"Memorial of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity, arrested with other young catechumens in Carthage under Emperor Septimius Severus; one of whom – Perpetua – was a woman of about twenty, wife of an influential man and mother of an infant; the other – Felicity – was a slave who, even in the terrible pains of premature labour (and according to the law could not be tortured while still pregnant), rejoiced at being thrown to the beasts. Both went from their prison cell to the amphitheatre with joy and serenity on their faces, as if they were already in paradise. (7 March)"