Perpetua (died c. 423) was a late Roman abbess, the daughter of

Saint Monica Monica ( – 387) was an early North African Christian saint and the mother of Augustine of Hippo. She is remembered and honored in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, albeit on different feast days, for her outstanding Christian virtues, partic ...

and Patricius, and the younger sister of

Augustine of Hippo Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...

Biography

Although Augustine's sister is mentioned by him and

Possidius Possidius (5th century) was a friend of Augustine of Hippo who wrote a reliable biography and an ''indiculus'' or list of his works. He was bishop of Calama in the Roman province of Numidia. Biography The dates of his birth and death are unk ...

, neither give her name; the

Bollandists The Bollandist Society ( la, Societas Bollandistarum french: Société des Bollandistes) are an association of scholars, philologists, and historians (originally all Jesuits, but now including non-Jesuits) who since the early seventeenth century h ...

ascribe the name Perpetua to

sacred tradition Sacred tradition is a theological term used in Christian theology. According to the theology of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian churches, sacred tradition is the foundation of the doctrinal and spiritual authority o ...

. Perpetua married and was widowed, then dedicated herself to a life of celibacy and became head of a convent. She died around 423. In his writings, Augustine does name their brother, Navigus. Possidius describes her in his ''Vita Augustini'' as "superior of the handmaids until her death", despite this, neither she, nor any other woman, was allowed to stay at Augustine's

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

. He argued that although his sister, who was living a holy life, would be above "evil suspicion" - she would need to bring in female servants who may provide temptation.

Religious impact

Perpetua was an

abbess An abbess (Latin: ''abbatissa''), also known as a mother superior, is the female superior of a community of Catholic nuns in an abbey. Description In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic ...

of a community of

consecrated virgin In the Catholic Church, a consecrated virgin is a woman who has been consecrated by the church to a life of perpetual virginity as a bride of Christ. Consecrated virgins are consecrated by the diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical ...

s in

Hippo The hippopotamus ( ; : hippopotamuses or hippopotami; ''Hippopotamus amphibius''), also called the hippo, common hippopotamus, or river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant ...

, This monastery was probably close to his own in Hippo. probably in behalf of Augustine. Augustine and Perpetuas' nieces joined this religious foundation. The monastery was also well known for rescuing foundlings. This establishment seems to have run on similar lines to his - the nuns were allowed to leave the monastery for a variety of activities, including: visiting the baths, to the laundry, and to worship at external churches. He wrote ''Epistula 211'' addressed to the order, after the death of his sister, as they were suffering from internal dissent. It can be argued that Perpetuas' influence was at its strongest after her death, with the writing of this letter to her community. It became known as the ''Rule of Nuns.'' One of its major warnings was of pride: whether you came from a humble or a rich background, there was danger that you may become proud of your

asceticism Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...

, which undid all its holy work.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perpetua of Hippo 420s deaths Year of birth unknown 5th-century Roman women 4th-century Roman women Augustine of Hippo Christian abbesses 4th-century Christian nuns 5th-century Christian nuns

Biography

Religious impact

See also

References