonment, which provides a firsthand account of the persecution they faced. Both women showed great courage in the face of death, refusing to renounce their faith. They are venerated as patron saints of mothers, catechumens, and the persecuted Church.