E02289: Augustine of Hippo preaches a sermon on the feast of *Perpetua and Felicitas (martyrs of Carthage, S00009), emphasising their womanhood. Sermon 282, preached in Latin, possibly at Hippo Regius (North Africa), 391/430.

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 282

1. Duarum sanctarum martyrum festum diem hodie celebramus, quae non solum eminuerunt excellentibus in passione uirtutibus, uerum etiam pro tanto labore pietatis mercedem suam caeterorum que sociorum propriis uocabulis signauerunt. Perpetua quippe et Felicitas nomina duarum, sed merces est omnium.

'Today we are celebrating the feast of two holy martyrs, who were not only outstanding for their surpassing courage when they suffered, but who also, in return for such a great labour of their piety signified by their own names the reward awaiting them and the rest of their companions. Perpetua, of course, and Felicitas are the names of two of them, but the reward of them all.'

Augustine emphasises the fact that the two women accompanied each other in their martyrdom.

3. In hoc insignis gloriae comitatu etiam uiri martyres fuerunt, eodem ipso die etiam uiri fortissimi passione uicerunt; nec tamen eumdem diem suis nominibus commendauerunt. Quod non ideo factum est, quia feminae uiris morum dignitate praelatae sint: sed quia et muliebris infirmitas inimicum antiquum miraculo maiore deuicit, et uirilis uirtus propter perpetuam felicitatem certauit.

'In this remarkable and glorious company there were men too who were martyrs, very brave men who conquered by their sufferings on the same day; and yet they haven't stamped their names on this day. The reason this had happened is not that the women were ranked higher than the men in the quality of their conduct, but that it was a great miracle for the female weakness to overcome the ancient enemy, and that manly strength engaged in the contest for the sake of perpetual felicity.'

Text: Patrologia Latina 38, 1285-86. Translation: Hill 1994, 81-82 (slightly altered). Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.