Epistles to Pepetua (Resource Publications) by Catherine Halsall

It’s 2020. You’ve been told you can’t go to work or study in person for an indefinite period of time. You’re wearing a mask to pick up your groceries, and your palms are dry and cracked from the amount of hand sanitiser you’re using. 

You’re tuning in to the daily press conference and trying to predict what colour Gladys Berejiklian’s blazer will be today. You’re attending church on YouTube and Bible study on Zoom. As COVID case numbers climb higher, you wonder if life will ever return to normal again.

Suddenly, a letter starts circulating through your church. Its author, unknown. Its message, one of hope and encouragement. Pointing you back to the Bible, lifting your eyes to Christ. Another letter comes, and then another. Words of comfort in a time of concern. The author? A mystery saint who calls herself Perpetua. 

Catherine Halsall’s book Epistles from Perpetua contains over 130 letters, written throughout the entire COVID period. Her aim was to encourage the saints at her church, St Swithun’s, Pymble, to pray consistently and persevere. 

The original Perpetua was a martyr of the early church, imprisoned and put to death for her faith in 203AD. She was also the author of a diary, published under the title The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, that describes her imprisonment as a Christian. 

It wasn’t until the publication of this collection of letters that Halsall’s identity was revealed. Before the book’s release, only a few church staff knew who was penning these pieces. 

Each letter features excerpts of Scripture, quotes from theologians and theological books, and stories to ponder and provide fodder for prayer. Halsall begins in her first letter by encouraging her readers to find a quiet place to sit and read, spend five minutes reflecting on each letter, and then devote the following five minutes to prayer inspired by what they have read. 

While we are thankfully a few years past the pandemic and life has resumed once more, the letters remain beautiful bursts of encouragement. Born out of a time of trouble, their underlying truths are still relevant for anyone who needs a nudge towards prayer, and there are lots of interesting tidbits from other texts that keep them engaging. 

Whether Halsall is sharing stories from her time living in London, reflections on the blessing of reading the Bible systematically, or diving into the catechisms, the letters are beautifully written and easy to jump into at the start of a busy day or after one has finished. 

Written for a season of crisis but not confined to it, Epistles from Perpetua is a thoughtful companion for the Christian who is seeking steady, Scripture-shaped prayer in uncertain times.