Santi e Beati
The Bones of Saint Andrew Dung Lac , Saint Dung , Saint Uy , Saint Thuan
Saint Peter TRƯƠNG VĂN THI
Priest
(1763-1839)
* The Executioner Carried His Prisoner.
On the road to the execution field from the prison in Hà Nội to Ô Cầu Giấy, the sick and frail prisoner of 76 years old could not maintain his steps, he wobbled then fell down on the road. Appalled by such a heartbreaking spectacle, one of the guards lowered his back for the prisoner to get on and carried him to the destination; he was presented with the pair of shoes as souvenir by the prisoner. These unusual acts of kindness startled guards, touched spectators, and broke Christians heart: the executioner carried the prisoner to the execution field. That prisoner was Fr. Peter Trương Văn Thi.
* A Gentle and Poor Shepherd.
Peter Trương Văn Thi came into this world in 1763 in Kẻ Sở village, Thanh Liêm district, Hà Nam province. At the age of 11, he was admitted to the House of God to start religious training and develop his virtues, he then became a catechist. In this capacity, catechist Thi always demonstrated his ministerial enthusiasm and piety; as a result he was called into the major seminary. On 3/22/1806 he was ordained a priest at the age of 43.
For 27 continuous years, Fr. Thi ministered Sông Chảy parish, Đoan Hùng prefecture, Phú Thọ province. In 1833 he was appointed pastor of Kẻ Sông parish and stayed there until his martyrdom in 1839. According to local Christians’ testimonials, Fr. Thi was a priest: “very honorable; three or four long prayers daily; celebrating Mass devotedly; eating simply and fasting on Fridays even though his health was problematic in addition to constant diarrhea.”
Missionary Jeantet Khiêm, bishop of west vicariate of Tonkin, had written about Fr. Thi: “I had known him since 1835. I admire his piety, gentleness, astuteness and his strict observance of the rules.” He practiced poverty, besides his black habits, he only dressed in brown like poor farmers. In addition to his main parish, he ministered to many filial communities. He once was saved by the trunk containing sacramental materials while his companion was drowned when their boat capsized. Throughout his decades of ministering, there was not a single complaint leveled against him.
Due to King Minh Mạng’s edict of persecutions Fr. Thi always carried out his work quietly. After a long period working in relative safety, on 10/10/1839 Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc from a neighboring village came for confessions, unluckily the village chief named Pháp was informed and led a group of men to arrest the two priests. The village chief demanded a ransom of 200 piasters from parishioners. When Christians came up with only half the amount, the village chief freed only Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc. Unfortunately on his way home, Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc was caught by a different group of soldiers. Therefore, village chief Pháp no longer dare to ransom Fr. Thi, and took him to Bình Lục. Midway, the village chief ran into the contingent that was escorting Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc, so he handed Fr. Thi to the district magistrate. From then on the two priests spent their life together in prison and to receive the triumphant reward.
* A “Religious Official” In the Eyes of a “Government Official”...
The district magistrate of Bình Lục was very respectful toward the two priests, particularly Fr. Thi. The magistrate, concerned with Fr. Thi’s ill health and old age, treated him politely. He said: “I am a secular government official, and you are a religious official.” Of course, the magistrate misunderstood the faculties of a priest, nevertheless his words underscored his respect. Knowing that he could not press the priest to change their faith, he did not tortured them but sent them on to Hà Nội after holding them for three days. Just Pilate washed his hands off Jesus’ trial, the magistrate also celebrated a sacred ceremony to his divine god as well as to explain his actions to everyone, and to ask heaven and earth to vouch for his innocence in the death of the guilt-free men.
As the priests were brought Hà Nội by boat on Hồng River, Christians came along in droves, some by boat and some on foot.
On October 16, the prisoners’ boat docked. The following day, the judicial mandarin summoned the priests to the tribunal and pressed them to walk over the cross. Fr. Thi kneeled down and respectfully kissed the Savior’s icon. After a series of interrogations, the mandarin concluded that he could not win over these priests, he petitioned the king for the death sentence by decapitation.
Waiting for the king’s approval, Fr. Thi predicted his ultimate fate so he started to prepare for the grace of martyrdom. He prayed harder as well as performed acts of penance. He fasted on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Illness, cangue (even though he only carried a light one), and fasting weakened his health day by day. Missionary Jeantet Khiêm wrote to him and advised him to trim back his fasting, but he did not budge.
* Boundless Love.
On 12/21/1839 When Fr. Trân brought the Eucharist into jail the second time, Fr. Thi was already bedridden, Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc had to go out to receive Christ’s Body and brought it back to him to him. Unknowingly, that day was also the last day of their lives, the king’s approved sentence had finally arrived. Soldiers led the two priests to the execution field. On the way, Fr. Thi was too feeble to walk, a soldier took on the role of “Simon”, and carried him to the punishment site.
At the end of Fr. Thi’s life: the shoes, souvenir gift to the soldier, and the picture of Vietnamese “Simon” carrying a death-row inmate to the execution field... How can anyone completely describe the meanings of these actions? Could this scene encapsulate all the calamity of the birth of the Vietnamese Church? Is it sufficient to erase all the hatred and envy left over until today? And might this picture allow people to dream a brighter society when everyone dare everyone all obstacles to treat each other with a heart full of love?
Christians soaked the martyrs’ blood, collected their bodies, and brought them back to church in Kẻ Sở church for a solemn Mass and burial.
Pope Leo XIII elevated Fr. Peter Trương Văn Thi to the rank of blessed on 5/27/1900. Missionary priest Jeantet Khiêm commented on Fr. Peter Thi’s martyrdom as followed:
“Grace had won over men’s weakness. With grace, men are gentle by birth, now are given strength as never seen before.”
The Bones of Saint Andrew Dung Lac , Saint Dung , Saint Uy , Saint Thuan
Saint Peter TRƯƠNG VĂN THI
Priest
(1763-1839)
* The Executioner Carried His Prisoner.
On the road to the execution field from the prison in Hà Nội to Ô Cầu Giấy, the sick and frail prisoner of 76 years old could not maintain his steps, he wobbled then fell down on the road. Appalled by such a heartbreaking spectacle, one of the guards lowered his back for the prisoner to get on and carried him to the destination; he was presented with the pair of shoes as souvenir by the prisoner. These unusual acts of kindness startled guards, touched spectators, and broke Christians heart: the executioner carried the prisoner to the execution field. That prisoner was Fr. Peter Trương Văn Thi.
* A Gentle and Poor Shepherd.
Peter Trương Văn Thi came into this world in 1763 in Kẻ Sở village, Thanh Liêm district, Hà Nam province. At the age of 11, he was admitted to the House of God to start religious training and develop his virtues, he then became a catechist. In this capacity, catechist Thi always demonstrated his ministerial enthusiasm and piety; as a result he was called into the major seminary. On 3/22/1806 he was ordained a priest at the age of 43.
For 27 continuous years, Fr. Thi ministered Sông Chảy parish, Đoan Hùng prefecture, Phú Thọ province. In 1833 he was appointed pastor of Kẻ Sông parish and stayed there until his martyrdom in 1839. According to local Christians’ testimonials, Fr. Thi was a priest: “very honorable; three or four long prayers daily; celebrating Mass devotedly; eating simply and fasting on Fridays even though his health was problematic in addition to constant diarrhea.”
Missionary Jeantet Khiêm, bishop of west vicariate of Tonkin, had written about Fr. Thi: “I had known him since 1835. I admire his piety, gentleness, astuteness and his strict observance of the rules.” He practiced poverty, besides his black habits, he only dressed in brown like poor farmers. In addition to his main parish, he ministered to many filial communities. He once was saved by the trunk containing sacramental materials while his companion was drowned when their boat capsized. Throughout his decades of ministering, there was not a single complaint leveled against him.
Due to King Minh Mạng’s edict of persecutions Fr. Thi always carried out his work quietly. After a long period working in relative safety, on 10/10/1839 Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc from a neighboring village came for confessions, unluckily the village chief named Pháp was informed and led a group of men to arrest the two priests. The village chief demanded a ransom of 200 piasters from parishioners. When Christians came up with only half the amount, the village chief freed only Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc. Unfortunately on his way home, Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc was caught by a different group of soldiers. Therefore, village chief Pháp no longer dare to ransom Fr. Thi, and took him to Bình Lục. Midway, the village chief ran into the contingent that was escorting Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc, so he handed Fr. Thi to the district magistrate. From then on the two priests spent their life together in prison and to receive the triumphant reward.
* A “Religious Official” In the Eyes of a “Government Official”...
The district magistrate of Bình Lục was very respectful toward the two priests, particularly Fr. Thi. The magistrate, concerned with Fr. Thi’s ill health and old age, treated him politely. He said: “I am a secular government official, and you are a religious official.” Of course, the magistrate misunderstood the faculties of a priest, nevertheless his words underscored his respect. Knowing that he could not press the priest to change their faith, he did not tortured them but sent them on to Hà Nội after holding them for three days. Just Pilate washed his hands off Jesus’ trial, the magistrate also celebrated a sacred ceremony to his divine god as well as to explain his actions to everyone, and to ask heaven and earth to vouch for his innocence in the death of the guilt-free men.
As the priests were brought Hà Nội by boat on Hồng River, Christians came along in droves, some by boat and some on foot.
On October 16, the prisoners’ boat docked. The following day, the judicial mandarin summoned the priests to the tribunal and pressed them to walk over the cross. Fr. Thi kneeled down and respectfully kissed the Savior’s icon. After a series of interrogations, the mandarin concluded that he could not win over these priests, he petitioned the king for the death sentence by decapitation.
Waiting for the king’s approval, Fr. Thi predicted his ultimate fate so he started to prepare for the grace of martyrdom. He prayed harder as well as performed acts of penance. He fasted on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Illness, cangue (even though he only carried a light one), and fasting weakened his health day by day. Missionary Jeantet Khiêm wrote to him and advised him to trim back his fasting, but he did not budge.
* Boundless Love.
On 12/21/1839 When Fr. Trân brought the Eucharist into jail the second time, Fr. Thi was already bedridden, Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc had to go out to receive Christ’s Body and brought it back to him to him. Unknowingly, that day was also the last day of their lives, the king’s approved sentence had finally arrived. Soldiers led the two priests to the execution field. On the way, Fr. Thi was too feeble to walk, a soldier took on the role of “Simon”, and carried him to the punishment site.
At the end of Fr. Thi’s life: the shoes, souvenir gift to the soldier, and the picture of Vietnamese “Simon” carrying a death-row inmate to the execution field... How can anyone completely describe the meanings of these actions? Could this scene encapsulate all the calamity of the birth of the Vietnamese Church? Is it sufficient to erase all the hatred and envy left over until today? And might this picture allow people to dream a brighter society when everyone dare everyone all obstacles to treat each other with a heart full of love?
Christians soaked the martyrs’ blood, collected their bodies, and brought them back to church in Kẻ Sở church for a solemn Mass and burial.
Pope Leo XIII elevated Fr. Peter Trương Văn Thi to the rank of blessed on 5/27/1900. Missionary priest Jeantet Khiêm commented on Fr. Peter Thi’s martyrdom as followed:
“Grace had won over men’s weakness. With grace, men are gentle by birth, now are given strength as never seen before.”