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Double Feast of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs
RED Vestments
Missa "Me exspectavérunt"
The holy martyrs Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicitas, who are the Patron Saints of widows and invoked over the death of children, were martyred at Carthage on the northern coast of what is today Libya by the Romans. Though persecution and the slaughter of Christians was terrible in Rome itself, the senseless slaying of Christians was even worse in Africa and Egypt. Though Perpetua's father tried to intercede so that she would not embarrass the family, her faith was more important to her than family and she would not renounce her belief in Jesus Christ as her Savior. Her refusal to adhere to the pagan wishes of her father moved servants under her father to join her in her faith, one of which was Felicitas or Felicity as she has come to be known. The latter had just given birth to a child and then went to her death, while Perpetua had been nursing her own baby. That is why they are invoked over the death of children.
A covey of wild animals from leopards to bears to wild bulls were unleashed on the helpless Christians in the great arena of Carthage and to the sadistic delight of thousands both Perpetua and Felicitas were gored to death by the bulls. They are commemorated daily in the Canon of the Mass among the mentioned martyrs in the Nobis quoque peccatoribus.
We want to thank the Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for expediting these resources of the Propers. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945
Missa "Me exspectavérunt "
Go to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS
INTROIT: Psalm 118: 95, 96
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