Nereus and Achilleus were Roman soldiers in the household of Flavia Domitilla. They were instructed and converted by St. Peter. These two soldiers in turn inspired St. Domitilla to consecrate her virginity to God. Thereupon, Aurelianus, the fiancée of Domitilla, reported all three to the Roman authorities as being Christians. They were martyred out of hatred for Christianity. Pancras, a noble Phrygian youth, came to Rome at the age of fourteen and was martyred in 275 because he refused to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods.
According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is also the feast of St. Domitilla.
Historically today is the feast of Bl. Imelda Lambertini, daughter of Count Egano Lambertini of Bologna and Castora Galuzzi. She was a student at Dominican Convent of Valdi-Pietra in Bologna and had a great devotion to Saint Agnes of Rome, of whom she may have had visions. On 12 May 1333 she miraculously received her First Communion, and immediately after died in an ecstasy of love and joy.
Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and that your Church may rejoice, untroubled in her devotion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
A certain Flavia Domitilla belongs to the illustrious family of the Flavia, which, during the first century, had given three emperors to Rome. She was the wife of the Consul Flavius Clemens, a relative of Domitian, and was one of the aristocratic Romans who had embraced Christianity. She it was who in all probability founded the catacomb referred to. Another Flavia Domitilla, grandchild of the first, was, like her, exiled for the Faith.
The two martyrs Nereus and Achilleus are also celebrated as having been in Domitian's service. Their bodies were translated from the catacomb of Domitilla to another Roman church, the basilica of Fasciola. These are ancient Roman memorials, recalling to our memory that St. Peter, delivered from prison, was preparing to leave Rome, where he feared to be put to death, the at this point on the road the little band (fasciola) tied round his leg became loosened. Stopping to retie it, Christ appeared to him. "Master, whiter goest Thou?" demanded the Apostle. "I go to Rome," replied his Lord, "there to be crucified again." Peter understood. He it was who returned to Rome, where he was to be sacrificed.
The basilica of the Fasciola, for a time abandoned, was bestowed as a title on the famous cardinal Baronius, towards the close of the sixteenth century. The Cardinal restored it, and it may be visited today. It was known by the names of SS. Nereus and Achilleus even before their translation.
The Acts of these Martyrs do not belong to the class of Acta sincera; fantastic details have been added, embroidered upon authentic facts which are guaranteed by these tombs and these churches. On of St. Gregory's Homilies was pronounced over their tomb, and a Damasian inscription is dedicated to them.
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