Devotion to these two saints goes back to the fourth century, though
almost nothing is known of their lives. They were praetorian soldiers
of the Roman army, became Christians and were removed to the island of
Terracina, where they were martyred. Their bodies were buried in a
family vault, later known as the cemetery of Domitilla. Excavations by
De Rossi in 1896 resulted in the discovery of their empty tomb in the
underground church built by Pope Siricius in 390.
So often we hear people or even ourselves excuse an
action by saying "I was only following orders." But for Nereus and
Achilleus this excuse could not stand in the face of the cross.
Everything
we know from authority about the two first- century martyrs comes from
a testimony written by Pope St. Damasus in the fourth century and
inscribed on a memorial tablet that commemorates their lives. But even
this commentary comes 300 years after they died.
Damasus tells us that Nereus and Achilleus were soldiers in the Roman army where they helped carry out the persecution
of Christians. They probably had nothing against Christians and didn't
carry for the bloody slaughter they were commanded to perform, but they
obeyed these cruel orders out of fear of dying themselves. After all,
that was what soldiers have always been expected to do.
We
are not told how they were converted, only that it was a "miracle of
faith." After this miracle, they threw down their weapons and escaped
from their camp, discarding armor and arms as they went toward their
new life in Christ. As participants in the persecution they knew perhaps better than any other Christian
what pain awaited them. Faith, however, had triumphed over fear of
death and the victory of faith was the sweetest they had known.
We are told they were martyred but Damasus doesn't mention how.
Later
legend had it that they served Flavia Domitilla, the great-niece of
Emperor Domitian, and were exiled and executed with her when she
converted. This legend probably originated in the fact that the martyrs
were buried in what was later known as the cemetery of Domitilla.
Two
hundred years after their death, Pope Gregory the Great delivered his
28th homily on the occasion of their feast. “These saints, before whom
we are assembled, despised the world and trampled it under their feet
when peace, riches and health gave it charms.”
Comment:
As
in the case of many early martyrs, the Church clings to its memories
though the events are clouded in the mists of history. It is a
heartening thing for all Christians to know that they have a noble
heritage. Our brothers and sisters in Christ have stood in the same
world in which we live—militarist, materialist, cruel and cynical—yet
transfigured from within by the presence of the Living One. Our own
courage is enlivened by the heroes and heroines who have gone before us
marked by the sign of faith and the wounds of Christ.
Quote:Pope
Damasus wrote an epitaph for Nereus and Achilleus in the fourth
century. The text is known from travelers who read it while the slab
was still entire, but the broken fragments found by De Rossi are
sufficient to identify it: “The martyrs Nereus and Achilleus had
enrolled themselves in the army and exercised the cruel office of
carrying out the orders of the tyrant, being ever ready, through the
constraint of fear, to obey his will. O miracle of faith! Suddenly they
cease from their fury, they become converted, they fly from the camp of
their wicked leader; they throw away their shields, their armor and
their blood-stained javelins. Confessing the faith of Christ, they
rejoice to bear testimony to its triumph. Learn now from the words of
Damasus what great things the glory of Christ can accomplish.”