Red-breasted Grosbeak, High Island, TX
This month we celebrate the lives of two African Christian saints that were martyred in the year 203 A.D. Both were young mothers when they were executed in the public games in the amphitheater at Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. Their names are Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity. They were killed for refusing to deny Christ. As St. Perpetua wrote in her diary, “I cannot call myself by any other name than what I am—a Christian.”
God is color blind when it comes to human skin color; but regretfully, humans are not. We should take time to thank and reflect upon the great contributions to Christianity that came from, and continue to come from, the African continent. Great is perhaps too small of a word when it comes to the tremendous spiritual and theological insight that have come from the people living on this continent.
Saint Augustine, one of the greatest Christian theologians and perhaps minds of all times, was an African. St. Augustine is just one of many early Christians that contributed so greatly to Christ’s church. Today this deep tradition continues with the deeply spiritual and theological insights provided by the people of this continent. For example, just look at the books by Cardinal Sarah such as “The Power of Silence” or “God or Nothing”.
Regretfully, the African continent continues to have many Christians that are being martyred for their beliefs. May Saints Perpetua and Saint Felicity join us, in our prayers to God, that all may be allowed to practice their faith with religious freedom. Amen
Additional information on the lives of Saints Perpetua and Felicity can be found at https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saints-perpetua-and-felicity/
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