Perpetua & Felicity
Paper 2 – Perpetua & Felicity
Assignment goals:
• Read closely an account of Christian martyrdom
• Describe how desire for heaven is narratively depicted in such accounts
• Reflect on how such depictions move the modern day Christian to act
Assignment Introduction:
“That they may all be one” (John 17:11). The theme of union with God is present throughout the scriptures and tradition of the Church. This doctrine is most spectacularly manifested in the accounts of the martyrs (literally “witnesses”). These accounts were written to be read by the Christian community and move them to greatly desire conformity to the life of God.
The Catechism of Catholic Church says this of the martyrs:
2473 Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act of fortitude. “Let me become the food of the beasts, through whom it will be given me to reach God.”
2474 The Church has painstakingly collected the records of those who persevered to the end in witnessing to their faith. These are the acts of the Martyrs. They form the archives of truth written in letters of blood:
Neither the pleasures of the world nor the kingdoms of this age will be of any use to me. It is better for me to die [in order to unite myself] to Christ Jesus than to reign over the ends of the earth. I seek him who died for us; I desire him who rose for us. My birth is approaching… (St. Ignatius of Antioch)
I bless you for having judged me worthy from this day and this hour to be counted among your martyrs… You have kept your promise, God of faithfulness and truth. For this reason and for everything, I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. Through him, who is with you and the Holy Spirit, may glory be given to you, now and in the ages to come. Amen. (St. Polycarp)
Among the most well known accounts is that of Perpetua & Felicity. Depicting the last days of two young Christian women and their friends, the account describes their relations with unbelieving family, sharing in communal worship, mystical visions, and death at the hands of wild beasts.
The account of their martyrdom can be found here: The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity (Other editions or secondary sources may be consulted and cited for this paper)
Instructions
Read The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity entirely
Prompt: In what ways does the desire for heaven appear in the narrative of Felicity and Perpetua? What images are used to describe such desire and the actions this desire inspires?
Paper instructions:
• The paper must be a minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 800 words
• The first paragraph is your introductory paragraph. The last sentence of the first paragraph is your thesis statement. It gives the main point of your paper. Underline your thesis.
• There should be 2-3 body paragraphs. These must summarize the events of the narrative in your own words while offering commentary that seeks to answer the questions from the prompt. Select 1-2 images from the document to discuss how the desire of heaven is represented in the text.
• The concluding paragraph offers a reflection on your paper
• You must cite the source at least 2 times
Sample outlines (you may, but need not, use one of these outlines and make adjustments as desired)
I. Intro paragraph: The accounts of the martyrs give narrative depictions of the Christian soul’s desire for heaven. Thesis: Perpetua’s transformation to fight the Egyptian and her peace during martyrdom reveal how the Christian soul allows this desire for heaven to inspire the overcoming of sin and evil
II. Summarize the events of the account, especially the transformation scene and battle with the Egyptian
III. The imagery of the egyptian as a symbol of the devil and of sin
IV. The transformation of Perpetua as the transformation of the human soul to overcome sin
V. Conclusion
I. Intro paragraph: The accounts of martyrdom depict the final fulfillment of the Christian in attaining heaven. Thesis: Felicity and Perpetua’s account, in depicting a vision of paradise and the friends present there, make clear that the trials of this life find fulfillment in the communion of heaven.
II. Summarize the main events of the account, especially the vision of paradise
III. Heaven as a place of community, of union with God through others
IV. Perpetua and Felicity preparing for martyrdom with their fellow Christians
V. Conclusion
Formatting:
The paper will be double-spaced, using 1-inch margins and 11 point Arial font or similar, with a cover sheet and bibliography. General formatting rules, including bibliography entries, must follow the Chicago Manual of Style.
Paper writing help:
1. For general writing help that can be a fun read, I recommend Kem’s Utterly Merciless Guide to Essay Writing.
2. You may meet with the instructor during office hours or make an appointment to discuss the writing of the paper or sources. Come with specific questions in mind or material to discuss.
3. Be sure to check out the resources of the university’s tutorial services center: https://www.stthom.edu/Academics/Tutorial-Services-Center/Index.aqf
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