Today November 29

Today is the feast of St. Saturninus, companion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity (feast day: March 7), who died about 203. He was arrested with Perpetua and with Felicity and Revocatus, who were brother and sister slaves, and with Secundulus and put under house arrest. When they would not renounce their newfound Christian faith, they were thrown into prison and were to be persuaded in other ways. Perpetua's father, for instance, came and exclaimed, "Daughter, what have you done? You have brought dishonor on your family! No one of your lineage has ever been in jail." When she announced that she was only in jail for being a Christian, he flew into a helpless rage. When that didn't work, he brought her mother and her infant daughter Vivia to her, saying, "My sweetest daughter, have pity on me and on your sad mother and on your husband, who will not be able to live without you." But she -- and the others --remained constant in their faith.

A judge had Felicity separated from the men and questioned her: "Do you have a husband?" "Yes," she replied, "but he does not force my conscience." The judge: "Have pity on yourself, then, and live, especially since you have a child in your womb." Felicity: "Do to me whatever you wish, but you will never get me to do your will!"

And so he did. He had them all scourged, and then paraded half-naked through the streets and then thrown to the wild beasts. Saturninus he had beheaded. St. Saturninus, pray for us.