Happy Monday! We hope you're ready for another full week of rough and tumble saintly action. We kick things off with Perpetua vs. Cecilia as we head into the early third century.
Last week concluded with Thomas of Villanova routing Aloysius Gonzaga 72% to 28%, in the most lopsided matchup to date. No word on how this will impact this year's NCAA basketball tournament.
And since it's Monday, stay tuned for today's episode of Monday Madness which will be released later today.
Perpetua
Perpetua, along with other Christian catechumens, was arrested in 203 CE in Thurburbo Minus, just west of Carthage (modern-day Tunisia). Prior to the arrest, not much about Perpetua is known. Once she was arrested, however, she kept a journal of her experience in prison and during the trials that ultimately culminated in her martyrdom. Portions of her journal survive to this day in the text of The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas. Those journal entries may be the earliest extant Christian writings authored by a woman.
The journal narrates how Perpetua, a young 22-year-old mother of a nursing infant, repeatedly resisted pressure from her family to recant her faith. In the interactions, we see her father’s deep love and anguish for his daughter and her steadfast commitment to the Christian faith. Their tense exchanges are a sort of practice for her before she faces the regional governor. In each interchange, she states succinctly and clearly, “I am a Christian.” When she repeats the same before the Roman Emperor’s regent in court, she is condemned to death by wild beasts in the arena.
There is a certain humanity to her journals. In one entry, she narrates how her son was taken from her and given to her family. She expresses relief that her son did not go through the normal challenges of being weaned and is grateful that she herself did not experience pain in the process. It is noteworthy that her child is given to her family rather than to the father of the child and his family. One wonders if he was the one who turned her and her friends over to the authorities.
Throughout the journals, Perpetua also narrates visions and dreams she experienced while in prison. The visions give Perpetua agency and courage to stand fast in her faith. She embraced her fate and during games commemorating the fourteenth birthday of Geta, the younger son of the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus, she and the other catechumens were sent to the arena. In the arena, a wild heifer was set upon her and Felicitas (somehow under the logic that a female animal should be used to kill women). They survive the assault, with Perpetua in an ecstatic state, only to be killed by the sword in an anticlimactic execution.
Collect for Perpetua
O God, the King of Saints, who strengthened your servants Perpetua, Felicity, and their companions to make a good confession and to encourage one another in the time of trial: Grant that we who cherish their blessed memory may share their pure and steadfast faith and win with them the palm of victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Cecilia
Cecilia has both inspired—and broken—the hearts of musicians, from George Frideric Handel to Paul Simon.
The patron saint of musicians was born into a noble family sometime around 200 CE in Rome. She grew up in the Christian faith and vowed as a young girl that she would remain a virgin. Still, when her parents arranged her marriage to a man named Valerian, she didn’t run away. Instead, Cecilia sang. The Golden Legend—a collection of stories of the saints read widely in late medieval Europe that paved the way for Lent Madness—recounts that when Cecilia heard the music begin at her wedding, she “sang in her heart, only to God, saying: O Lord, I beseech thee that mine heart and body may be undefouled so that I be not confounded.”
When her new husband approached her to consummate their marriage, she told him that an angel watched over her, and if he were to touch her, the angel would slay him. Unconvinced, Valerian told her to prove it. So, she told him to go to a place outside the city, where he would find Pope Urban among the poor, and ask the pope to baptize him. Only then would he see the angel. Valerian found the pope just as Cecilia described, was baptized, and returned home to find his wife indeed speaking with an angel, according to The Golden Legend. The angel crowned them both with roses and lilies and told them to keep their crowns and chastity.
The couple later converted Valerian’s brother, Tyburtius, to Christianity. The brothers became known for burying the remains of Christian martyrs and giving all they owned to people in need before they were martyred themselves. After burying her husband and brother, Cecilia was called before the Roman prefect Almachius. After sassing Almachius and refusing to offer a sacrifice to the Roman god Jupiter, she was sentenced to death. Her executioner struck her neck three times with a sword, but her head remained attached and Cecilia alive. For three days, she continued to preach and convert many people before she died.
Cecilia has been revered for centuries in poetry, art, music, and a number of Christian traditions, and her feast day on November 22 is celebrated with concerts and music festivals around the world.
Collect for Cecilia
Almighty and everlasting God, who chooses those whom the world deems powerless to put the powerful to shame: Grant us so to cherish the memory of your youthful martyr Cecilia, that we might share her pure and steadfast faith in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
143 comments on “Perpetua vs. Cecilia”
This Christian feminist resents having to choose between two women given there are far more among the Saints.
As one who keeps a daily journal, I was ready to vote for Perpetua. Then, I read about the origins of Lent Madness and of course, Cecelia got my vote.
How can you not vote for a mom who was tossed into the arena with wild beasts! She sounds like my patron Saint for sure. I'm going to pray to her when I'm stuck in the carpool line at school.
I voted for Perpetua. Not famous till prisoned. Her simple life inspired what is possible for all of us. We are followers of Jesus, and one day, something happens, and we are called to a higher service. I love music, but today it was Perpetua I want to honor.
wanted to vote for Perpetua, but as a former choir member went for Cecilia
I can't vote. Is something wrong with the website, or is it operator error?
Apparently no more voting for me…….hasn’t worked since the hacker(s) correction. I assure you, I’m not a hacker!
A woman author, steadfast in her faith, willing to give her life, gets my vote today. Although I am now an Episcopalian for the past 30 years, I was raised Roman Catholic. I left the church in my teens, but when I decided to return in my mid-30's, I attended my local parish of Sts. Felicitas and Perpetua. How could I not vote for her???!
Poor Perpetua! That's OK; she'd probably laugh at this contest and say, "Oh,yeah?! It's gonna take a lot more than this to break ME!!"
Cecila is indeed awesome and it is hard to resist. Perpetua has long been interesting to me and so gets my vote.
When in Wyoming, I belonged to the Perpetua and her Companions chapter of DOK, so I thought that would be how I voted. However, I am a musician and Ms. Miller convinced me to vote for Cecilia, and as mentioned earlier, it’s breaking my heart.
OK. I live in Idaho; our state motto is "Este Perpetua." I love to visit the Oregon Coast, including Cape Perpetua. Otoh, one of our regular voters/commenters is St. Cecelia. I'm SO torn!
Would never vote against Simon & Garfunkel (or Joe DiMaggio for that matter).
There are so.many virgin martyr stories that we heard from childhood on. The fact that Perpetua left a journal as a perpetual record of what happened to her made all the difference for me. I was sure my vote was for Cecilia before I read todays entries.
It was hard for me to decide on this one. I finally decided to vote for Perpetua because her nursing baby was taken from her.
There is no ;way for me to vote today!
Such a difficult choice! I finally went with Perpetua as one of the first recorded female Christian authors, but regret having to pit the power of writing against the power of music. Both so vital to the exploration and sharing of Christian faith. At least I won't mind who goes forward from this pair.
Still can't vote from my ipad. Did you ban me? I have not voted twice, at least intentionally.
My vote is for Perpetua. I find myself touched by her story, as rendered by David Creech above. Her sacrifices for her faith seem somehow plausible. She does give up her child, which I know from early contests is a big no-no on this site (particularly that she apparently experience little, if any, regret), but in the end it appears her son was at least still part of a loving family. Her story (and that of Felicitas, we could use more info about her) is told and discussed quite thoroughly in my favorite podcast, Two Feminists Annotate the Beatified (2FAB).
I can't quite get into Cecilia. I'm not a big fan of God encouraging us (and clergy) to be celibate as if it is somehow holier than having sexual relations with those we love and who love us.
Plus I would love to read Perpetua's journal; I wonder if there are any English translations.
My understanding was that Pet left her child with others rather than have the baby martyred as a Holy Innocent. Now that is a reason worthy of giving your child away, survival.
Marriage defiles people. Even Christian marriage defiles people. Let's hear it for Cecilia and her theology!
In case you can't tell, I voted for Perpetua.
As a woman who took piano lessons as a young child from her grandmother, cello lessons several years later, and has sung in a series of choirs, I'm voting for Cecelia.
It is interesting that her feast day is on the same date as the assassination of President John Kennedy and the death of C.S. Lewis.
I am both a mother and a choir member of many years. Thought I would waffle more, but motherhood wins out. Perpetua gets my vote today.
Watching moms fleeing bombs and missiles trying to keep their babies and children safe, I had go with Perpetua, and her agonizing decision, even though I love singing in the choir.
At Trinity Episcopal church in West End, St. Louis, there is a music festival every November to honor Cecelia. My mother and her musician friends helped found it. Cecelia has been a life long favorite of mine, so when in Rome, of course, I had to go to her shrine. Perpetua has an inspiring story, but Cecelia is my gal.
How can I say "no" to anyone that inspired Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel?
That's one of the reasons I voted for Cecilia too. Plus she is the patron saint of music and musicians, and I have sung in choirs and a chorus.
I love that we have fragments of Perpetua's journal--an educated women that chose Christ. Can't resist that combo.
Didn't go with Cecilia because she viewed marital intimacy as "befouling": "mine heart and body may be undefouled."
In high school choir, we sang “Hymn to Saint Cecilia” by Norman Dello Joio. It was beautiful and difficult, with lovely tight harmonies. Had to vote for St. Cecilia because she brings back great memories- and music is food for the soul. BTW, I had better luck voting on my iPhone than on my iPad.
My daughter wrote a collect for Pi Day, and while it doesn't have anything to do with Lent Madness, we thought that this would be the crowd that most appreciates it, so if you don't mind going a smidgen off topic:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for creating the universe, and matter, and atoms, and energy, and light. Thank you for creating us humans and for giving us the tools to figure out how your universe works. Thank you for math and science, and the ability to learn and discover, and to learn from each other. Thank you for the pun and the pie that makes today the day to celebrate math and good food. And thank you that we get to enjoy this pie together. Amen.
I'm pi-eyed at your wonderful prayer.
I love your daughter’s Collect so much. Thank you for sharing it.
It's lovely. Thank you for sharing this.
Well, of course, we all know Cecilia is the patroness of musicians, and all, but I didn't know anything about Perpetua until now - even though my church backs onto a Catholic church called after Felictas and Perpetua. BUT just based on the stories herein, my vote is definitely for Perpetua. Cecilia's tale just didn't hook me in. I imagine since she is more famous, I'll be outvoted, but I am still voting for Perpetua!