Sts. Nereus & Achilleus
Sts. Nereus & Achilleus
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.
Prayer:Saints Achilleus and Nereus, pray for those in the military and armed forces throughout the world that they may always see God as their authority and obey God's orders first. Amen
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Dear Saints,
Enable us to throw away all those vices which keep us away from our faith. Help us to become martyrs for Christ. Instill this spirit among the clergy and the laity. Strengthen the Church throughout the world and the Spirit of the Lord renew the faith in the face of persecution and temptation. Enlighten the Holy Father and the Cardinals to fight the holy war against the anti-Christ movements especially Islam, Freemasonry, theosophy and the like. Strengthen me internally to fight the desires of flesh and purify the temple of Christ. Amen.
Sts. Nereus, Achilleus & Domittala, please pray for us to remain active in our vocations and keenly listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in planning our day to day life.
Dear Sts. Achilleus and Nereus, Your lives and martyrdom are great inspiration for us who live in the 21st century, where we are wooed by vain expectations from all around. Please pray for us to be firm in faith and steadfast in our devoution to God.
SAINTS NEREUS AND ACHILLEUS PLEASE PRAY FOR JACOB THAT HE FINDS THE RIGHT PATH AND FOR HIS PARENTS THAT THEY FIND THE STRENGHT TO HELP LEAD HIM.
Sts. Nereus and Achilleus. pray for all migrant workers in our country, Malaysia. Here is a true story told by the Prison Ministry of a 20 year old Vientnames girl who died in prison of HIV Aids. She had no relative or friend to claim her body. Not even the Embassy extended help as they did not want to pay for funeral expenses. The prison ministry persisted in finding her relatives in Vietnam. With the help of a few phone calls they traced her relatives. It came to light that she was the youngest child of a family of 6. She came to Malaysia, fell in love with a local Chinese man, but he turned out to be a pimp. In one of the Police raids both were arrested. To escape punishment, the young man persuaded the girl to confess to all the allegations made against her. She was sentenced to 7 years in prison, whereas he went away scot free, never turning up to bail her out. She died of the terrible disease HIV aids, without receiveing treatment or medicines. The relatives disclosed that we was baptised Catholic. Accordingly, pending all these investigations (which took one month), she was cremated and her ashes interred in a Catholic cemetry. This is a true story of a sad life of a vulnerable young women. Yet how many others are there? We Catholics need to be aware and get involved. Amen.
two greet leaders who never obeyed orders to kill, they died for what they believed in, they now pray for all the pple in military, let us also pray to God dat he may give strenth to stand out like them and be counted worthy of honor.amen
Two great martyrs who led exemplary lives! Please pray for us.
what are they the patron saint of?
may God watch over them as they endevour to live a decent live when at times things seems to tough and all they see is hopelesness and they give up and live hopelessly and carelesslly.