Martyrs

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS

NEREUS AND ACHILLEUS THE EUNUCHS, FLAVIA DOMITILLA, EUPHROSYNA AND THEODORA,

ROMAN VIRGINS, AT TERRACINA IN LATIUM

ABOUT THE END OF THE FIRST CENTURY.

Nereus, Eunuch, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Achilleus, Eunuch, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Fl. Domitilla, Virgin, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Euphrosyna, Virgin, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Theodora, Virgin, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

[1] Eusebius Pamphili, in book 3 of the Ecclesiastical History,

chapter 17, asserts that the Emperor Domitian was

the successor of the Neronian impiety, and of the war

and hatred against God,

and the second who stirred up persecution

against the Christians. Then in chapter 18, having related St.

John the Evangelist's banishment to the island of Patmos, he

adds these things: The exile of St. Domitilla recorded by heathen writers, Moreover at these very times the doctrine of our faith

so greatly flourished, that even writers most alien

to our religion did not hesitate to hand down both the persecution and the martyrdoms

of our people in their own monuments.

These indeed even accurately noted the very time of the persecution.

For they write that in the fifteenth year of the Principate

of Domitian, Flavia Domitilla,

niece by a sister of Flavius Clemens, he who at that time was

Consul at Rome, together with very many others,

on account of the confession of Christ, was deported to the island of Pontia.

Thus far they. One of these writers seems

to be indicated by St. Jerome, in the Eusebian Chronicle, in these

words: Brutius writes that very many of the Christians under

Domitian suffered martyrdom, and named by Brutius: among whom also Flavia

Domitilla, niece by a sister of Flavius Clemens the Consul,

was relegated to the island of Pontia, because she

testified that she was a Christian. The Brutii were among the Romans

renowned: of whom Brutius Praesens with the Emperor

Antoninus Pius held the Consulate in the year CXXXIX, and then

with Antonius Rufinus in the year CLIII. Again, unless another and perhaps

a son of his, Brutius Praesens was Consul in the year CLXXX

with Quinctilius Gordianus. Besides, in ancient inscriptions

there are mentioned L. Brutius Celer and L. Brutius Primitivus.

We judge moreover that among the ancestors of these was

Brutius, who described the exile of St. Flavia Domitilla, when she perhaps

was still living in the island of Pontia; nor must recourse

be had to Erucius or Erycius, as Caesar Baronius

or Erycius Puteanus wished to correct.

[2] There flourished in the first, indeed also in the second century of Christ, various

writers of Christian matters, The Acts of these Saints presently written in Greek and rendered into Latin, who with most Hagiographers

wrote all their things in the Greek tongue. St.

Clement the Pope himself (who placed the sacred veil of Virginity upon St. Flavia

Domitilla his kinswoman) wrote in the name of the Roman

Church an epistle in Greek to the Church of the Corinthians.

In which manner also someone composed in the Greek tongue the Acts of St. Flavia Domitilla, and

of SS. Nereus and Achilleus the eunuchs, which another, as he testifies in the Prologue,

translated from the Greek into Latin. These Acts written with the best

fidelity Surius edited, but with the diction for the most part for the reader's

favor somewhat polished: which we give in the genuine

style, they are edited from Mss. of the best fidelity, from very ancient and most trustworthy parchment codices,

namely the Trier one of the monastery of St. Maximinus, the Windberg one

of the Premonstratensian Order in Bavaria, the Saint-Omer one

of the Cathedral Church, the double Utrecht ones of St. Paul and

St. Salvator, the triple ones of the Queen of Sweden number 13, 81 and

482, of Rouge-Cloître near Brussels of the Canons Regular,

and the Böddeken one in Westphalia of the same Canons,

and what we esteem most especially, from a double and very excellent

codex of our own, of which the one appears to have been written eight hundred years ago,

the other in large folio is continued in various volumes

down to the end of the year. The same are extant in the monastery

of St. Hubert among the Ardennes, in the Capuan monastery

of the nuns of St. John, and in the Roman libraries

the Lateran, the Vatican, the Vallicellan. Nor was it pleasing to note more codices.

[3] We found other Acts much shorter, which in the Church

of Terracina (for there five of these Martyrs set at the head

of the title suffered), other Acts customarily read at Terracina, were wont at Matins, distributed into Lessons,

to be recited, and are kept at Rome in the Archive

of St. Mary Major, and thence transcribed in the Vallicellan library

of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory in the volume marked with the letter F.

These are drawn in an elegant and fluent style, but can have no

commendation from antiquity: wherefore although

we have caused them to be transcribed, we did not however think they were here

to be given: it is nevertheless worthy not to be omitted, the

Prayer or Collect added at the end, which the Cathedral Church

of the city of Terracina uses on the ferial days of the whole year

and on the semi-double and simple feasts: and it is

of this kind. Lend the ears of Thy mercy, O most merciful God, to our

prayers, with a prayer concerning the Patrons of that Church. and may we obtain by the merits of Thy Saints

Caesarius, Julian, Felix, Eusebius, Eleutherius and

Silvinianus, Ansia, Silvia, Rufina, Domitilla,

Euphrosyna and Theodora, by whose patronage

we trust, that mercy of Thine, which

for our guilt we do not deserve. Through our Lord

&c. Of these, he who is placed in the first place, Caesarius

the Deacon, buried the bodies of SS. Domitilla, Euphrosyna

and Theodora related in the last place, and he himself afterwards

at Terracina with Julian the Presbyter was crowned with martyrdom

on the Kalends of November. The bodies of these two were buried by

Felix the Presbyter and Eusebius, and they themselves for Christ's

name were beheaded on the Nones of November. Eleutherius seems

to be the Bishop of the city of Aeca, now called Troia in Apulia,

but at Rome with his mother Anthia, here Ansia, under Hadrian

the Emperor suffered on the XVIII of April, on which day we have elucidated the Acts.

It is not equally easy for us to indicate what is to be thought

of the remaining three, Silvinianus, Silvia, and Rufina. There were

SS. Sulpitius and Servilianus, still heathen, betrothed

to SS. Euphrosyna and Theodora, and on account of the blind man and

the mute woman healed by St. Domitilla, at Terracina to the faith of Christ

converted, and under Anianus the Prefect of the City beheaded. Whether then

instead of Silvinianus is to be read Servilianus? But then

how would the companion in conversion and martyrdom Sulpitius not be present?

Finally Rufina and Secunda the sisters under Valerian

and Gallienus suffered at Rome on the X of July. Whether then it would be Secunda,

who in the prayer is called Silvia? But there is also Silvia

the mother of St. Gregory the Great, and Silvia, Virgin and Martyr

of Brescia. But let these be left to the Terracinians to investigate,

for us the things related suffice, that those second Acts

may be shown to have been held in esteem by the Terracinians, and in

the Ecclesiastical Office recited.

[4] We edited on the X day of March the Acts of B. Andrew the Abbot

of Vallombrosa in Etruria, Some Life of St. Domitilla written by John the Hermit of the Cells: to which we added in §3 the Life of

John the Hermit of the Cells who died in the year MCCCLXXXI, in

which it is said that he published the Life of St. Domitilla, niece of Domitian

the Emperor, not in disordered and tumultuous oration

and in unpolished speech, as some did; but

in Latin and adorned with the highest dignity, with all things

which pertain to the Ecclesiastical offices. But

whether it be that Life of which we have treated, escapes us: rather we judge

that it was composed several centuries earlier. Illustrious

mention also of St. Flavia Domitilla makes St.

Jerome in the Life of St. Paula the widow, which we edited

on the XXVI of January, in which at number 6 these things are read: her mention in the Life of St. Paula. Paula

was carried with her daughter Eustochium to the island of Pontia,

which once the exile of Flavia Domitilla, most illustrious of women,

under Domitian the Prince, for the confession of the Christian name,

ennobled: and seeing

the little cells, in which she had led a long martyrdom,

having taken the wings of faith she desired to see Jerusalem and the holy places.

Thus far there. The island of Pontia is moreover distant from the shore

and the city of Terracina by thirty-two thousand paces;

or, as Strabo says, by two hundred and fifty

stadia.

[5] The birthday, on which SS. Flavia Domitilla, Euphrosyna

and Theodora completed their martyrdom, The sacred cult of SS. Domitilla, Euphrosyna and Theodora on the 7th of May. is not indicated

in the ancient Acts; it is nevertheless reckoned to be the VII of May, on which

day Usuard has these things: On the Nones of May. At Terracina

a city of Campania, the birthday of B. Domitilla the Virgin and

Martyr, who, since she was the niece by a sister of Flavius Clemens the Consul,

and consecrated by St. Clement with the sacred veil,

in the persecution of Domitian with very many others

was deported into exile to the island of Pontia, a long

martyrdom there she led. At length when by doctrine and miracles

she had converted very many to the faith of the Lord,

her chamber being set on fire by a certain Judge, in which together

with her fellow-virgins, namely Euphrosyna and

Theodora, she remained shut up, she consummated the course of her glorious

martyrdom. More things from the Acts added Ado and

Notker, whom following the author of the Martyrology supposititiously under the name of Bede,

and elsewhere other more recent ones, with today's Roman Martyrology,

in which at the end is added, and on the 12th of May that there is celebrated

also together with the holy Martyrs Nereus and Achilleus

on the twelfth day of May: on which day under the semi-double rite

in today's Breviary the feast of these is kept, and that

Prayer is recited: May the blessed solemnity of Thy Martyrs

Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla and Pancratius ever cherish

us, we beseech Thee, and render us worthy of Thy service.

Besides, in the second Nocturn the fourth lesson is recited

concerning SS. Nereus and Achilleus, the fifth concerning St. Flavia

Domitilla, and the sixth concerning St. Pancratius, who suffered under the tyranny of Diocletian and

Maximian: whose Acts we give below. On the said

XII of May moreover the memory of SS. Nereus and Achilleus is celebrated,

inscribed also in the ancient apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology,

on which SS. Nereus and Achilleus were slain. and in the genuine Martyrology of Bede and the Martyrology

of Rabanus, but without an elogium; which Usuard edited of this kind.

On the IV Ides of May at Rome on the Ardeatine Way, the birthday

of the holy Martyrs Nereus and Achilleus the brothers: who

first at the island of Pontia led a long

exile, and afterwards by a certain Judge with most grievous

stripes were handled. Then when by the rack

and flames they were compelled to sacrifice, and said

that they had been baptized by B. Peter the Apostle, and could in no way

sacrifice to idols, they were beheaded. Thus

Usuard, to which these things adds Ado: Whose bodies seized

Auspicius their disciple, foster-father of the holy

Virgin Domitilla: who also placed in a little boat

brought them away, and in the estate of Domitilla in a sandy crypt

buried them on the Ardeatine Way, one mile and a half

from the wall of the City. Similar things have Notker and others more recent, with

great approbation of the Acts both of St. Domitilla and her companions,

and of SS. Nereus and Achilleus.

[6] Among the Roman Pontiffs there flourished in the sixth century St. John

I, who died in the year DXXVI, The cemetery of SS. Nereus and Achilleus, whose Acts we illustrate on

the XXVII day of May, and in them these things are read, as also in the ancient

Roman Breviaries: This Pope John completed the cemetery

of the blessed Martyrs Nereus and Achilleus on the

Ardeatine Way. But for completed there is read in Anastasius the Librarian,

made: in the Thuanian and the second Freherian Ms. codex

repaired, in the Mazarinian Ms. restored. But

as Baronius noted on this XII of May, The Church at Rome, there was an ancient title at Rome

in the name of these Martyrs, of which there is

mention in the register of St. Gregory the Pope, book 4

epistle 44, where the same Gregory had homily

XXVIII on the Gospels. There were buried there the bodies of the same

Martyrs and likewise of Flavia Domitilla, to whom

he alludes when he says: These Saints, at whose tomb

we stand, their bodies and that of St. Domitilla trod down the flourishing world with contempt of mind

&c. Which three sacred bodies in this very year,

in which we anew strike these things, MDXCVII, on the fifth of the Ides

of May, from the Diaconia of St. Hadrian, to which under Gregory

the Ninth they had been translated, after various translations and at last under Sixtus V by

Augustine the Cardinal of Cusa, then Cardinal Deacon of the same Church,

the high altar by himself more magnificently

erected, more becomingly placed; we, the title being restored,

with our most holy Lord Clement the Eighth granting it, into

their pristine place with celebrated pomp brought them back,

together with their heads, brought back to it: enclosed in gilded shrines. Thus

Caesar Baronius, created by the said Pope Clement in the year MDXCVI Cardinal

with the title of SS. Nereus and Achilleus: by whose liberality, says Paulus Aringhus in book 3 of Subterranean Rome

chapter 18, the heads in the Vallicellan church. the most worthy heads of the excellent Virgin and her companion Martyrs

enclosed in silver, which exhibits their image,

in our church of B. Mary and St. Gregory

in the Vallicella, namely of the Fathers of the Congregation

of the Oratory, after the manner of trophies most honorifically are preserved.

The original history of the translation with the Bulls of Clement

VIII we give below.

[7] There are not wanting meanwhile Churches which glory in the patronage

of these Saints, Relics of St. Domitilla at Limoges, in that they have their sacred Relics.

Saussay in the Supplement to the Gallican Martyrology on

the VII day of May hands down these things: At Limoges in the monastery

of St. Augustine, the reception of the Relics of the most holy

Virgin and Martyr of Christ Flavia Domitilla, from

the city of Terracina in Roman Campania: where after she

had led a long martyrdom, in that she converted many by doctrine

and miracles to the faith of Christ, by the order

of the Judge her chamber being set on fire, where with her Virgins

Euphrosyna and Theodora she remained, she consummated the course of her glorious

martyrdom. Her sacred pledges,

at Limoges in the sacristy of the said monastery reverently laid up,

with signs and miracles perpetually shine forth. Thus far there,

on the authority of Geoffrey the Prior of Vigeois in a chronicle deduced from Robert

the King to the year MCLXXXIV, edited in volume 2

of the Labbean Library, where in chapter 15 there is treated of the Saints more

illustrious in the Bishopric, and these words are read: Let us return

to our city, the Limousin, after the diocese,

and in the monastery of St. Augustine let us venerate B. Asclepius the Prelate

(he is venerated here on the XXIII of December) after the Virgin and

Martyr Flavia: who, since she was niece by a sister of Flavius

Clemens the Consul, by the persecution

of Domitian, burnt by flames, triumphs. There makes mention

of the said Limousin monastery Thomas de Herrera, the same and of SS. Euphrosyna and Theodora at Ellwangen. in volume 2

of the Augustinian Alphabet page 36. But below in the last chapter

is described the conversion to the faith and martyrdom of SS. Sulpitius

and Servilianus, whose Acts we illustrated on the XX day

of April, and we added the tradition of the Ellwangen people, asserting

that the sacred bodies of the said Martyrs, by the grace and help

of Adrian I the Pontiff, by Hariolph and Edolph the Bishops

of Langres, and the founders of their Church, were brought to it.

Besides, as in the year MDCXXXIX our Christopher

Strebonus wrote to us, in the same Ellwangen church

rest Domitilla, Euphrosyna and Theodora

Virgins and Martyrs, secondary Patronesses, and they are celebrated

under a double of the second class without an octave. Whose

relics by D. Hariolph and his Brother Erlolph

Bishops of Langres, to Ellwangen into the collegiate Church

of St. Vitus, of which they themselves were the founders,

are handed down to have been translated, where even now with pious veneration

they are venerated. So from the Lessons there at Matins customarily recited

Strebonus.

[8] But Lupus de Morales in the little book on the Finding of the relics

of SS. Sergius and Bacchus, in Spain SS. Nereus and Achilleus, Marcellus and Apuleius, chapter 8, among

other things writes these things: At the town of Garray, formerly Numantia,

are laid up and venerated the relics of the holy

Martyrs Nereus, Achilleus and Pancratius: to whose

tombs by devout pilgrimage all the inhabitants of that region

flow together with offerings and solemn supplications.

These things from him cited Tamayus Salazar in his

Spanish Martyrology, adding that, as Lupus himself relates,

their remembrance is so ancient that it exceeds the memory

of men. Hence licence being seized of devising and

writing these things in the Pseudo-Chronicle of Julian at number 292: St.

Marcellus brought into the Spains the memory of the holy

Martyrs Nereus and Achilleus, who suffered at Rome

under Lanitius Rufus the Consular, too friendly to Martial,

to whom he wrote many things. Thus far there. But they suffered at Terracina,

and were handed over to Memmius Rufus, or certainly to Minucius

Rufus. Hence Tamayus infers that these Relics into the Spains

brought St. Eugenius I Bishop of Toledo,

whom they boldly feign to be Marcellus son of Marcus the Consul, the Arians their heads: of

whom below in the Acts.

[9] Ughelli in volume 8 of Sacred Italy reckons the Bishops of the Ariano

town, distant from its metropolis Benevento XV M. P., where, he says,

they believe they hold the heads of SS. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla

and Pancratius. And Fabius Barberius in the Catalogue of the Bishops

of Atina, printed at Naples in the year 1635, no mention made of SS. Domitilla

and Pancratius, writes these things on page 51. The heads of SS.

Nereus and Achilleus with the highest cult in this our age

are preserved in the Treasury of the same greater Church,

with very many Relics of other Saints.

In the Bertinian church also among the people of Saint-Omer

are preserved great parts of the bodies of Nereus and Achilleus

the Martyrs, elsewhere other relics. testifies Rayssius in the Belgian Hierogazophylacium

page 101, who, the testimony being adduced, hands down that at Douai, in the collegiate church

of St. Peter, were placed the sacred Relics of SS. Nereus,

Achilleus and Pancratius in the year MCCCCXL. Indeed that the Relics of SS. Domitilla,

Nereus and Achilleus are at Bologna testifies

Masinus, at Cologne Gelenius, at Venice in the church of St.

Zacharias Bucelinus, and elsewhere others.

ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM

From very many most ancient Mss.

Nereus, Eunuch, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Achilleus, Eunuch, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Fl. Domitilla, Virgin, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Euphrosyna, Virgin, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Theodora, Virgin, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

BHL Number: 6058, 6059, 6061, 6062, 6063, 6064, 6066

FROM MSS.

PROLOGUE.

Unless the studies of Catholics in the slumber of their own security

of heresy invade the limits of piety, exulcerating us with its goads

to ^b watchfulness. And yet ^c by a certain sluggish

watchfulness and fastidious care, ^d meeting the strenuous and solicitous,

we neglect the lambs, whom for certain from

the fold we lose, to be devoured by the bites of wolves.

Whence according to the solicitude of those orthodox who were

before us, Others are called upon to write the Acts of the Martyrs. collecting some martyrdoms of our

province, I translated them from Greek into Latin:

giving this example to the studious of various provinces,

that as we in ours, so they in their own provinces

may translate the completed martyrdoms: that the peoples cultivating

and venerating those whom they acknowledge to have suffered for the name of our

Lord Jesus Christ, may know with what zeal of

war, ^e bearing the triumphs of victories, they merited to come to

the King exulting and rejoicing.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER I.

The disadvantages of marriage and the beauty of virginity, set before St. Domitilla by SS. Nereus and Achilleus.

[2] First therefore for the edification of all,

whose study is to please God, let us take

Domitilla the most noble Virgin, ^a niece of Domitian the Emperor. She had Nereus and Achilleus

the eunuch chamberlains, whom the most blessed and

most holy Apostle of God Peter had won

for Christ. SS. Nereus and Achilleus dissuade St. Domitilla from marriage, These, while they saw their mistress

adorned with jewels, and clad in purple garments and woven with gold,

said to her: With how great zeal art thou adorned in body, that

thou ^b mayest receive as husband Aurelian the son of the Consul, a mortal man.

If with so great zeal thou wert adorned in soul,

thou couldst gain as spouse the Son of God,

the immortal King; who would also make thee thyself eternal, and

would never permit an end or term to come to thee nor to thy ornaments nor to thy joys.

Domitilla answered them, and said: What can be a better

charity, than to have a husband; to receive children, through

whom a most sweet ^c posterity may be propagated; and to blot out neither

the dignity of one's lineage, nor the memory of one's name?

Lastly, how harsh it is to despise the delights

themselves, and not to enjoy the sweetness of life itself,

and as if one were not born into this light, not to love whatever things

are sweet to the body?

[3] To these things Nereus answered and said: Thou seest the delights

of a single moment, and the perils which follow through

the whole year thou seest not. by exaggerating the disadvantages of marriage: For first when

thou shalt have separated thyself from the integrity, which was also born with thee;

the name of virgin being lost, thou shalt be called a woman: and

thou who never sufferedst thy freedom to be lorded over,

nor thy parents; thou shalt suffer as lord of thy body a stranger

man, who shall abuse thee as if by a most vile command,

so that no one's conversation with thee without peril of strife

or hazard ^d may pass: not kinsfolk, not nurses,

not the household-born raised with thee, shall be affable to thee: speech

shall be imperiled, on account of the jealousy of husbands, sight shall be imperiled,

hearing shall be imperiled, and whatever thou shalt do simply with evil

suspicions shall be constrained. Domitilla answered

and said: I know that my mother suffered my father

jealous, and in this injury through long times

was wearied out, perchance shall I also have such a one?

Achilleus said: All bridegrooms, before they receive their brides,

feign themselves humble and most meek;

but afterwards they betray what they had concealed; and, if luxurious

they have been, they love handmaids, and, despising and holding for nothing

their own mistresses, and lust, defend them with a proud intention of anger;

and these they avenge not only

with words, but even with blows: and when the injurious

speech said by a pious mother could scarcely be borne,

fists sometimes, joined to most hard kicks of heels,

are heaped on.

[4] But grant, that he be neither luxurious, nor

jealous, and on account of the troubles of pregnant women, but rather be proved gentle and bland;

let us see now what disadvantages for certain follow

the woman. For the weight conceived in the womb

day and night she shall carry unwilling: by which weight she becomes

sick, swollen, pale, scarcely able to walk on her own feet;

bearing loathing of useful foods, with harmful foods

she is delighted: sometimes also the inner bosom itself

either by abundance of blood is inflamed, or by excess of humor

grows cold, or by leanness of dryness is constrained,

or by fatness is constricted: from which

causes within the secret places of the womb, the fetus conceived, diseases are born,

from which there are wont to be born the weak, the bent and the lame.

For the most part also placed in their birth, from the ^e

straightness of the way they are turned: and of women in labor, and not only by the eyes of women

are their feminine secrets manifested, but also

by men unknown for the art of medicine they are laid bare, so

that the members of the conceived are wont to be brought forth by arts, who

kills his mother before he is ^f born, since

he himself begins first to be slain rather than to be born. There is wont also

deaf and dumb, or full of wounds, or

even with a demon to be procreated, so that it is necessary first to seek

an exorcist rather than a nurse.

[5] Nereus also answering said: O how

blessed is holy virginity, virginity is praised, which from all these

necessities is alien, and is lovable to God, and to all

the Angels dear: which whoso has, is like to God;

but whoso has not the likeness of God, therefore has it not,

because he lost integrity and found corruption:

whose guilt indeed a woman through penance

can escape, but that integrity itself

she can no longer recover. Alas! of how great madness

is it to wish to subject oneself to another's lust! Alas! of how exceeding

inconsideration is it, that she who was able, with joy

and praises of men and Angels, but after losing it not recoverable: to await the reward

of integrity and a perpetual crown; with

lamentation will have need to seek penance for the very pollution,

that she may be able to come to indulgence!

For all sanctity, when through any will

or necessity it has been lost, to its own state

through penance and to its own glory can be recalled:

virginity alone to its state utterly cannot be recalled.

But its guilt through tears of penance

can be expelled, but the integrity itself, as we have said,

utterly cannot be recalled, so that it may attain to the state

of pristine sanctity. All things therefore lost

can be recovered, virginity alone, once lost,

cannot be recovered. For neither through her penance

can a woman, when she shall have come to the indulgence of her deed,

be able also to add this thereto, that she become a virgin, since

once she has lost the integrity with which she was born.

[6] Sufficiently friendly to God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy

Spirit, virginity is proved to be familiar. the first of the virtues and nearest to martyrdom, For as

the person of a Queen is set before all both noble and illustrious

matrons; so also virginity exceeds the dignity of all

virtues: so that it holds the second place

after the Martyrs, and is among the other virtues

the first. For all the virtues serve it, and as

the chamber-maids of an Empress, so they obey its

commands. Faith flatters it, hope embraces it, charity kisses

it; and all that stand in the sight

of the King of heaven, patience, perseverance, constancy,

contempt of the world, vigilance, hospitality,

mercy, solicitude, knowledge, truth, probity,

endurance; all these, which are mentioned, and

the virtues which are not mentioned, serve it. Among

the foliage of Paradise and the unfading flowers of eternal life,

among the groves of the Angels and the ^g shady meadows

breathing forth holy odors: where eternal life

is ^h taken in through the nostrils, where the air itself has the virtue

of a fragrance, so that whoever has taken it in through his nostrils, and to be crowned in heaven: can

no longer be sad, nor can any infirmity any longer exercise

dominion over him, no grief,

no sadness; but the soul will ever be rejoicing, ever

exulting, and ever secure of the perpetuity of its life.

ANNOTATIONS

CHAPTER II.

Further incitements to Virginity, the reception of the sacred veil.

[7] To these things Achilleus said: These things which my brother

mentions are small; and as if from an immense

river he takes one sextarius, and holding it with bosom plunged in,

but to gather by computing the measure of the water itself

he is not able: so also of that life

the joys and delights which are to come no speech can sufficiently

explain, no thought find, no disputation

comprehend. But I wish also this not to omit,

that even here in this world virginity does not

lose its freedom, does not fear manly boldness,

is not subjected to a corrupting man who defiles

the pure, marks the sealed, breaks the whole,

captivates the free; and her made free by God, and dear to God Himself

and to all the Saints, to his own lust he makes

violently a handmaid. The harshness of husbands is inculcated, After these things within the domestic walls

as in a private prison he keeps her shut up, suffers her

not to be greeted, forbids her even to be seen by her own parents,

foster-fathers and nurses and kinsfolk as enemies from

consolation and conversation he excludes, nor does he himself

freely permit the talk of infants, while he fears through them

his injuries which he exercises upon the woman to be recognized

by her parents. And these are the most false blandishments

which she had had in the virgin. Let me be a liar, if it was never

done, and unless I have rather mentioned the smaller

evils not enough, than what manly pride is wont

to exercise, the holy Angel of God acting,

the patron of virginity, in that he permitted

this one to be excluded from himself with whom he was born and suckled, and the Angel who is the patron of virginity,

with whom from the cradle he both laughed and wept; this integrity

he permitted to be cast out from his estate, which by being born

from his Creator he received; and he made the place of it

for the enemy corruption to invade, when integrity is cast out thence,

which always there from when it was born remained, and

corruption is introduced, which never there from when

it began to live, came. And since we have said that holy

virginity has as Patron the Angel of the Lord,

who chides and rebukes the woman that is made; let us make

the voice of him reasonably chiding.

[8] Tell me, O man, in what did virginity injure thee, that

thou castest her from thee, and into her place admittest the enemy?

When from thy mother's womb thou camest forth she was with thee

born, he is brought in praising her with thee suckled; with thee she was ever, and from thy

fellowship she did not withdraw; with thee she wept the weeping of infancy,

with thee amid blandishments and nourishments she was suckled,

with thee fed, with thee given drink: with the weariness of thy body

with thee she was wearied, with the straits of thy infirmities

with thee she was straitened: with thee when thou wakedst she waked,

with thee when thou sleptst she slept, with thee rising

she rose, with thee standing she stood, with thee sitting she sat:

with thee when thou wert clothed she was clothed, with thee when thou wert adorned she was adorned,

with thee hungering she hungered, with thee feasting she feasted; with thee

she learned letters, with thee by the grammatical mastery

she was instructed, with thee imbued with the eloquence of the orator, with thee

refreshed with the body of Christ, with thee made a catechumen,

with thee was baptized, with thee with the blood of Christ was consecrated: explaining her delights in Christ,

together with thee she came to the nuptials of Christ and the Church,

where her bridal chamber furnished with the jewels of virtues

into the ornaments of pure minds daily

grows beautiful, of whose nuptials daily an innumerable

multitude is born, so much that the father of those born is

Christ, and the mother of the sons the Church; yet

the bridal chamber is not injured, because the father Christ ceases not

to be the bridegroom, and the Church ceases not to be the bride.

For ever Christ is both bridegroom and father, ever

the Church is both bride and mother, who ceases not to bring forth,

and ceases not to be an immaculate virgin. For in the embrace

of Christ integrity is rather enlarged than

put to flight, and in the bringing forth of the Church virginity rather grows

than decreases. Its ornaments with the varied splendor of jewels

shine, from its mouth proceed the honey-flowing

eloquences of the law and perpetual blandishments for virgins.

O happy and holy virginity! Thou who, still among

sinful men placed on earth, in these so great

joys dost delight; what dost thou think among the Angels after these things

thou shalt have in the heavens, how most dear shalt thou be to the Angels?

how better than these falling kingdoms, how more adorned

than all the most precious jewels? Every hour thou hast

with thee the most beautiful youth Christ, the Son of God Almighty,

crowned with comeliness, golden-haired,

splendid and shining, glittering rather with the gleaming light of heaven.

For since His sun is proved to be His servant

and minister, how great can be the beauty of the lord,

when so great is the beauty of the servant? He will ever be with thee,

O holy virginity, with thee among all the Saints

in eternal and spiritual blandishments perseveres,

with thee ever among the Angels joyful he exults. Choose

now, whom thou wilt: either Him who is eternal with eternal

delights; or a man who must die, whose delights themselves

are at the same time with him to perish.

[9] These and things like to these Nereus and

Achilleus pursuing, Domitilla the most prudent Virgin said: by which St. Domitilla inclined toward it, Would

that this knowledge of God had once come to me, and

never had I taken the name of a spouse, and could have

without labor assumed this title of sanctity;

and as baptized I deserted the worship of idols, so instructed

I would have despised this carnal commerce.

But now, as God has opened your mouth to win

my soul; so I believe that He Himself

will open to you His counsel, that there may be able through you this

which for His love we desire to be fulfilled. Then

Nereus and Achilleus proceeded to ^a St. Clement

the Bishop, and said to him: Although ^b thy glory

is wholly placed in our Lord Jesus Christ, St. Clement invited to it, and

thou gloriest not in human, but in divine dignity; we know

nevertheless ^c that Clemens the Consul was the brother

of thy father: His sister ^d Plautilla acquired us as servants,

and then when, hearing the word of life from the Lord Peter the Apostle,

she believed and was baptized,

she also consecrated us together with herself and with her daughter Domitilla

with holy baptism. In the same year the Lord Peter

the Apostle hastened to the crown of martyrdom

to Christ, and Plautilla left her earthly body.

But Domitilla her daughter, since she had Aurelian the illustrious

as a spouse, learned from our littleness the discourse,

which we learned from the mouth of the Apostle: that

a virgin, who for the love of the Lord in virginity

shall have persevered, may merit to have Christ as a spouse,

with whom in eternal delights and perpetual

glories she may persevere. Hearing these and things like to these from us, she desires

now the vow of her virginity to be consecrated by thy hands with a veil.

To whom Clement the Bishop said: It is time,

as I see, in which both my and your and her own

calling on this occasion may attain to the palm of martyrdom,

but because it is the precept of our Lord Jesus, the veil of virginity being imposed she is consecrated. that we should not

fear those who kill the body, let us despise

the mortal man, and to the Prince of eternal life with all

our strength strive to be obedient. Then St. Clement

coming to Domitilla, consecrated her.

ANNOTATIONS

CHAPTER III.

Exile in the island of Pontia. The contest with the disciples of Simon Magus: concerning this the exquisite judgment of a certain Marcellus a Roman.

[10] And because it is long to write out severally in order each thing,

what evils her spouse Aurelian

exercised about Domitilla full of furies: here let us transfer the section

to the issue of the matter. He obtained from

Domitian the Prince, that, if she should disdain to sacrifice,

she should undergo the exile of the island of Pontia: The exiles in the island of Pontia with St. Domitilla in which exile he

thought he could wring it out, that from the purpose of perseverance

he might recall the mind of the holy Virgin. Therefore

when she was exiled in the island of Pontia, and at the same time

there were there with her Nereus and Achilleus, there were exiled there

two evildoers, disciples of Simon: one of them was called

Furius, the other Priscus. These two then almost the whole

island by deceiving with magic signs, had made Simon

the magician to be venerated and believed for the Son of God; to refute the followers of Simon the magician, but Peter

to have been an enemy without cause. And when

Nereus and Achilleus resisted them, and there was a copious multitude

which defended them, Nereus and

Achilleus said to the peoples: ^a Do you know Marcellus, the son of Marcus the Prefect

of the City? They answered: Who would not know him? Nereus and Achilleus

say to them: Do you admit his testimony

concerning Simon and Peter? They answered, He is very

foolish, who does not believe such a person. Who answering

said: Provide therefore for your salvation, and until

he receive our letters and write back to us, both

concerning the blessed Peter the Apostle and also concerning Simon

the Magus, withdraw yourselves from their doctrine: but our

epistle being made, choose one of you who may bear it

to him, which we desire to be recited in your sight:

so that while he shall have written, in your sight it may nonetheless

be recited. This saying pleased all,

and with the letters of the holy Nereus and Achilleus

they directed their man.

[11] But the text of the epistles is this: Nereus and

Achilleus, servants of Jesus Christ, they send an epistle to Marcellus, to their brother and fellow-disciple

Marcellus eternal greeting. In the dungeon of the island of Pontia

exiled, for the name of our Lord Jesus

Christ, we rejoice: but our joy is wearied by

Furius and Priscus, disciples of Simon, who for magic

arts were here exiled. For they assert that Simon was innocent,

and the Apostle Peter without cause

execrated him. And when we said to all,

that no one should believe them; we asserted a fit and illustrious

person of thy faith, who could inform them by his

writings, what and of what kind his life was. Since

since thou wast his disciple, thou hast known all his

actions: which we ask that thou delay not to write,

so that the innocent may be freed from their fallacies.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with thee.

Here end the writings of Nereus and Achilleus. Here begins the rescript

of Marcellus.

[12] Marcellus the servant of Christ to the holy Confessors

Nereus and Achilleus: Your letters being read with joy

I am filled, for I have learned that you are constant both

in faith and in work, and solicitously fight for the truth. He answers, And

since you mentioned this objected to you, that Simon

was innocent, I will recount in some part his life,

that from a few all things may be known. For I

since I was his disciple, knowing him a malignant and ^b infanticide

and a malefic housebreaker, that he had deserted from Simon to St. Peter I deserted

him, and clung to my Lord St. Peter the Apostle.

Whom when Simon called a magician, and excited the Roman

people into hatred of him; suddenly in the place,

in which Simon was arguing against Peter, there passed a widow

with an immense people and clamorous voices and mourning,

carrying out her only son. Then Peter said to

the people, who believed Simon: Come to the bier,

and set down him who is led out dead: when, the boy being dead, by him alone he had been moved, and whoever

shall raise him up, let his faith be believed to be true.

Which when the people had done, Simon said: Now, if

I raise him up, will you slay Peter? And all the crowd

answered: We will burn him alive. Then Simon

all the demons being invoked, by their ministry

began to act, that the body might be moved. Which the peoples seeing

began to cry out in praise of Simon and to

the destruction of Peter. Then Peter, silence being scarcely obtained,

said to the people: If he lives, let him speak, walk, take

food, return to his own house. But if

he do not this by Simon, know that you are deceived. To these things

the people with one voice cried out saying: If Simon do not this,

let him himself suffer the punishment which he set for Peter.

But Simon feigning himself angry, sought flight.

But the people held him with immense reproach,

and guarded him. but truly raised up by St. Peter, Then Peter, spreading

his hands to heaven, said: Lord Jesus Christ,

who saidst to us thy disciples: Go in my name

and cast out demons, heal the sick, and raise the dead;

raise up this boy: that all this crowd may know,

that thou art God, and there is no other beside thee,

who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest unto ages

of ages. Amen. But the boy rising up adored

Peter, saying: I saw the Lord Jesus Christ,

commanding the Angels and saying: At the petition

of my friend Peter, Simon, however, freed lest he be cast into the fire. let the orphan be restored to the widow his mother.

Then all the people with one voice cried out: There is one

whom Peter preaches. But Simon transfigured

himself into a dog's head, and began to flee. But the people

held him: and while they wished to cast him into the fire,

Peter cast himself into the midst, and freed him saying:

Our Master taught us this, that for evils we should render good.

[13] When therefore Simon had escaped, he came to me, and thinking

that I knew not, what had been done, a huge dog,

which scarcely a chain of iron bound held, this

he tied at the entrance saying: or by a dog which he had brought Let us see if Peter, who

is wont to come to thee, will be able to enter. But after one hour

Peter came, and the sign of the Cross being made he loosed the dog,

and said to it: Go, speak against Simon. Cease by the ministry

of demons to deceive the people, for whom Christ

shed His blood. But I seeing such great wonders,

ran to Peter: and falling at his knees,

received him into my house; but Simon

I drove out with disgrace. But the dog made bland to all,

pursued Simon alone: whom

when he had put under himself, Peter ran crying out and saying:

I command thee in the name of our Lord Jesus

Christ, that thou fasten not a bite on any part of his

body. should be slain. But the dog could touch no

member of him, but so handled his garments with bites,

that no part of his body remained covered. But all

the people, and especially the boys, together with the dog

ran after him so long, until they

cast him with howling as if a wolf outside the walls of the city

out.

[14] But after these things, not bearing the reproach of this shame,

whom afterwards under Nero Peter conquered, for one year he nowhere appeared.

But afterwards he found one, who insinuated him to Nero Caesar:

and so it was done, that a malignant man with a malignant,

nay a worse than himself, joined himself in friendship. After these things

also the Lord appeared to the Apostle Peter, through

a vision saying: Simon and Nero, full of demons,

against thee plot: fear not, for ^a with thee

I am, and I will give thee the solace of my servant the Apostle Paul,

who tomorrow shall enter Rome: with whom after

seven months together you shall have war against Simon,

and after you shall have cast out and conquered him, and laid

him down into hell, together to me you shall come

both victors. and with St. Paul he was crowned with martyrdom. Which also was done. For on the next day

Paul came. But in what order they saw themselves and after

seven months had a conflict with Simon,

since you were here and saw with your own eyes, ^c superfluous

I have held it to teach you what you know, since St. Linus

in the Greek tongue wrote the whole ^d text of their passion

to the Eastern Churches.

ANNOTATIONS

CHAPTER IV.

The Acts of the life and death of St. Petronilla, and the martyrdom of SS. Felicula and Nicomedes the Presbyter.

[15] Concerning ^a Petronilla indeed the daughter of my Lord Peter

the Apostle, what her end was, St. Petronilla since

you have asked, solicitously and briefly I will intimate. Petronilla

therefore you well know, by the will of Peter made paralytic:

for I recall that you were present, when at

his house very many of his disciples we were refreshed, and it happened

that Titus said to the Apostle: is healed by St. Peter. Since all by thee are saved

who are sick, why dost thou permit Petronilla to lie paralytic?

The Apostle said: So it is expedient for her. But lest

the impossibility of her health should be thought excused by my words,

he said to her: Rise, Petronilla, and

minister to us. And straightway she rose whole. But the ministry

being completed he ordered her to return to her bed. But when

in the fear of God she began to be perfect, not only she herself

was saved, but also for very many she recovered to the better

health by her prayers. And since exceedingly

beautiful she was, there came to her Flaccus the Count with soldiers, as a wife by Flaccus the Count,

that he might take her to himself as wife. To whom Petronilla

said: To an unarmed girl with armed soldiers

thou hast come: if thou wilt have me as wife, cause matrons and

honest virgins to come to me after three days, that with

them I may come to thy house. But it was done that

the space of three days received the Virgin in holy fastings

and prayers was occupied, having with her the holy

Virgin ^b Felicula her foster-sister, in the fear of God

perfect. On the third day therefore coming to her

St. Nicomedes the Presbyter, celebrated the mysteries of Christ.

But the most sacred Virgin, as soon as she received the Sacrament of Christ,

reclining herself on the bed, gave up the spirit.

And it was done, that all the crowd of matrons and

virgins, who had been brought by Flaccus, celebrated the obsequies

of the funeral of the holy Virgin.

[16] But Flaccus turning his mind, said to Felicula:

Choose for thyself one of two, either be my wife,

St. Felicula, consenting neither to marry Flaccus nor to sacrifice to the gods, or sacrifice to the gods. To whom St. Felicula answered:

Neither will I be thy wife, because I am consecrated to Christ: nor

will I sacrifice to idols, because I am a Christian. Then Flaccus

handed her to the Vicar, and made her to be shut up in a dark

chamber, without food for seven days, in which there said

to her the wives of the guards: Why dost thou wish by an evil death

to die? Take a noble husband, rich, young,

elegant, a Count and friend of the Emperor. Hearing

these things Felicula, after a 14 days' starvation she objected no answer of speech at all,

except this: I am a Virgin of Christ, and

besides Him I receive none at all. But being cast out

after seven days, she was led to the virgins of Vesta, and

there for another seven days without food she remained. For by no

reason could they bring her to this, that

from their hands she should take food. she is hung on the rack: After these things lifted

on the rack she cried out, saying: Now I have begun to see my lover

Christ, in whom my love is fixed.

But all said to her, and they themselves who

tortured her: Deny that thou art a Christian, and thou shalt be dismissed.

But Felicula cried out: I do not deny

my lover, she is cast into a sewer: who for me was fed with gall,

given vinegar to drink, crowned with thorns, and affixed to the cross

was. After these things she was taken down and cast headlong into

a sewer.

[17] But the holy Nicomedes the Presbyter, placed on the watch,

secretly lifted up the body, and through the night

in a ^c two-wheeled cart conveyed it to his little house, St. Nicomedes for burying her body at the seventh

milestone from the City of Rome on the Ardeatine Way, and there her

he buried: in which place her prayers fructify

unto the present day. But it came to Flaccus

that Nicomedes the Presbyter had done this, and he caused

him to be held and led to sacrifice. Who when

he said: I do not sacrifice, except to God Almighty

who reigns in the heavens, not to these gods who in temples

as in prisons shut up are guarded. When these

and many such things he said, beaten with leaded scourges he died, beaten very long with leaded scourges

he passed to the Lord. ^d But his body into the Tiber

was cast headlong. But a Cleric of the same

Presbyter, by name and work Just, gathered his body,

and placed it in his two-wheeled cart, and led it to his ^e little garden

near the walls on the Nomentan Way, and there

buried it: in which praying to the Lord, they obtain

what they ask by the intervention of His Martyr,

who suffered for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here end the writings of Marcellus, sent to Nereus

and Achilleus. Here begin the rescripts concerning the passion

of them.

ANNOTATIONS

CHAPTER V.

The Acts of the martyrdom of SS. Nereus and Achilleus, likewise of SS. Eutyches, Victorinus and Maro.

[18] Eutyches, Victorinus and Maro, servants of our Lord

Jesus Christ to Marcellus. As

thy letters came to the holy Nereus and Achilleus, SS. Nereus and Achilleus already

there had passed thirty days, since they had come to the crown.

For Flavia Domitilla the most illustrious Virgin,

nay most Christian, when these her eunuchs had taught

her to believe in Christ, and themselves their virginity

to keep; Aurelian her spouse, despised by her,

caused her under the title of Christianity to be banished to this island.

But Aurelian himself coming hither, slain by the order of Aurelian, began to attempt the mind

of Nereus and Achilleus, thinking through them

to move the Virgin's mind. But the Saints execrating

his gifts, and rather corroborating the faith of Domitilla, at Terracina they are beheaded,

therefore by him with most grievous stripes were handled;

and brought down to Terracina, by Memmius

Rufus the Consular were handed over. By whom when by the rack and

flames they were compelled to sacrifice to idols, and

said that they, baptized by B. Peter the Apostle, could in no way

sacrifice to idols, they were beheaded. Whose

bodies seized ^b Auspicius, their disciple,

foster-father of the holy Virgin Domitilla: who also placing them in a little boat

brought them away, and in the estate of Domitilla

in a sandy crypt buried them, on the Ardeatine Way, and they are buried by Auspicius the disciple. one mile and a half from the wall

of the City, near the sepulchre in which

had been buried Petronilla, the daughter of the Apostle Peter. These things

we have learned from Auspicius himself relating, who their

bodies both seized and buried. It will be of thy charity

to act solicitously concerning us, and to direct to us some such one,

who may make both us concerning thy and concerning our safety

more glad. Their birthday is the fourth of the Ides of May.

[19] This writing being received, Marcellus sent his brother

to the island: who was with these Confessors

of Christ for a year, but afterwards returned to Marcellus

and related these things. SS. Eutyches, Victorinus and Maro, When Aurelian after the martyrdom

of Nereus and Achilleus was acting, that he might be able to come

to the consent of Domitilla; it was said to him by a certain one,

that he would have greater charity, with Eutyches

and Victorinus and Maro, than he had had with the eunuchs

his Nereus and Achilleus, who had taught her

to believe in Christ. Whence it was done that from the Prince ^c

Nerva he asked them to be given to him, if they should be unwilling to sacrifice.

Who when manfully acted ^d Eutyches, Victorinus

and Maro, and the threats of Aurelian utterly did not

heed, he removed them from the island, relegated to the fields by Aurelian, and as servants through

his estates singly he divided them, Eutyches in the sixteenth

from the city, on the Nomentan Way; Victorinus in

the sixtieth, but Maro in the hundred and thirtieth,

on the same Salarian Way: and he ordered them to dig in the earth

through the whole day, but at evening to eat ^e coarse bran.

But God Almighty gave them grace in foreign

places. For Eutyches the daughter of the Lessee of the place from

the devil freed; they are renowned for miracles: but Victorinus the Steward of the place

a paralytic, for three years from his bed not rising, made

by praying whole. But Maro the Procurator of the city of Septempeda

laboring with the disease of dropsy freed.

[20] Meanwhile making a discourse to the people they taught

many to believe in Christ, and made Presbyters, and made Presbyters

they enlarged the people of believers. Then the devil filled

with anger the mind of Aurelian, and sent those who by various kinds

of punishments might slay them. For Eutyches in the middle

of the way he ordered long to be beaten, until he should breathe out the spirit: they are slain: Eutyches long beaten,

whose body the people of the Christians seized, and with

great honor buried, in the name of Christ over him

built a basilica. But Victorinus near that place,

which is called Cotiliae, where stinking and sulphurous waters

flow forth, in them head downward for three hours

he ordered to be held and again to be hung up. This for three days for

the name of Christ suffering Victorinus passed to the Lord.

But Aurelian ordered his body not to be buried. Victorinus over the sulphurous waters hung,

And when for one day at ^f Cotylae he had lain, there came,

him, and into their own territory transferred and

there buried him. But Maro, his friend being sent,

by name Turgius, he ordered to be led and with a huge stone's

weight to be crushed. Whence it was done, that a most enormous

rock, Maro after the huge rock carried, which scarcely at the pulley seventy men

could lift, on his shoulders they placed.

But St. Maro himself as if light chaff carried

it for two miles whole, and in that place set it,

in which he had been wont to pray. And this deed all

the people of the province wondering at, believed in Christ, and

was baptized. But the Consular, having received from Aurelian

power, slew him. But the peoples hollowed out

the rock which on his shoulders he had carried, and there

buried him, slain. and built a church of Christ,

in his name: in which are bestowed the benefits of the Lord,

to the glory of His name unto the present

day. ^h

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER VI.

The martyrdom of SS. Domitilla, Euphrosyna and Theodora the Virgins: likewise of Sulpitius and Servilianus.

[21] But it was done, after Aurelian had taken away all the Saints of God

from the solace of Domitilla, he said

to Sulpitius and Servilianus, ^a illustrious young

men: I know that you have as betrothed the foster-sisters of Domitilla,

St. Domitilla brought to Terracina, that is, Euphrosyna and Theodora the most wise virgins.

When therefore I shall have caused Domitilla to be brought down

from the island to Campania, let these go to her for the sake of visiting,

and by their persuasion recall to my favor

her mind. When therefore Domitilla had been brought down

from the island of Pontia to Terracina, and there had come

to her Euphrosyna and Theodora, Euphrosyna and Theodora sent to her, mutually they had

great joy. Meanwhile when they had come to a banquet,

while they dined Domitilla in fastings and prayers

was occupied. Then her foster-sisters said to her:

Now since we dine and receive husbands,

we cannot worship thy God. Domitilla says to them:

Since you have as spouses noble men, what

would you do if some ignoble and ^b base persons wished to recall

you from the love of them, that they themselves

might take you as wives? Answering they said: May

God avert this from our minds. To whom Domitilla

said: So also from my mind, she instructs them in the Christian faith, because a great spouse

I have, the Son of God, who from heaven descended, and promised

to those who love virginity, that He is their spouse,

who for the love of Him should keep virginity,

and to give them eternal life: so that after the departure of their souls

He may introduce them into the eternal bridal chamber

in the heavens, and make them rejoice with the Angels, and among

the flowers of aromatics in the midst of paradise always to give thanks

and without end at banquets to feast. When these things promised

the Son of God, and no one would believe Him, He began the blind

to enlighten, lepers to cleanse, all infirmities

to heal, even the dead to raise; and so it was done

that He showed and taught Himself the true God, and all

in Him believed.

[22] Theodora says to her: I have a young brother,

whom thou knowest, Herod: he before this year the eyes'

blindness incurred: if thou speakest truth, in the name of thy God

heal him. Euphrosyna also says: and when to the mute woman speech Thou a brother

at Rome didst leave blind; but I here have

a little daughter of my nurse, who in sickness was made mute,

hearing indeed entire she has, but voice and speech

have fled from her. And saying these things, she caused her into her

sight to be brought. Then Domitilla prostrating

herself in prayer, very long wept: but rising up

she spread her hands to heaven, and said: Lord Jesus

Christ, who saidst: Behold I am with you all

the days unto the consummation of the world; show

my testimony to be true. And when she had said these things,

she made the sign of the Cross over the mouth of the mute woman, and said:

In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ speak. And

straightway she sent forth a great voice saying, True is thy God,

Domitilla, and all things are true which from thy mouth

thou hast brought forth. Then both cast themselves at her feet, and to the blind man sight had obtained, and

believing in the mysteries of Christ they were consecrated. The brother

also of Theodora led in blind, by the prayers of Domitilla

received light both of mind and of body. But all

men and women, who as Pagans from the City had come, she converts them and all present,

whether servants or freeborn, seeing these things believed

in Christ, and were baptized. And the house, in which

she remained, was made as it were a church.

[23] But it was done, and Aurelian came with

the two spouses, himself the third with three organists,

that as if in one day the nuptials of the three virgins might be made. But Sulpitius

and Servilianus seeing the mute woman speak, their spouses Sulpitius and Servilianus also believe,

and Herod the brother of Theodora enlightened; hearing

moreover all things which had been said and done, believed.

Whom when Aurelian instantly exhorted,

that on one day together they should receive their spouses, Sulpitius

and Servilianus most prudent men said

to him: Give honor to God, by whose power the blind man enlightened

we behold, and the mute woman speaking we see.

But Aurelian not caring about these things which they spoke to him;

caused by his power to be shut up in a chamber

Domitilla, that secure he might do violence. And

the organs being set, after supper, he began joyful to dance among

them. And as he danced after the customary manner of nuptials, Aurelian dancing expires, all the others

failing, he without ceasing danced so long

through two days and two nights, until falling down

he expired. But seeing what had happened, all

believed.

[24] But the brother of Aurelian, by name Luxurius,

asked from the Emperor Trajan, they are beheaded, that he should compel all these to sacrifice:

who if they should not consent, with punishments

such as he wished he should slay them. Whence it was done

that Sulpitius and Servilianus to the Prefect of the City Anianus

he handed over. Whom the Prefect, confessing that lately

they had been made Christians, being utterly unwilling further to idols

to sacrifice, he commanded to be beheaded. Whose bodies

the Christians placed in their estate on the Latin Way

at the second milestone, in which place their virtue overflows

unto the present day.

[25] After these things Luxurius went to the Virgins of Christ

at the city of the Terracinians, The three holy virgins are burned and being utterly unwilling

to idols to sacrifice, all things which they had being taken away, in

the same chamber, in which together they remained, he shut them up,

and set fire to it. But on the next day coming a holy

Deacon, by name Caesarius ^c, found the bodies

of the Virgins immaculate: for prostrate on their faces,

praying to the Lord, they departed. Whose bodies

the holy Caesarius in a new sarcophagus together embalming,

burying in the depth of the earth he interred.

ANNOTATIONS

HISTORY OF THE TRANSLATION

Made by the care of Caesar Cardinal Baronius.

From authentic Mss. of the Vallicellan church.

Nereus, Eunuch, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Achilleus, Eunuch, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Fl. Domitilla, Virgin, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Euphrosyna, Virgin, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

Theodora, Virgin, Martyr at Terracina in Latium (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

The Life of Caesar Baronius, of the Congregation of the Oratory, Presbyter

Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, and Librarian of the Apostolic

See, and most renowned writer of the Ecclesiastical

Annals, Baronius made Cardinal 1596 in the year MDCLI in Roman type published Jerome

Barnabaeus, Presbyter of the same Congregation; whom

afterwards, the most worthy Provost of it, in the ninth year after we had

so favoring our studies, that we think small the

thanks, which before volume 2 of March, in words however most ample,

we endeavored to render to him and to that most religious assembly of most

learned Fathers. He in book 3 chapter 13 of the aforesaid Life,

to the matter proposed to us, thus speaks: Scarcely had he,

namely Baronius, been assumed to the Cardinalate,

(which was done by Clement VIII in the year V of his Pontificate, of Christ

MDXCVI, on the Nones of June, in the second Creation) when the titular

church of SS. Nereus and Achilleus from the Pontiff

he asked, and that one indeed, whose walls collapsed with age,

had lost the form of a temple: with this mind, namely,

that from the foundation he might restore it. The matter being heard the Pontiff

was astonished, and smiling said: To thee namely, as

the richest of all the Cardinals, by best right is owed

this title, to be at once indeed restored. Finally

to him asking and beseeching, he asks for and obtains the title of SS. Nereus and Achilleus, what he wished, was granted.

And no delay. Caesar to the work set his hand,

and what with great mind he had begun, within a year's

space happily completed. But when to him through those

days for bestowing there was nothing at hand except the will,

he did not hesitate for that matter money at just interest

to receive, and to seven thousand of gold, for restoring

and adorning the church, liberally he poured forth.

This which already, before he was created Cardinal,

he had meditated, and as it were in mind had presaged. For

when at some time the seven principal Churches of the City

for the sake of religion he visited, and beheld the ancient ruins of the temple,

the scattered walls, whose restoration he had long ago desired. and all things prostrate and

full of rubble, Alas, he said to his companions, to what at last

is the most ancient temple of the holy Martyrs Nereus and Achilleus

reduced. Here St. Gregory the Great

had a homily to the people. Here in those ancient

times the Title by the elders was erected and Fasciolae

called. What will the heretics say, who daily

come to the City, and calumniate us on every side?

Tuscis, Lord, what would I do, if for the mind

there were strength. Therefore as soon as occasion

offered itself, (but it was not yet a month elapsed) the church

to be repaired he took care, and nearly from the foundations

raised he adorned, and perfected. Thus Barnabaeus.

[2] The next thing after the restoration of the title and church was, that

to each its own celebrity should be restored, through the restoration of the annual Station:

which at the request of Baronius, through the following Brief

was done. Pope Clement VIII for the perpetual memory of the matter.

Dispensers of the heavenly gifts of the Church

on earth, although unmeriting, by Divine

clemency disposing constituted, those things so to dispense we study, that

the faithful of Christ allured by them, he likewise asking, to pious and salutary works

to exercise, more may be excited; since especially the pious vows

of the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church require it, and otherwise in

the Lord salubriously we see it to be expedient. To the supplications

therefore of our beloved son Caesar, called by the title of SS.

Nereus and Achilleus Presbyter Cardinal Baronius,

to us upon this humbly offered, inclined,

and on the mercy of Almighty God, and of the BB. Peter

and Paul the Apostles authority confiding, to all

and each of the faithful of Christ, who the church of SS. Nereus

and Achilleus, situated in sight of the church of St. Sixtus, on the day

on which in the same church of St. Sixtus, near the gate of St. Sebastian

situated, the Station is wont to be, shall have visited, and the other things which

for obtaining the Indulgences of the aforesaid Station to be fulfilled

are shall have fulfilled, the same Indulgences

of the aforesaid Station of the church of St. Sixtus, not privatively as regards

the church of St. Sixtus itself, but cumulatively, the Station long intermitted is there restored 1597 perpetually

we concede: so that on the same day the station in the same church

of SS. Nereus and Achilleus equally as in the church of St.

Sixtus aforesaid may be; and so by all to be reckoned, and so

by whatsoever ordinary and delegate judges, taken away

from them and from any of them all otherwise judging and

interpreting faculty and authority, to be judged and

defined; and void and vain whatsoever otherwise

upon these by anyone by any authority, knowingly or

ignorantly, shall happen to be attempted, we decree. Notwithstanding

our Rule, concerning Indulgences not to be conceded

after the manner, and other constitutions and ordinations

Apostolic, even by oath, confirmation

Apostolic, or any other firmness corroborated,

statutes, customs, and the rest contrary whatsoever.

Given at Rome at St. Peter under the ring

of the Fisherman the XXII day of January, MDXCVII, of our Pontificate

the year V. There prevailed nevertheless the usage in the Missals,

at least hitherto printed at Antwerp, that only is noted

the Station at St. Sixtus (This is the second of that name and

is venerated on the VI of August) on the Feria IV after the III Sunday

of Lent.

[3] To this grace was added within a month another, through a Brief

to Baronius himself in these words directed. Our beloved son,

salvation and Apostolic benediction. [to the same is conceded the faculty of requiring the Relics formerly thence removed,] To thy pious

and devout supplications inclined, to thy Circumspection the Relics of SS. Nereus and Achilleus and of Flavia

Domitilla, who together suffered martyrdom, from

whatsoever Basilicas of the City and outside its walls,

churches, monasteries of whatsoever Orders even

Mendicant, and pious places in which they shall be found,

freely to extract, and to the church of SS. Nereus and Achilleus,

which is the Title of thy Cardinalate, to transfer

the licence and faculty, by Apostolic authority

by the tenor of these presents we concede and impart. Commanding

in virtue of holy obedience, and under the indignation

of us and the privation of active and passive voice

and of the offices which they hold, and also other punishments of our

arbitration ipso facto to be incurred, to the beloved sons the Presidents,

Chapters and Persons of the same basilicas,

churches, monasteries and pious places the Superiors

or Commendatories respectively,

that the said holy Relics, existing among them, to thy Circumspection

freely and all delay, tergiversation,

exception, or excuse being taken away, they hand over,

consign; and to be handed over and consigned with effect take care

and cause.

[4] Besides to the same thy Circumspection, that all other

whatsoever Relics of the Saints male and female from

the Presidents, and others moreover to acquire: Chapters, Persons and all others whatsoever

aforesaid to thee spontaneously to be given, from the same Basilicas,

churches, monasteries and pious places to extract, and

to the aforesaid church of SS. Nereus and Achilleus to be transferred to cause,

freely and licitly and without any scruple

of conscience thou mayest, by the authority and tenor aforesaid equally

we concede and indulge. Notwithstanding

&c… Given at Rome at St. Mark under the ring

of the Fisherman the XIV day of February MDXCVII. Of our Pontificate

the year VI, fifteen days namely before begun.

But how, the faculty given to him being used, Baronius, and what

Relics from the churches of SS. Hadrian, Sebastian and Sylvester

of the head he extracted, is contained in the following instrument.

[5] In the name of God. Amen. By this public instrument

to all everywhere let it be open and known, that in the year

from the Nativity of the Lord MDXCVII, Indiction X, on the day

indeed XX of the month of February, which being used the 20th of February from the Diaconia of St. Hadrian, of the Pontificate of the most holy in

Christ Father and our Lord D. Clement by divine

providence Pope VIII, in his year VI, in the presence of me the Notary

public undersigned, and of the witnesses undersigned

to these things specially called, had and asked,

present and personally existing the most Illustrious

and most Reverend D. Caesar of the title of SS. Nereus and

Achilleus Presbyter Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church called Baronius

(to whom lately our most holy Lord Clement by divine Providence

Pope VIII through his letters in the form of a Brief upon this

dispatched, that the Relics of SS. Nereus and Achilleus and

of Flavia Domitilla, from whatsoever… to extract,

and to the church of SS. Nereus and Achilleus to transfer the licence

and faculty conceded) wishing to use the faculty to him

in the same Apostolic letters conceded, having taken

me the Notary to the church of St. Hadrian betook himself:

which having entered, and pious there first to God poured-forth

prayers, having called thence to himself the Reverend Fathers Fr.

Ferdinand Suarez, Vicar general of the Order of St. Mary

de Mercede of the redemption of captives; Fr. Richard

Bargas, Vicar of the church of the same St. Hadrian, Fr.

Marcellus Leonis, Fr. Dominic of Aragon, Brothers

of the same Order in the same church living,

the aforenarrated original Apostolic letters, which in his hands

he held, into the midst he exhibited, and to me the Notary

to the same Brothers to be presented he handed over…

[6] Which letters indeed by me the Notary with clear

and intelligible voice having been read aloud, and to the same most Illustrious and

most Reverend D. Cardinal restored, he recovers the heads of SS. Nereus and Achilleus, a copy of them

retained with me, the aforesaid RR. Brothers having seen and heard

the letters aforesaid with that reverence which was becoming, several

lights being kindled, a certain chest in the sacristy

existing, with several keys unlocked, being opened, to the same Illustrious and

Reverend D. Cardinal there standing, three heads of SS.

Nereus namely, Achilleus and Flavia Domitilla, in gilded wooden

shrines enclosed, with an inscription of the names

of the same Martyrs, humbly and reverently they consigned,

asserting that in the same the heads of the same blessed

Martyrs were laid up. And moreover the same R. Fr.

Richard, also by the medium of an oath, his breast being touched

after the manner of Religious, affirmed that the bodies of the same Blessed

Martyrs by the most Illustrious and most Reverend D.

Augustine Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church of Cusa in the year MD

LXXXIX with ancient inscriptions in the said Church

of St. Hadrian were found, and under the high altar of the same church

by the order of the aforesaid Cardinal were placed, and their

heads in the said gilded shrines laid up he had seen. Which

heads indeed the aforesaid Illustrious and Reverend D. Card. Baronius

into his hands piously received, with the mind, according to the form

of the aforeinserted letters, to the aforesaid church of SS.

Nereus and Achilleus to convey them, and there as honorifically

and religiously as could be done to place them, that for the

divine cult and the memory of the same holy Martyrs

to be retained, to the people venerable they might be set forth

to be. Done at Rome in the very church of St. Hadrian,

piously to all the aforesaid things also intervening the most Illustrious

and most Reverend D. Francis Mary Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church

Taurusius and very many of the same Lords Cardinals'

familiars there standing…

[7] Successively, in the same year, Indiction and Pontificate,

on the day indeed XXV of the same month of February… the aforesaid

Caesar Cardinal Baronius, having taken me the Notary, [and the 25th of February from the church of St. Sebastian some particles of the same,]

to the church of St. Sebastian outside the walls situated

betook himself, and entered it, and with the most Reverend

D. Angelus Roccha the Sacristan of our most holy Lord the Pope, of the said church

the Administrator, there existing, to the high altar

of the said church he approached, and in virtue of the aforesaid letters

… there were several lights being kindled, before

witnesses &c. to the same D. Cardinal by the said D. Administrator

consigned two gilded wooden heads,

which under key were laid up above the high altar of the said

church in a most noble little chapel, as from its inscription

was read, at the expense of the most Serene and most Pious

Duke of both Bavaria constructed, with an inscription

on each of the same heads affixed, on one

namely concerning the head of St. Nereus the Martyr, and the other concerning

the head of St. Achilleus, and within it was asserted that of the heads

of the same holy Martyrs Relics were laid up:

which the same D. Cardinal into his hands piously and humbly

received, and prayers being repeated to God those with him

he carried away, in the presence &c.

[8] Then on the V of March, in the same year, Indiction and

Pontificate as above… the aforesaid Cardinal approached

to the monastery of St. Sylvester of the head of the city, [and on the 5th of March others unnamed he obtains from the monastery of St. Sylvester.] and

having called the most Reverend Sister Hieronyma Maccarana,

of the same monastery the present Abbess, and her certified

of the faculty conceded to him he entered the choir

of the same monastery and with knee bent before the high altar

there existing, poured forth prayers to God most good and great; and

four white wax torches being kindled, with the presence

and consent of the said D. Abbess and of certain other

nuns, there for the sake of devotion standing,

he had through the hands of R. D. Pompey Paterius Presbyter

of the church of St. Mary in Vallicella of the City present,

and by the order of the said Sister Hieronyma the Abbess handing them over,

six pieces of relics of the Saints male and female, existing

in a certain leaden chest, which once

stood at the altar of SS. Paul and Nicholas of the church of St. Sylvester;

and now on account of the restoration of the said church and altar,

above the high altar of the said choir, from a year and before, as

the said Abbess affirmed, laid up; and certain other

little pieces of relics existing in a certain little casket

of white bone enclosed, which was opened and afterwards closed again: of which

indeed Saints male and female the names are unknown:

and finally three pieces of relics of the Holy Innocents,

placed back in a certain silver vessel, spontaneously

by the said Nuns offered and conceded. Which all

Relics the same Cardinal into his hands humbly

receiving, in a certain little casket for now to be placed back

and conserved he commanded, to the said his titular

church afterwards for the devotion of the faithful to be conveyed…

[9] Afterwards on Wednesday the XII of the month of March,

in the year, The same on the 12th of March having obtained possession of his title, Indiction and Pontificate aforesaid… the said D.

Cardinal, to whom lately by our most holy Lord the Pope aforesaid

concerning the titular aforesaid church it was provided

(as in the Apostolic under the date at Rome on the Mount

Quirinal the XI of the kalends of February of his Pontificate the year

V under lead dispatched letters more fully is contained)

wishing according to the faculty to him in the same Apostolic

letters conceded, of the same church and of the rights

and appurtenances of it whatsoever, actual

and corporal possession to obtain both in spiritual

and in temporal things; on this present day, on which

is the Station at the said church; by many noble and worthy

persons accompanied, and for the effect of taking possession

of it, into it he entered: and holy water

being taken to the high altar of the church itself, at the expense of the said

D. Cardinal newly built he approached, and with knees

bent devout to God most good and great

prayers he poured forth. Then with sacred vestments clothed in the ciborium

of the same church Pontifically he sat: and afterwards

the Apostolic letters concerning the concession of the same church

Titular as above made up he handed to me, that those to the people

there standing I might read…

[10] Afterwards the aforesaid D. Cardinal, the obtaining

of possession of this kind continuing, the customary prayers

being chanted, Mass at the same high altar solemnly

celebrated, there he makes a sermon on the holy Patrons, a great multitude of persons

hearing: and the holy Mass being completed and the sacred vestments

put off, sitting, to the people there standing a sermon

he had concerning the praises of SS. Nereus and Achilleus, under whose

names the same church is consecrated; and the church

round about with holy water he sprinkled and

lustrated: and so, the aforesaid and other possessory acts,

denoting true, real and corporal possession,

doing, performing and fulfilling, of the church of SS.

Nereus and Achilleus and of its rights, members and

appurtenances, as Cardinal titular of the said church, in

virtue of the said Apostolic letters, he took, entered

and obtained in the aforesaid and otherwise every better

manner: protesting that by departure from the same church

he does not intend to relinquish its possession, but

it in mind and civilly always and whensoever

to retain.

[11] Finally on the IX of May the Illustrious D. Cardinal, using the faculty

conceded to him in the letters of which above, being

in the aforesaid church of St. Hadrian… assisting

the same RR. PP. the Prior and Brothers of the said Church, and their bodies found under the altar of St. Hadrian with that

reverence which was becoming, taken up, by the order of the most Illustrious D.

Cardinal himself, by Master Bartholomew Bassus

the Florentine stonecutter, and D. Gaspar Guerra

of Modena the Architect, and others applied to this,

the marble stone, beneath which, under the high altar of the said

church, were asserted to be laid up the bodies of the holy Martyrs

Nereus, Achilleus and Domitilla, there was by the aforesaid D. Cardinal,

beneath the said altar, found a certain little leaden chest,

in which the bodies of the same holy Martyrs

were laid up, as appeared from the inscriptions there

found, as they were found in the year 1213, and by me the Notary seen and read, of which

a copy taken of the inserted tenor, namely. Here are laid up

Relics, namely the half of the bodies of the BB.

Martyrs Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla and their

companions, whose bodies found, Gregory

Abbot of St. Sebastian, and Presbyter Paul of St. Hadrian

Cleric, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation MCCXIII,

on the day before the kalends of May. But the other of the undersigned tenor,

namely. Sixtus V being Supreme Pontiff, in the year of the Lord

MDLXXXIX on the XVIII day of the month of July, Augustine Cusanus

of Milan, of this church of St. Hadrian

of the Holy Roman Church and in the year 1589 there placed Cardinal Deacon found in the confession

the half of the bodies of the BB. Martyrs Nereus Achilleus

and Domitilla the Virgin, which in this leaden coffer,

together with the old leaden inscription he laid up,

and at the high altar more becomingly placed, on the XVIII

of February, on the Lord's day MDXC.

[12] Which most Illustrious D. Card. Baronius, all

these things seen and read, with the presence and intervention of the aforesaid on the 9th of May he carries the translation into a new chest

DD. the Prior and Brothers of the said church of St. Hadrian and of the witnesses

inserted, the said blessed Martyrs'

bodies, from the place in which they were laid up, humbly

and devoutly extracted; and in another little casket of wood, with red

Damascus silk covered, under key, with the seal

of the same most Illustrious D. Cardinal's impression in several

places accurately sealed and fortified, with all care and

diligence, with his own hands piously and humbly enclosed,

and in the sacristy of the same church for now to be kept

and faithfully guarded he commanded, to the effect that they thence

afterwards with the greatest expense and apparatus that could be

solemnly and processionally, to the same

SS. Nereus and Achilleus' church, the title of his Cardinalate,

to be transferred and carried away; left nevertheless

by the aforesaid most Illustrious D. Cardinal to the same RR. a certain particle being left in the old coffer,

Brothers, and in the same leaden chest beneath the aforesaid

altar in the former place in which they were, some part of the Relics

of the bodies of the same blessed Martyrs

… Done in the aforesaid church of St. Hadrian, present

there the Magnificent D. Fabricius Paulutius and

the Magnificent D. John Baptist Picciolottus the aforesaid most Illustrious

D. Cardinal's familiars, witnesses to the aforesaid

all and singular called and had. I Octavius

Cellius of Acquasparta, of the curial causes

of the Apostolic Chamber Notary, concerning the aforesaid asked,

this public instrument subscribed and signed

being required ✠.

[13] and on the 12th of May he conveys them to the church restored by him, No long delay was interposed but that the designated

translation was completed: concerning which although no made-up instrument

we have received, nor any other history of the performed solemnity,

that the day however was the third from the aforesaid, namely the very

feast of the Saints, noted John Juvenal Ancina

in Barnabaeus, book 3 chapter 2 with this memorable event,

and for commending the intervention of the Saints not to be passed over,

these words being added. It pleases me, he says, to these to add

that Cardinal Baronius (just as he himself with his own mouth

narrated to me) with most ardent prayers besought

the glorious Martyrs Nereus and Achilleus, on the very day

on which their bodies from the Diaconia of St. Hadrian to the ancient

church were brought back, that they might deign to be present

to the Cardinal of Avignon, in a most difficult matter which he was treating,

concerning reconciling between themselves the Princes of Mantua and Parma,

that which by human reasons could not be obtained,

in the judgment of nearly all the Purpled, was reckoned. But behold

on the very day, on which to the Martyrs themselves

with solemn office we give thanks, the IV Ides of May,

peace unexpectedly made appeared to be. [when by the vow of Baronius between the Prince of Parma and of Mantua peace was knit together.] The Cardinal

of Avignon is understood as above named and below to be praised

Cardinal Taurusius, nephew of Julius III, from the Congregation

of the Oratory to the Archbishopric of Avignon, then

to the Cardinalate raised, and to the Archbishopric of Siena

translated: concerning whom in the year MDXCVII writes the author of the History

of Mantua Hippolytus Donesmundi, that, the mind of the Prince of Parma being known,

he came to Mantua on the XXVI of March,

and so dexterously handled the mind of the Prince of Modena, that he inclined him

to the honorable conditions of peace which he brought, for

the sake of which matter he sang Mass on the following Sunday

namely the XXX of March, in the Cathedral church of the Holy Spirit;

a plenary indulgence being proposed to all who would pray for the confirmation of peace.

And this confirmation is understood from Ancina

to have been made on the XII of May, as afterwards at Rome to have become known

indicates the aforecited author, on the very same day namely

on which we think not only the feast of the Saints was celebrated,

but their very bodies into the restored church

were brought back.

[14] For the preservation moreover of the aforesaid church of SS. Nereus and

Achilleus in future times also wishing it provided for, Clement

the Pope, in the same year MDXCVII on the III of the kalends of July,

through a bull given at St. Peter, That church on the 20th of June Pope Clement, decreed the same to the Congregation

of the Fathers of the Oratory to be subjected, thus beginning. Clement

Bishop, servant of the servants of God, for the perpetual

memory of the matter. Since from the duty of the Pastoral office,

on our shoulders by Divine disposition imposed, the care

of each church to us is committed:

of those however which in this kindly City exist and which

to the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church in title have been wont to be conceded,

the maintenance and conservation by a special

providence and solicitude, the Lord cooperating,

to procure and the parts of the same office to interpose

it behooves us, as we perceive in the Lord to be expedient.

Since therefore the church of SS. Nereus and Achilleus,

which among the most ancient Titles of the said City is numbered,

on account of its antiquity collapsed and almost ruined

and to profane uses nearly reduced had been; and which through

several years lacked its own Presbyter Cardinal; with the notable commendation of Baronius himself,

and which our beloved son Caesar, by the title of the same

SS. Nereus and Achilleus Presbyter Card. Baronius

called, into the title of his Cardinalate to himself through

us to be conceded obtained; and who the church itself by singular

piety and not small expense of his restored,

and to the pristine state and use of a church restored,

and to which the bodies of the same SS. Nereus, Achilleus and Domitilla,

in whose honor the church itself

was constructed, which before under the Confession of the said church

laid up, to the church of St. Hadrian in the time of happy

memory Gregory Pope IX our Predecessor

had been translated, the said Caesar Cardinal by his pious

liberality, by our licence, under the same confession

by himself likewise restored, honorifically to be brought back and

laid up took care.

[15] That therefore the church itself of SS. Nereus and Achilleus in

this becoming state may be conserved wishing to provide, on

the greatest piety and charity to us very well known of the beloved

sons the Provost and Presbyters of the Congregation

of the Oratory of St. Mary in Vallicella of the same

City, unites and commits it to the Congregation of the Oratory. with whom anciently while in minor orders constituted

we were, as also while with the honor of the Cardinalate

we functioned, familiarly we conversed, very much

in the Lord confiding, we decreed the church itself

of SS. Nereus and Achilleus, with the consent of Caesar

the Cardinal himself, to the care, government and administration

of the same Congregation to commit and entrust,

and it to the same Congregation perpetually to concede

and assign. Decreeing then by our own motion, the annual value of the rights

and goods whatsoever pertaining to the church

in these presents for expressed to be had (for we had decreed

otherwise that without this the union of benefices is void)

and the same church from anyone's except from

the Vicar general's jurisdiction exempting, and whatsoever contrary

abrogating, saving that the Presbyter Cardinal Titular

to it on the feast and the station and other whatsoever

days may approach, and at Mass and Vespers

assist, and them as it shall please him celebrate may…

the same, he says, church, so as is aforesaid free and

exempt, to the same Congregation perpetually we concede

and assign, unite, annex and incorporate.

[16] So that the said Congregation's Provost and

Presbyters, of the church of SS. Nereus and Achilleus of this kind,

and of its buildings, to be freely possessed and governed: rights and appurtenances whatsoever

through themselves or another or others, also in their

said Congregation's name, by their own authority real

and actual possession freely may comprehend

and perpetually retain; and whatsoever of the church itself

of SS. Nereus and Achilleus and other to it to be given or in any way

to be left goods may recover, receive,

exact and levy, and their fruits, rents and revenues

exact, and into their and the said Congregation's

uses and utility convert; and also of the sacred Relics

in the same church existing the care and

administration perpetually may have, and the Relics

movable, which are not under the Confession laid up, in

their church of Vallicella keep and preserve, and

to the church of SS. Nereus and Achilleus on the feast and

Station of it days convey; and to the same church of SS.

Nereus and Achilleus in divine things, as it shall seem to them and

by their judgment (so that to any burden or service

in the said church of SS. Nereus and Achilleus to be undergone

or rendered they may by no means be forced or compelled)

serve or cause to be served, and the same church of SS.

Nereus and Achilleus in spiritual and temporal things

govern and rule freely and licitly may and be able,

even without the same church of SS. Nereus and Achilleus's

Presbyter Cardinal Titular's or the said City's Vicar's

or any other's consent or licence, upon this

by no means required, to the same by authority and tenor likewise

perpetually we concede and indulge.

There follow the formal ordinary and extraordinary cautionary clauses,

that to the firmness and inviolability of the present decree

it may be provided: which being omitted here we add, the heads conveyed to the Vallicellan church. that according to the power

in it made, the heads of SS. Nereus and Achilleus were translated

to the Vallicellan church where them this XII of May

in the year MDCLXI we venerated, the solemn sacrifice of the Mass

there celebrating Ferdinand of Fürstenberg, of Alexander VII

Chamberlain and Elect Bishop and Prince of Paderborn.

But that Cardinal Baronius unto the end of his life

to SS. Nereus and Achilleus was piously devoted, as to his Patrons,

not only testifies Barnabaeus book 3 of the Life chapter 4, but

also chapter 9 adds, that thinking of his own funeral, [where also Card. Baronius, although he asked to be buried at SS. Nereus and Achilleus,]

Francis Zassara he besought, that this favor

for him from the Fathers he might obtain, that him in the church of the holy Martyrs

Nereus and Achilleus, the pomp of a funeral being omitted, as

a poor little man to be buried they would take care:

for there he already long before, near the tutelary Martyrs,

a sepulchre for himself had prepared, conspicuous by modesty and humility

alone. And he indeed died on the day before the kalends

of July in the year MDCVII: but in that which he had asked the wish was not

granted him; not wishing of the presence of so dear a pledge to be deprived

those most religious Fathers, who, as writes the same Barnabaeus

book 2 last chapter, on the fourth day after he had died the body

in a leaden ark, which a wooden one surrounded, with Card. Taurusius is entombed. enclosed

in their common sepulchre on the left side

of the high altar they laid up. And when among the same two years

after Francis Mary Cardinal Taurusius his last

day had closed, and near Caesar buried

had been, there a monument being erected an elogium, to each

common, on the marble to be engraved they took care, that done

professing, lest the bodies should be disjoined in death, whose

minds, by divine virtues distinguished, in life most conjoined

had been.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS

CYRIACUS, MAXIMUS, GRADUS, SOTHERES VIRGIN, ROTHERES, JOHN, ACHILLES,

MOYSEUS, APHRODITUS, AND FOUR OTHER HUNDRED. LIKEWISE ALEXANDER, MOYSETES,

LUCIUS,

MORE PROBABLY HAVING SUFFERED AT ROME.

Cyriacus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Maximus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Gradus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Soteris, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Rotheres, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

John, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Achilles, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Moyseus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Aphroditus, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Another LIV Martyrs, more probably all suffered at Rome Alexander, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Moysetes, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

Lucius, Martyr, more probably suffered at Rome (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

After the related Roman Martyrs Nereus and

Achilleus and Pancratius, are related the following

Martyrs in four ancient apographs of the Martyrology

Hieronymian, no indicated

wrestling-place, so that they seem with probable conjecture also

to have suffered at Rome, since nowhere that solemn phrase elsewhere is interposed: Whether they suffered at Rome,

but there are expressed the names of Cyriacus, Maximus,

Gradus, Sotheris Virgin, Rotheres, John,

Achilles, Morseus, Afroditus, with others to the number five hundred

four, whose names God knows. Of these

Cyriacus and Maximus are in the most ancient Ms. of Echternach,

are wanting in the other three. But Quiriacus and Maximus

are in the Mss. of Tamlacht and Aachen, and at

Grevenus in the Auctarium of Usuard. Nay also Quiriacus is

in the Mss. of Reichenau and Rheinau. Instead of Gradus, in three

apographs and in another of Corbie indicated, is in the Echternach one

the name of Gnatus. Then in the Ms. of Blume and some

of Corbie not yet printed there is made memory of Sotheris the Virgin

and Rotheres, which name is wanting in the Corbie one printed at Paris.

In the Lucca apograph is written Rotheres the Virgin

and Soteris, as also in the Echternach one. But of Sotheris

the Virgin make mention the Mss. of Reichenau, Rheinau and

the Paris one of Labbe. Ado and Notker have the Passion of the most sacred

Virgin Sotheris, of noble lineage under Diocletian

Augustus. Concerning S. Sotheris a Roman Virgin received

are these things from the Acts of S. Pancratius already produced: and concerning her

more fully we treated on the X day of February; from whom whether here

the related Sotheris is to be reckoned different, we cannot certainly

assert. Among the following four companions, the names of John

and Achilles or Achilleus are everywhere constant: but instead of

Moises and Afroditus, is read also Moires or Mores,

and Affroditus or Afrotus. In the Ms. of Reichenau is made mention

of Quiriacus, Sotheris the Virgin, John, Moseus, Affiolus

with others five hundred four. Notker, when of

Sotheris, as we said, he had treated, adds these things: Likewise the passion of SS.

John, Achilles, Moyseus, Aphroditus, with others to the number

five hundred four. In the Ms. of Prague is celebrated

the memory of SS. John, Achilles and Afroditus, with others

DIII. Which same things are at Grevenus in the Auctarium, but

the Companions DV are said. In the Ms. Florarium and the Ms. Ado of the monastery

of St. Lawrence at Liège are named John and

Achilles, with others five hundred six.

[2] others added After this number of Martyrs indicated are added

the names of Alexander and Moysetes in four of the Martyrology

Hieronymian's apographs, to which in the Ms. of Corbie

printed at Paris is added Julius, whom also at Rome

to have suffered judges Florentinius.

[3] Tamayus Salazar in the Spanish Martyrology of S.

Soteris on this day these things has: The relics of some Soteris at Madrid. At Rome the birthday of S. Soteris

Virgin and Martyr, whose sacred remains in the monastery

of the nuns of the most holy Sacrament of Madrid

honorifically are venerated and preserved. These things there

without any in the Notes mention. Whence that the same be the Virgin

and Martyr, who above is related, without foundation we would assert.

In the Ms. of Tamlacht, besides Maximus and Cyriacus

above indicated, are celebrated Gratius, Rotheres,

Moysetes, John, Affroditus, Achilles, Alexander,

in the title from others indicated; and Zefanus, perhaps instead of another added.

Likewise CCCVI Martyrs, but who suffered with S. Cyriacus,

who the Cross of the Lord found, concerning whom it was treated on the IV of May.

ON S. PRACATUS OR PANCRATUS

A MARTYR IN AFRICA

Pracatus, or Pancratus, Martyr in Africa (St.)

G. H.

Solitary this Martyr of Africa is mentioned in

four apographs of the Martyrology Hieronymian,

and under the name of Pracatus is had in the most ancient

Echternach one: but under the name of Pancratus in the other

three codices of Lucca, Corbie and Blume. The same

also Pancratius is said and is related in the Ms. Hibernian of the monastery

of Tamlacht, from another Pancratius above related distinct:

inasmuch as he at Rome suffered.