Serie Antorchas | La Historia de Perpetua

I've always been a religious man. As a man in charge of some idiot underground cells, I've witnessed the faith of several prisoners, as well as the lack of faith of some. I don't judge them. I would also be afraid of wild beasts and death. But what I witnessed today in a woman

and his companions what a value i had never seen anything like it no never antorches heroes of faith come in quick what a joy to see you all nothing could separate us what a blessing to be with you

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Salve!

Oh!

I see that you still honor the gods. You don't know what they say about them. That they don't honor the gods. That they are unbelievers. They will light the fire of the gods. They will condemn us. You could shut up. And you keep insulting the gods. And you will be the unfaithful condemned. You and your mud gods.

I will tell you that God is good! To Rome! In any case, make room for more prisoners because we are going to arrest some more. Now? Right now, Pudenzio! The Emperor does not waste time cleaning his sacred empire, getting rid of those dangerous elements. But how is it possible? Are you sure, Lucio? You just told me!

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Let me pass!

I am Lucio Vivio. And what? And these are my daughter and my grandson. All this is a terrible mistake, I'm sure. They are these slaves. It's their fault. Is this how you take care of my daughter, you bastard? Dear? Father, please. You! Stop! Father! Do you have any idea what they have put you in, Perpetua?

She's nothing but a slave. She's my sister. You... what? Have you gone mad? Sir, maybe you can discuss this later. For now, I will do my duty. Take them away. No! You can't take them away. Perpetua, you're making a mistake. Tell him, Perpetua. He'll have the opportunity to explain it to the Proconsul, like everyone else. But the child...

The prison is not a place for a child. You're right. Take him away then. No, my baby. Let's go, Eduardo. Perpetua, tell them. Tell them you're not one of them. Perpetua. I'll make sure they free you, my daughter. I'll make sure they free you. We haven't done anything wrong. Stay away from me. You don't deserve this.

Oh!

Pastor! Have courage, my friends. We will pray for you. Pray to God to help us resist. Keep going! Our brothers pray for us. We must endure this as Jesus did. With courage. There! Please! No! No!

Please, don't hurt her. Silence! Please. Lord, mercy. She's pregnant. That's enough. Felicitas. She's pregnant. Second. What will happen to us? What will happen to us? Keep walking. Where are you taking us? Out.

How much time do you allow us? It depends on the money you have. Here you go. Start at once. I'll let you know when you run out of time. Tercio! Pastor! What a joy to see you here. Are you really the ones? Yes, friends.

Pastor, what a blessing! But how? Well, every man has his price. Besides, the Emperor has been determined to pursue the new followers of Christ like you. He wishes to give you a exemplary punishment to discourage others who wish to join you. But tell me, how are they? Weren't there five? Second, he... ...died.

Then he is with the Lord, and his example should strengthen us in faith. We must persevere. But come, we have brought them food, and we do not have much time. Cheese? Milk! I thought I would never see this again. The faithful are gathered, they pray for you constantly. We accompany you in your suffering. We must all be happy.

And speaking of joy...

Madre! Perpetua! Querida hija! Madre! Hermano! Hermano y hijo mio! Mi preciosura! Nos dicen que el niño puede quedarse contigo. Alabado sea Dios por su misericordia. Mi salvador me consiente demasiado. Mi prisión se ha convertido en mi palacio. Tiene hambre, hija mía.

And you too must feed yourself. How are you, sister? It is not easy, Mark. But the Lord, the Lord has kept us hour by hour. And you? I met with the pastor and the others, but we had to walk. With great care, they advised me to keep my faith secret, since the new law forbids new believers. Oh, perpetual, how I pray, how I wish. Take this with you, but hide it. It belonged to Secundulo, whom they killed the night we arrived.

May you always remember the strength of the Lord, my brother. Dear daughter... Thank you, mother. And my father? Come on, hurry up! Well, your father is very worried, my daughter.

You shouldn't be here with these people! He's doing everything he can to free you. He's looking for the support of the proconsul. I'm sorry for your daughter's fortune, but the ignorance of the law doesn't justify anything. I know, proconsul, but... I find it hard to believe that your daughter wasn't aware of the laws. It's just that these Christians who worship their own Christ above the emperor, simply...

They must be punished. What I ask is mercy, please. And for your good fortune, mercy abounds in the empire. Without a doubt, your daughter has embarrassed you to such an extent that you could even lose your business. I, however, would not want this incident to make my province look bad. What can I do? There is a way out of this. Your daughter and her... ...comrades will present themselves before me for a public trial.

Perpetua? Yes? I wonder...

It was so nice to see the pastor today, despite the short time, and I wonder if God will free us from prison or... Well, only he knows. Then let's ask him. How? A God who speaks to mortals?

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Go up, Perpetua. But be careful and don't let that evil snake bite you. It won't hurt me. I repress it in the name of Jesus Christ. Welcome, Perpetua. My lord. Drink. Try a little of the glory that is to come. Are you okay?

You were restless. The Lord spoke to me. In a dream. He will deliver us. Our Lord will deliver us. I think she was wrong about that. And we will join him as martyrs. Then we will soon be with our Lord. We must talk to our brothers and find a good mother for the baby. And a good father. I know that God will take care of our baby.

So, do you really think that god has spoken to you? Yes, Pudensio. He spoke to us. And will you die? The only true god calls us to his side. Perpetua! For all the gods, announce your arrival. Come with me and bring the child. Perpetua, sister.

Father? I beg you, daughter. Father. If you have any affection for me, have I not provided for you with my own hands, or have I not favored you above all my children? Father, I... Don't embarrass us in such a way. Think of your brother, your mother, and if not us, please think of your own son. But, Father... What happened to you? What have these people done to you?

No me han hecho nada. Entonces dime, dime algo, perpetua, que está a punto de explotarme la cabeza. Esto me va a matar, perpetua, me va a matar. ¡Habla! Soy cristiana, padre. Encontré... ¡No lo eres! Sí, soy cristiana, padre.

I found in Christ the living God. Not the clay and marble gods that we worship so many times, but the living God who wants to dwell in our hearts. Silence! We can get you out of this mess. I'll take you to the proconsul. What? But... He has promised to set you free. If you just retract, if you give up this ridiculousness... In no way. I didn't raise you to end up like this. I can't. You will.

Father, do you see that there? What? What is it, Father? It's a vase. I don't... Can you call it by another name, Father? It's a flower pot. Well, I can't be something I'm not either.

I am Christiana! Then come with me! No! Come with me! Wait! I... I will stay with the child. No! Give it to me! Father! Come on, give it to me! No! If you really want to see your son... You will renounce these pampilions.

You choose. On the contrary, this absurd superstition will end with me and your mother, your family and your son. You will kill us all, Perpetua. You and your God will kill us all. Pastor, Pastor, I brought you food. You have been without food for days. Thank you, Tercio.

Pastor? But surely...

Our friends are in jail. Undoubtedly, this experience is not easy for them. And I feel that God is calling me to be with them when they need it the most. And also in the even more difficult tests that will come. I understand. Father? My son. My daughter. How are you? I'm fine, ma'am.

But what is this? They are married, Proconsul. And she is pregnant. I'm not blind, soldier. Now, let's finish this nonsense at once. Think about it carefully, my daughter. I spoke to the Proconsul.

You can come back home with me today. In a while, you'll have your son in your arms and all the comforts I can offer you. You can come back, dear daughter. And it'll be as if none of this had happened. But offer some incense to the gods. Damn, you guys are stubborn. I won't. Take her away.

A slave less. Well, in truth, with the baby there are two. I imagine that the husband would like to share his destiny. We serve the living God. Then there would be three slaves less in Carthage. You will arrive before your living God as a dead man. Take him with you.

In truth, it's very simple, dear. In fact, you don't even have to say it seriously. Just do it so that that idiot priest sees you. The only thing it requires is... Just a little incense. I can't! I won't offer incense to a false god! Live forever! I... have to go. Forever. Remember, it means nothing. It's just a pinch of incense.

No!

No! No!

Come on! Offer that sacrifice to the Emperor! Do it for your family, Perpetua! Offer the sacrifice! Do it! Shut up! Father! Do it! I won't do it! Are you a Christian? I am! Your own words condemn you! I love you, Father! And we'll throw you into the wild beasts!

I love you, my son. Take them away! You will never see us again. Never. You will never see us again. Pastor! And who are you? What do you want? I am also a Christian. I am your pastor. I am with them. Then you will also die with them. One more for the beasts.

Pastor, but why? God asked me to accompany them all. He wants to comfort them. Now we must be strong until the end. Congratulations. Dear, the baby, the time has come. I'm restless. I can't sleep. Then I will pray for you, dear Prudence. Thank you, but I already did my prayers.

Surely I am the one who hears the most. As soon as Apollo makes the sun rise, Pudence is already awake asking for something. Everyone sleeps so quietly. I... tell me... Aren't you afraid of anything? Of pain, maybe. But not of death. How can that be? Jesus conquered death for us.

He is here with us, and will be with us in the sand. His love holds us, and we long to be by his side. I don't understand a god who cannot be feared. How do you endure this... Celta, losing your son? God promises us eternal life, Pudencia. And this prison can only imprison our bodies, but not our spirits.

I'll try to sleep a little. I have a question, Pudensio. My son. I want him to know that I had to do this. I want him to know how much I loved him. Could you continue with my diary when I'm gone? I... I don't want to get involved. But I'll think about it. And I'll think about what you tell me about your god. Yes, I'll think about it. I'll succeed...

What happened?

I...

I have arranged something for you. Tercio! Pastor! Dear brothers! May God bless you for showing us so much kindness. Come, your friends are waiting for you. This is what I have written so far. The day before the games started. But from now on, you must write it with other hands.

Finally the day came when they took Perpetua and her friends to the Coliseum. The crowd was eagerly waiting for some entertainment, but I wasn't prepared for the sadness that invaded my soul. Because even though I've seen hundreds of deaths, I was convinced that those five people were innocent of all crime.

and their sincerity and devotion to God had slowly penetrated my soul. And here the Christians refused to offer a sacrifice before the gods. Now they will be made a sacrifice. And although it seemed to me to see them tremble, I know that they trembled with happiness, not with fear. Oh, Counsel! Your Eminence!

And then...

I was a witness to his prayers on many occasions. I heard them talk about God's promises.

El pastor le tenía mucho miedo a los osos, pero recibió una promesa de parte de Dios. Confío en ti, señor, en que sucederá tal como me lo has revelado. No moriré a manos del oso. No del oso, sino del leopardo. ¡El jabalí! ¡Saquen al jabalí! ¡El jabalí!

A leopard, lord of you. Perpetua and Felicitas. How my heart ached to see them. They were face to face with a wild bull that threw and reeled them. But Perpetua seemed to not realize. Are they going to throw us that wild beast? But Perpetua, he has already reeled you.

What are you talking about? It's not true! It's true, Perpetua! You've been thrown into that savage beast! But... I didn't feel anything. I didn't feel anything! Finally, tired of the show, the crowd asked them to execute them with the sword. And to everyone's surprise... Stop! He retracts! I will not present myself before my lord in a state of sadness.

What? He's not afraid. He looked radiant. And so it was that, one by one, he died by the edge of the sword. Your will, dear Perpetua, and also mine.

The authorities thought that the spectacle of his death would serve to dissuade the new believers. But they were wrong. The value of Perpetua, the pastor, Felicitas, Revocato and Saturnino only served to increase the number of believers, and many people came to profess faith in Christ, as I did.

And somehow I was sure that at the time of his death, what happened was not that the empire was freed from Perpetua and his companions, but that they were freed from the empire. And at that moment I remembered the dream that the shepherd had told Perpetua and his companions a few days before he died.

After his death, the story of Perpetua was transmitted from one generation to another.

For greatly our Savior Lord's been.

From the Lord