Saint of the Day
Sts. Perpetua and Felicity
Sts. Perpetua and Felicity were martyred in Carthage in 203 AD during the persecution of Septimius Severus. Vibia Perpetua was a young Christian noblewoman and nursing mother; Felicity was her enslaved companion who gave birth in prison days before their execution. Their passion narrative, partly written by Perpetua herself, is among the earliest Christian martyr accounts.
Scripture Reading
Romans 8:35, 37-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflection
Perpetua was a young noblewoman; Felicity, her enslaved companion. Together they faced the arena in Carthage in 203 AD, choosing death over denial of Christ. Their courage was not self-generated but drawn from the unbreakable love of God Paul describes. Lent asks whether we cling to lesser comforts more than to Christ, and their witness answers with a resounding invitation to hold nothing back.
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father,
It is so hard to watch _________ suffer. It doesn't seem fair for her to have to endure so much pain. Even though I am powerless, I believe that you are powerful and capable of stepping into this situation and completely altering the outcome. In faith, I am responding to the promises in your word that you listen to our prayers and those prayers can make her well. So, I am bringing my friend before you to ask for your healing touch in her life. Thank you for the forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternal healing, but I am asking you to provide healing for her on this side of heaven. Amen.
It is so hard to watch _________ suffer. It doesn't seem fair for her to have to endure so much pain. Even though I am powerless, I believe that you are powerful and capable of stepping into this situation and completely altering the outcome. In faith, I am responding to the promises in your word that you listen to our prayers and those prayers can make her well. So, I am bringing my friend before you to ask for your healing touch in her life. Thank you for the forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternal healing, but I am asking you to provide healing for her on this side of heaven. Amen.
Amen.