Santi e Beati
Saint Priest Philiphe Phan Van Minh , Martyr in VietNam
July 03
Saint Philip PHAN VĂN MINH
Priest
(1815-1853)
* Prayer is Spiritual Food.
On the other side of Long Hồ River in Vĩnh Long province, and just outside Cái Sơn Bé, the authorities traditionally offered the last meal to “death-row” inmates before their executions. But prisoner Fr. Philip had refused, not for fear of indigestion, because did he not walk proudly and cheerfully to the execution site? And there was only a few minutes left to finish his worldly mission, a few short minutes but not an insignificant time, because it was the high point of a human life. To completely live out those short minutes, Fr. Minh had chosen a different meal, a more noble and necessary food: he knelt down, faced the heaven, and silently prayed. Then after his final spiritual meal, he gave the executioner a short warning: “I am done!”
Drum rolls and gong sounds were started; time seemed to stop at the divine solemnity of the priest’s last hour. The meaningful and perfect minutes passed, the priest stepped into the everlasting happiness after the executioner swung the saber completing the journey of giving witness to Christ.
* Dictionary Author.
Born into a Piusus and honorable family in the village of Cái Mơn, Mỏ Cày district in Vĩnh Long province, in the year of the Pig 1815. Philip Phan Văn Minh, whose parents were Mr. Dominic Phan Văn Đức and Mrs. Anna Tiêu, was the last son among 14 siblings. His parents passed away early, leaving the eldest sister as head of the household. This “second mother” diligently looked after her siblings spiritually and materially. Minh attended catechism classes, received first communion, then confirmation at 13. Afterward, he was sent by Bishop Tabert to Lái Thiêu seminary which was closed a short time later by King Minh Mạng’s edict of persecution of 1833.
Minh followed Bishop Tabert Từ to Thailand, then to Penang Seminary in Malaysia. He then had the honor of being selected by the bishop to go to Calcutta (India) to corroborate on a Latin-Vietnamese dictionary in 1838. After the bishop died, he returned to Penang to continue his theology formation. Professors and fellow students loved him, an excellent, studious and religious student.
* An Enthusiastic Disciple.
Finishing his studies at Penang, Deacon Minh returned to Vietnam and was ordained a priest by Bishop Cuénot Thể in 1840 in Gia Hựu[1] (www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#...). Following King Minh Mạng’s death, the Church had a brief period of peace and tranquility. King Thiệu Trị ascended the throne, even though he did not abolish edicts of Christians persecutions, he did not press its implementation as violently as before. As a result Fr. Minh could visit, taught catechism to the faithful in the areas of Tiền Giang and Hậu Giang. Villages like: Đầu Nước, Xoài Mút, Chợ Bưng, Ba Giồng, Cái Nhum, Cái Mơn, Bãi San, Chà Và, and Mặc Bắc. are still imprinted with his footprints of evangelization. When King Tự Đức was crowned king in 1847, the persecution was still a low priority momentarily. But it then exploded more severe than ever.
After the edict of August 1848, especially the edict of March 1851 which ordered the beheading and throwing into rivers of all foreign missionaries, of torturing and executing of all stubborn native priests, and banishing all persons who believed in the “bad religion” of Christianity. The king even clearly instructed mandarins to strictly carry out his order.
Against this difficult backdrop, Fr. Minh serenely fulfilled his pastoral duties: he traveled around, giving encourages to Christians, opened religious classes, and celebrated sacraments.
In the village of Mặc Bắc at the time, a villager named Nhẫn, avenging the priest for not giving him some money, betrayed him to the authorities. On 2/26/1853, the mandarin sent soldiers to search Mr. Lựu’s house, the parish council president, looking for Fr. Lựu who had left. Meanwhile Fr. Minh and several seminarians were taking refuge at the house. To save Fr. Minh, Mr. Lựu told the commanding officer: “His Honor, there is no priest here named Lựu. Lựu is my name.” Dismissing the old man’s appearance as just a hapless farmer, they continue to search the whole house. Fr. Minh, fearing that the authorities might harm Mr. Lựu’s family because of him, presented himself and admitted that he was a priest. As a result, along with 7 other officials in the area, the priest was shackled, bound in cangue sand thrown aboard a boat to be taken to jail in Vĩnh Long.
In Vĩnh Long, the governor interrogated him about the whereabouts of other priests, his previous hiding places to no avail. The following days, the governor tried different means either by enticement or threats, and even had soldiers dragging the priest over the cross to make him renounce his faith. However, Fr. Minh maintained his views: loyalty to Christ and the Church. Admiring his youth, 38 years old, his gentle demeanor and his great learning, the mandarins tried to save him, they no longer demanded him to walk over the cross, but just to say, “rejecting my faith.” But Fr. Minh completely refused their proposal.
* The Road to Heavenly Home.
Judging that further efforts would also be futile, the mandarins ordered him jailed in Tuyên Phong, waiting for his sentencing day. Informed of the sentence from the royal capital, Fr. Minh got on his knees to give thanks to God, then said farewell to his fellow inmates, he said: “Brothers, maintain your faith and wholeheartedly entrust in God. He will not abandon anyone, and will reward abundantly those who worship Him with all their heart.” He also confided in a Christian on the outside to distribute all his money, if any, to the poor, not wasting it on his funeral.
His expectant day finally came; he cheerfully recited the Holy Rosary on the way to the execution site. Crossing Long Hồ River to reach Cái Sun Bé, soldiers prepared his final meal, but Fr. Minh no longer cared for food. He prayed attentively. After drum rolls and gong beats, the executioner’s saber sent his soul straight to Heaven. His last sacred prayer still resonated in the hearts of spectators:
“My God, please have mercy on me. Dear Christ, give me strength and courage to endure sufferings for your glory. Blessed Mary, please help me.”
The day was 7/3/1853. The martyr’s body was brought back to be buried under the foundation of a church Cái Mơn which was just burned down. In 1960, his relics were taken to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Saigon in a consecration Mass.
Pope Leo XIII elevated Fr. Philip Phan Văn Minh to the rank of blessed on 5/27/1900. The seminary of the diocese of Vĩnh Long had chosen Saint Philip Minh as its patron saint.
Saint Priest Philiphe Phan Van Minh , Martyr in VietNam
July 03
Saint Philip PHAN VĂN MINH
Priest
(1815-1853)
* Prayer is Spiritual Food.
On the other side of Long Hồ River in Vĩnh Long province, and just outside Cái Sơn Bé, the authorities traditionally offered the last meal to “death-row” inmates before their executions. But prisoner Fr. Philip had refused, not for fear of indigestion, because did he not walk proudly and cheerfully to the execution site? And there was only a few minutes left to finish his worldly mission, a few short minutes but not an insignificant time, because it was the high point of a human life. To completely live out those short minutes, Fr. Minh had chosen a different meal, a more noble and necessary food: he knelt down, faced the heaven, and silently prayed. Then after his final spiritual meal, he gave the executioner a short warning: “I am done!”
Drum rolls and gong sounds were started; time seemed to stop at the divine solemnity of the priest’s last hour. The meaningful and perfect minutes passed, the priest stepped into the everlasting happiness after the executioner swung the saber completing the journey of giving witness to Christ.
* Dictionary Author.
Born into a Piusus and honorable family in the village of Cái Mơn, Mỏ Cày district in Vĩnh Long province, in the year of the Pig 1815. Philip Phan Văn Minh, whose parents were Mr. Dominic Phan Văn Đức and Mrs. Anna Tiêu, was the last son among 14 siblings. His parents passed away early, leaving the eldest sister as head of the household. This “second mother” diligently looked after her siblings spiritually and materially. Minh attended catechism classes, received first communion, then confirmation at 13. Afterward, he was sent by Bishop Tabert to Lái Thiêu seminary which was closed a short time later by King Minh Mạng’s edict of persecution of 1833.
Minh followed Bishop Tabert Từ to Thailand, then to Penang Seminary in Malaysia. He then had the honor of being selected by the bishop to go to Calcutta (India) to corroborate on a Latin-Vietnamese dictionary in 1838. After the bishop died, he returned to Penang to continue his theology formation. Professors and fellow students loved him, an excellent, studious and religious student.
* An Enthusiastic Disciple.
Finishing his studies at Penang, Deacon Minh returned to Vietnam and was ordained a priest by Bishop Cuénot Thể in 1840 in Gia Hựu[1] (www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#...). Following King Minh Mạng’s death, the Church had a brief period of peace and tranquility. King Thiệu Trị ascended the throne, even though he did not abolish edicts of Christians persecutions, he did not press its implementation as violently as before. As a result Fr. Minh could visit, taught catechism to the faithful in the areas of Tiền Giang and Hậu Giang. Villages like: Đầu Nước, Xoài Mút, Chợ Bưng, Ba Giồng, Cái Nhum, Cái Mơn, Bãi San, Chà Và, and Mặc Bắc. are still imprinted with his footprints of evangelization. When King Tự Đức was crowned king in 1847, the persecution was still a low priority momentarily. But it then exploded more severe than ever.
After the edict of August 1848, especially the edict of March 1851 which ordered the beheading and throwing into rivers of all foreign missionaries, of torturing and executing of all stubborn native priests, and banishing all persons who believed in the “bad religion” of Christianity. The king even clearly instructed mandarins to strictly carry out his order.
Against this difficult backdrop, Fr. Minh serenely fulfilled his pastoral duties: he traveled around, giving encourages to Christians, opened religious classes, and celebrated sacraments.
In the village of Mặc Bắc at the time, a villager named Nhẫn, avenging the priest for not giving him some money, betrayed him to the authorities. On 2/26/1853, the mandarin sent soldiers to search Mr. Lựu’s house, the parish council president, looking for Fr. Lựu who had left. Meanwhile Fr. Minh and several seminarians were taking refuge at the house. To save Fr. Minh, Mr. Lựu told the commanding officer: “His Honor, there is no priest here named Lựu. Lựu is my name.” Dismissing the old man’s appearance as just a hapless farmer, they continue to search the whole house. Fr. Minh, fearing that the authorities might harm Mr. Lựu’s family because of him, presented himself and admitted that he was a priest. As a result, along with 7 other officials in the area, the priest was shackled, bound in cangue sand thrown aboard a boat to be taken to jail in Vĩnh Long.
In Vĩnh Long, the governor interrogated him about the whereabouts of other priests, his previous hiding places to no avail. The following days, the governor tried different means either by enticement or threats, and even had soldiers dragging the priest over the cross to make him renounce his faith. However, Fr. Minh maintained his views: loyalty to Christ and the Church. Admiring his youth, 38 years old, his gentle demeanor and his great learning, the mandarins tried to save him, they no longer demanded him to walk over the cross, but just to say, “rejecting my faith.” But Fr. Minh completely refused their proposal.
* The Road to Heavenly Home.
Judging that further efforts would also be futile, the mandarins ordered him jailed in Tuyên Phong, waiting for his sentencing day. Informed of the sentence from the royal capital, Fr. Minh got on his knees to give thanks to God, then said farewell to his fellow inmates, he said: “Brothers, maintain your faith and wholeheartedly entrust in God. He will not abandon anyone, and will reward abundantly those who worship Him with all their heart.” He also confided in a Christian on the outside to distribute all his money, if any, to the poor, not wasting it on his funeral.
His expectant day finally came; he cheerfully recited the Holy Rosary on the way to the execution site. Crossing Long Hồ River to reach Cái Sun Bé, soldiers prepared his final meal, but Fr. Minh no longer cared for food. He prayed attentively. After drum rolls and gong beats, the executioner’s saber sent his soul straight to Heaven. His last sacred prayer still resonated in the hearts of spectators:
“My God, please have mercy on me. Dear Christ, give me strength and courage to endure sufferings for your glory. Blessed Mary, please help me.”
The day was 7/3/1853. The martyr’s body was brought back to be buried under the foundation of a church Cái Mơn which was just burned down. In 1960, his relics were taken to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Saigon in a consecration Mass.
Pope Leo XIII elevated Fr. Philip Phan Văn Minh to the rank of blessed on 5/27/1900. The seminary of the diocese of Vĩnh Long had chosen Saint Philip Minh as its patron saint.