Martyrdom Of Saints Perpetua Analysis

In The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, the narrator says that the purpose of these stories is to understand how the early Christians viewed the martyrs and the reward that they would receive in the afterlife (1). The narrator believes that we must publish stories like these to give honor to God. These examples illuminate God’s unchanging grace towards humanity and shows that what God promises will be fulfilled. It strengthens man’s faith to see these examples. If we see that these people went through all these trials for their faith, we may have the strength to face the minor trials we encounter. At the beginning, the narrator tells the reader that Felicity and Perpetua were both catechumens. Felicity was a pregnant slave. Perpetua …show more content…
In the first vision, she sees him in a shadowy place, which is presumed to be purgatory, and he is sweating profusely, and he appeared to be thirsty. His face was filthy and complexion pale with dominant wounds from the cancer that took his life. There is also a basin of water that he is trying to reach, but the sides of the basin are too high. Perpetua decides that she must pray for him so he can experience some relief from the discomfort he is currently in. Her intercessary prayer brings her another vision. In this vision, she sees her brother with his body again intact, and the wound from the cancer is now just a scar. His new body symbolizes the glorified body that humans receive when they get to heaven. The basin of water has been lowered so the boy can drink, and he does so until he has had his fill. He also drinks from a golden cup that never runs out of the water, which represents God’s continual grace for humanity. He then goes away to play like a child should. She believes that the change that occurred between the two visions was her brother’s salvation. Through her prayer, her brother was able to be saved from the miserable place he was in, and attain …show more content…
This is something that is important to her, and if she were to make that choice she would do it on her own, without other influence. Another factor would be that I would not give up my faith in that situation. God willing that is something I do not have to face; I cannot persuade her to do something that I would not commit to. There is a plan for everyone’s life, and God equips them with the faith to live the life they are given. I do not know if I believe that they will receive some sort of reward in heaven for their faith here on Earth. As it says in the Bible, if we confess Jesus before other men here on Earth He will confess us before the Father in heaven. However, if we deny Him here on Earth He will deny us before the Father (Matthew