Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas
(A Heroic Crown of Sonnets)

New words arise as old ones fade,
A future’s truth in past relayed.
Though lesser now, these too shall grow —
The Spirit’s gifts in women flow.

Prophets speak and visions redeem,
Young hearts burn, and the elders dream.
So honor both, the old and the new —
God’s voice endures in all we do.

These Christians gave all for God’s light
in Carthage’s shame, a prison cell,
A vision in the darkest night.
A tale of faith and fate to tell.

Of that day, this voice may tell —
Let one who wills find truth as well.

Let one who wills find truth as well.
Perpetua in steadfast grace,
and Felicitas, brave faced hell
A mother’s love, a martyr’s place.

Perpetua was youthful, true,
A mother with infant beside,
Defied her father, all he knew,
For Christ our Lord was sanctified.

Her father struck, his pain her own,
The crowd roars fierce, the beasts await,
Yet onward still her heart has grown.
and calm she strides to meet her fate.

Hope, though suffering never wanes.
Through God’s grace are eternal gains.

Through God’s grace are eternal gains.
In prison bitter trials weighed,
A steadfast band with faith remains
The Spirit’s voice their hearts allayed,

Perpetua in faith refined;
strength arose where fear sought to dwell.
In death she lived, and hope enshrined.
Her soul found light in darkened cell.

She not sparing father—mother,
“I am a Christian.” She proclaims,
not sparing infant, nor brother,
She turns, none accept God remains

For prison walls can not confine.
A heart that beats with love divine.

A heart that beats with love divine.
She prays, she weeps through sleepless night,
Beyond her fear, seeking divine–
For mercy’s touch, for healing light.

Condemned to beasts, a bitter fate,
Yet joy arose amidst the gloom.
Her child, now in a weened state,
spurned her milk, her infant spared doom.

Through winding paths and trials yet untried,
God called my name, stood by her side,
No beasts can change her fate now sealed,
even in darkened cell, her faith revealed.

In faith she sought a vision’s light,
In prayer steadfast throughout the night,

In prayer steadfast throughout the night,
as an honorable daughter,
Perpetua sought strength in sight,
Shall she be free or to slaughter?

A ladder rose to heaven’s gate,
With swords and hooks on every side.
A dragon below mocked her fate,
But Christ’s name subdued hateful pride.

Saturus ascended, bold, sure,
Then called, “Be brave and do not fear.”
she crushed the serpent’s head, secure,
And climbed to where skies were clear.

A taste of glory, they were blessed.
The Shepherd in white gives all rest —

The Shepherd in white gives all rest —
Suffering for their faith with pains,—
Strength given to endure the test—
only the peace of God remains.

Dinocrates, brother lost to death,
Appeares in prayers, a haunting sight.
In anguish she plead swith her breath
God grant his soul eternal light.

She prays his fate with boundless trust,
A vision comes — her brother’s face,
Resolved in faith, though flesh to dust.
She sees his wounds, a wretched place.

In thirst unquenched and left behind,
In God’s grace, salvation defined.

In God’s grace, salvation defined.
her family’s saving she fears lost—
In death we live, in hope enshrined.
She prays for God to bear the cost,

She prays, she weeps through sleepless night,
that fate would grant her souls release.
For mercy’s touch, for healing light.
heaven’s voice bestowed her with peace.

A second dream, again his face
He drinks in joy, given God’s peace
Reassured of God’s saving grace.
and mercy’s hand gave her release,

No more in darkness, His wounds healed,
Through faith God’s love for all reveals

Through faith God’s love for all reveals
Truth transformed, spirits made whole.
Pudens, a guard, his heart unsealed.
He welcomed all, their weary souls —

Another vision God supplies —
A man clad in white grasped her hand.
Though Fear comes from the devil’s lies—
They walked to where beasts and foes stand.

A crowd with cruel delight did roar,
While foes arose to strike her down.
Strength divine taught her heart to soar —
Serpent’s fangs could not claim her crown.

The Lord kissed her brow, proclaimed free —
“Go forth in peace, and victory.”

“Go forth in peace, and victory.”
The slanderer though fierce and tall,
These words for others blessed be,
They shall not stand, God’s foe’s shall fall.

With the battle done, the light still stayed
A branch of gold, the victor’s sign,
Her heart at rest, In joy she prayed.
Peace declared in God’s words divine.

Felicitas groaned in labor’s might,
Felisitus faithful in all—
As she bore her child before the fight.
Eternal hope will eclipse the fall.

By faith the war already won
Still, to know trails are not done

Still, to know trails are not done
Her infant wept, yet still she knew
Even in loss of babe just born
that truth will pierce the darkness through.

Now Saturus spoke, his words clear,
Of visions to tell what would be done
He gave this truth, for all to hear
after the grim trials were run.

Four angels, lift them without strain,
A garden vast with flowers rare,
Released from earth all bitter pain,
The hosts of heaven, wondrous fair,

Unbound and steadfast in their stand.
To warn of the judgment at hand.

To warn of the judgment at hand.
in feast they share the night before,
Bold in speech, that they understand
Their words were fierce, of God implore,

“Tomorrow comes,” Saturnus scorns,
“You cheer today, yet in your hate.
Remember well, our faces mourn,
For God decides each mortal fate.”

whips and chains tore flesh apart,
That beasts might seal his fateful crown.
The martyr’s blood did trickle down.
Their steadfast faith held victory in heart.

Yet Heaven’s will soothed all their strain.
The Lord sustains, eases all pain.

The Lord sustains, eases all pain.
Fearless, Saturninus stood tall,
Leopard, bear and bore, were all vain
They sprang, and to the crowd’s appall,

The women, naked, sick desire,
Tender girls, mothers bruised but bold.
Unbroken still, they faced the dire,
their faith shone brighter to behold.

Though torn, bruised, dignity remained,
Perpetua in swift resolve.
No pain could steal the truth she claimed,
Her honor firm, did not dissolve.

To those who watched, she seemed sublime
God’s love unshaken, faith divine.

God’s love unshaken, faith divine.
A bull enraged, their bodies torn,
Perpetua spoke “hold the line.”
Still dignity and grace were worn.

When Felicitas fell, by sorrow pressed,
Perpetua reached forth her hand to raise.
Together stood, by trial manifest,
A bond unbroken, steadfast in their gaze.

Felicitas gave up her spirit
as Secundulus did before
knowing death, they did not fear it
not without grace, to heaven’s door.

A pledge of faith and memory entwined.
A soul released, to glory now assigned.

A soul released, to glory now assigned.
He gave a ring, now crimson with his pain,
Revocatus by bear maligned
both met the blade without disdain.

Saturus stood, twice spared from death’s demand,
Saturus, bold, declared his fate would show,
A beast prepared at evil’s own command,
The leopard struck, his blood began to flow.

Perpetua, pierced with trembling hand,
Directed steel to end her mortal strife.
Her will unbroken, taking final stand,
She sealed her name in everlasting life.

O steadfast hearts who bore the bitter cost,
In faith unyielding, never truly lost.

New words arise as old ones fade,
Let one who wills find truth as well.
Through God’s grace are eternal gains.
A heart that beats with love divine.

In prayer steadfast throughout the night,
The Shepherd in white gives all rest —
In God’s grace, salvation defined.
Through faith God’s love for all reveals.

“Go forth in peace, and victory.”
Still, to know trails are not done
To warn of the judgment at hand.
The Lord sustains, eases all pain.

God’s love unshaken, faith divine.
A soul released, to glory now assigned.