Santi e Beati
The tooth of Saint Emmanuel Trieu , martyr in Vietnam
Saint Emmanuel NGUYỄN VĂN TRIỆU
Priest
(1756-1798)
* Fulfiling Filial Duty...
As a priest of the east vicariate of Tonkin with all the works of a busy ministry, Fr. Emmanuel Nguyễn Văn Triệu still did not forget the old mother at home. In 1798, in the midst of King Cảnh Thịnh’s violent persecution, especially in the royal capital, he asked for permission to return to Phú Xuân to visit his mother. He stayed there for three months to build her a small house. It was his wish to fulfill his filial duty to his mother that he was arrested.
* For God, Not For Lord Trịnh.
Emmanuel Nguyễn Văn Triệu was born in 1756 in Kim Long village, Phú Xuân (presently Huế). His father was Corporal Nguyễn Văn Lương, a Catholic soldier fighting for Lord Nguyễn, who died in a battle against the Tây Sơn. Orphaned at a young age, he lived with his mother in Thợ Đúc, and entered the military in 1771 when he was only 15 years old. In 1774 Lord Trịnh captured Phú Xuân. When the Tây Sơn army started its invasion from the South and became the new ruler of Phú Xuân, guard Emmanuel Nguyễn Văn Triệu followed Lord Trịnh Khải evacuating to Thăng Long (presently Hanoi) in 1786.
In June that year, the Tây Sơn army advanced to the North with the banner of supporting the Lê’s reign and destroying the Trịnh. Trịnh Khải had to commit kamikaze. Then King Lê Cảnh Hưng passed away, and King Lê Chiêu Thống assumed the throne. The North again was thrown into a war between two opposing camps of Trịnh - Lê and Trịnh Bồng. Against this horrific background that made guard Nguyễn Văn Triệu to reconsider the purpose of his life and led him to a definite decision for his life.
At 30 years of age with 15 years in the military with innumerable ups and downs, Emmanuel Triệu came to a fork on the road and chose to leave military weapons behind to serve the Heavenly King and through whom to more effectively serve his family and mankind. At first he was under the tutelage of a Jesuit priest in Hà Nội, later he was sent to the Trung Linh seminary by Bishop Khâm of the east vicariate of Tonkin. In 1793 Bishop Alonzo Phê ordained him into the priesthood at the age of 37.
With a early and good training background together with a long military experience, and especially with God’s help, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu became a dedicated and effective. After six years of ministering in the east vicariate, he harvested many achievements and was admired by his superiors.
* The Road to Jail.
Under King Cảnh Thịnh’s reign (1792-1802) the political landscape became more chaotic. Nguyễn Ánh’s (King Gia Long) army headquartered in Gia Định became more powerful, and every year at the beginning of the windy season, he led his army to battle Huế. Helping Nguyễn Ánh was a number of French soldiers recruited by Bishop De La Motte. As the result, King Cảnh Thịnh became hateful to the Catholic faith, particularly at the end of 1797 when the king took hold of a letter sent by Nguyễn Ánh to Bishop Labartette Bình (bishop of the Diocese of the North) in Phú Xuân, the king became suspicious that the Catholic Church was helping his enemy.
The Catholic Minister of Education, Minister Hồ Cung Điều, many time explained to the king that: “The Catholic faith teaches loyalty to the king and duty to parents, not rebellion.” The king was swayed by the explanation. But finally in August 1798, under the Interior Minister named Lợi’s constant badgering advises against the Catholics, an edict of persecution was issued. Three months earlier, missing his mother Fr. Emmanuel Triệu returned to Thợ Đúc, Phú Xuân (Huế). It was an emotional mother-son reunion after 12 years of separation; his mother’s hair was turning gray while he was then 42 years of age and a priest. Fr. Emmanuel Triệu was moved by his mother’s living arrangement; she was living with another family. He decided to stay and, with the help of neighbors, he built a small home for his mother. While building a home for his mother, he visited and celebrated masses at surrounding communities where Christians really adored him.
On 8/7/1798, as ordered by the king’s edict just announced, four platoons of soldiers (50 soldiers to a platoon) made a surprise raid on four parishes in the royal capital. At Thợ Đúc parish, the soldiers were searching for pastor Nhơn who, forewarned by Minister Hồ Cung Điều, had escaped to safety. The minister did not know Fr. Emmanuel Triệu because he was new in town. Soldiers arrested a number of Christians including Fr. Emmanuel Triệu and interrogated them about priests. Fr. Emmanuel Triệu volunteered to give himself up, admitting that he was the person they were looking for. Soldiers handcuffed and took him away. Watching his mother crying in anguish, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu said a few words of goodbye to his mother: “God had given me the honor of giving witness for Him. Please stop crying and follow God’s will.”
* Overcoming Difficulties.
Following his arrest were 40 days and nights of trials in prison: cangue around his neck, handcuffs on his hands and shackles around his ankles; he was brought to the tribunal many times and beaten cruelly three times. When the mandarins questioned his personal life, he told them that he was born in Phú Xuân, and because of difficult conditions he had to make a living in the North, then studied catechism and became a priest. The mandarin asked: “Are your wife and children here or in the North? He replied: “I don’t have a wife. Because I am a priest, I stay single.”
On August 17, the mandarins were talking to condemn him to being trampled on by elephants, but one of them disagreed so the sentencing was delayed.
In prison, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu always kept his joy and faith in God. He was also consoled by visits from a priest who came in disguise to give him confessions. His mother also visited him many times. He comforted her and asked her to pray for his faith. Additionally he used all his spare time to prepare himself for martyrdom.
* The Hour of Glory.
The execution date was decided to be 9/17/1798. Early that morning, the mandarins asked him for the last time: “Do you want to abandon your priesthood and return to your hometown to live? If you agree I will ask for the king’s pardon.” Fr. Emmanuel Triệu emphatically replied: “Respectfully no. I am a priest, I rather die than quit my preaching.” Hence, at 10 o’clock in the morning, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu was escorted to the execution site along with 6 robbers who were also condemned to death on the same day. He walked calmly and seriously like a soldier before going to battles. Informed of the execution, Christians followed behind in droves. In front of him was a soldier holding a tablet inscribed with the following sentence:
“Triệu, Nguyễn Văn Lương’s son, preaches European religion and lures people to that disgusting religion. Therefore he must be executed.”
At Bãi Dâu, the execution site, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu knelt down to pray. Following tradition, the commanding mandarin gave him one piaster to buy his last meal. The priest refused, the mandarin then said: “You cannot look down on the king’s gift.” The priest said: “Anyone, please take the money for me, and give to the poor.” A soldier immediately slapped his face. The mandarin was furious at the soldier and scorned him: “It is not yet execution time, why are you so arrogant?” He then turned to the witness of faith, and asked him to sit, then said: “When the time comes, I’ll let you know.” Fr. Emmanuel Triệu immediately sat down and continued to pray.
The tooth of Saint Emmanuel Trieu , martyr in Vietnam
Saint Emmanuel NGUYỄN VĂN TRIỆU
Priest
(1756-1798)
* Fulfiling Filial Duty...
As a priest of the east vicariate of Tonkin with all the works of a busy ministry, Fr. Emmanuel Nguyễn Văn Triệu still did not forget the old mother at home. In 1798, in the midst of King Cảnh Thịnh’s violent persecution, especially in the royal capital, he asked for permission to return to Phú Xuân to visit his mother. He stayed there for three months to build her a small house. It was his wish to fulfill his filial duty to his mother that he was arrested.
* For God, Not For Lord Trịnh.
Emmanuel Nguyễn Văn Triệu was born in 1756 in Kim Long village, Phú Xuân (presently Huế). His father was Corporal Nguyễn Văn Lương, a Catholic soldier fighting for Lord Nguyễn, who died in a battle against the Tây Sơn. Orphaned at a young age, he lived with his mother in Thợ Đúc, and entered the military in 1771 when he was only 15 years old. In 1774 Lord Trịnh captured Phú Xuân. When the Tây Sơn army started its invasion from the South and became the new ruler of Phú Xuân, guard Emmanuel Nguyễn Văn Triệu followed Lord Trịnh Khải evacuating to Thăng Long (presently Hanoi) in 1786.
In June that year, the Tây Sơn army advanced to the North with the banner of supporting the Lê’s reign and destroying the Trịnh. Trịnh Khải had to commit kamikaze. Then King Lê Cảnh Hưng passed away, and King Lê Chiêu Thống assumed the throne. The North again was thrown into a war between two opposing camps of Trịnh - Lê and Trịnh Bồng. Against this horrific background that made guard Nguyễn Văn Triệu to reconsider the purpose of his life and led him to a definite decision for his life.
At 30 years of age with 15 years in the military with innumerable ups and downs, Emmanuel Triệu came to a fork on the road and chose to leave military weapons behind to serve the Heavenly King and through whom to more effectively serve his family and mankind. At first he was under the tutelage of a Jesuit priest in Hà Nội, later he was sent to the Trung Linh seminary by Bishop Khâm of the east vicariate of Tonkin. In 1793 Bishop Alonzo Phê ordained him into the priesthood at the age of 37.
With a early and good training background together with a long military experience, and especially with God’s help, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu became a dedicated and effective. After six years of ministering in the east vicariate, he harvested many achievements and was admired by his superiors.
* The Road to Jail.
Under King Cảnh Thịnh’s reign (1792-1802) the political landscape became more chaotic. Nguyễn Ánh’s (King Gia Long) army headquartered in Gia Định became more powerful, and every year at the beginning of the windy season, he led his army to battle Huế. Helping Nguyễn Ánh was a number of French soldiers recruited by Bishop De La Motte. As the result, King Cảnh Thịnh became hateful to the Catholic faith, particularly at the end of 1797 when the king took hold of a letter sent by Nguyễn Ánh to Bishop Labartette Bình (bishop of the Diocese of the North) in Phú Xuân, the king became suspicious that the Catholic Church was helping his enemy.
The Catholic Minister of Education, Minister Hồ Cung Điều, many time explained to the king that: “The Catholic faith teaches loyalty to the king and duty to parents, not rebellion.” The king was swayed by the explanation. But finally in August 1798, under the Interior Minister named Lợi’s constant badgering advises against the Catholics, an edict of persecution was issued. Three months earlier, missing his mother Fr. Emmanuel Triệu returned to Thợ Đúc, Phú Xuân (Huế). It was an emotional mother-son reunion after 12 years of separation; his mother’s hair was turning gray while he was then 42 years of age and a priest. Fr. Emmanuel Triệu was moved by his mother’s living arrangement; she was living with another family. He decided to stay and, with the help of neighbors, he built a small home for his mother. While building a home for his mother, he visited and celebrated masses at surrounding communities where Christians really adored him.
On 8/7/1798, as ordered by the king’s edict just announced, four platoons of soldiers (50 soldiers to a platoon) made a surprise raid on four parishes in the royal capital. At Thợ Đúc parish, the soldiers were searching for pastor Nhơn who, forewarned by Minister Hồ Cung Điều, had escaped to safety. The minister did not know Fr. Emmanuel Triệu because he was new in town. Soldiers arrested a number of Christians including Fr. Emmanuel Triệu and interrogated them about priests. Fr. Emmanuel Triệu volunteered to give himself up, admitting that he was the person they were looking for. Soldiers handcuffed and took him away. Watching his mother crying in anguish, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu said a few words of goodbye to his mother: “God had given me the honor of giving witness for Him. Please stop crying and follow God’s will.”
* Overcoming Difficulties.
Following his arrest were 40 days and nights of trials in prison: cangue around his neck, handcuffs on his hands and shackles around his ankles; he was brought to the tribunal many times and beaten cruelly three times. When the mandarins questioned his personal life, he told them that he was born in Phú Xuân, and because of difficult conditions he had to make a living in the North, then studied catechism and became a priest. The mandarin asked: “Are your wife and children here or in the North? He replied: “I don’t have a wife. Because I am a priest, I stay single.”
On August 17, the mandarins were talking to condemn him to being trampled on by elephants, but one of them disagreed so the sentencing was delayed.
In prison, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu always kept his joy and faith in God. He was also consoled by visits from a priest who came in disguise to give him confessions. His mother also visited him many times. He comforted her and asked her to pray for his faith. Additionally he used all his spare time to prepare himself for martyrdom.
* The Hour of Glory.
The execution date was decided to be 9/17/1798. Early that morning, the mandarins asked him for the last time: “Do you want to abandon your priesthood and return to your hometown to live? If you agree I will ask for the king’s pardon.” Fr. Emmanuel Triệu emphatically replied: “Respectfully no. I am a priest, I rather die than quit my preaching.” Hence, at 10 o’clock in the morning, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu was escorted to the execution site along with 6 robbers who were also condemned to death on the same day. He walked calmly and seriously like a soldier before going to battles. Informed of the execution, Christians followed behind in droves. In front of him was a soldier holding a tablet inscribed with the following sentence:
“Triệu, Nguyễn Văn Lương’s son, preaches European religion and lures people to that disgusting religion. Therefore he must be executed.”
At Bãi Dâu, the execution site, Fr. Emmanuel Triệu knelt down to pray. Following tradition, the commanding mandarin gave him one piaster to buy his last meal. The priest refused, the mandarin then said: “You cannot look down on the king’s gift.” The priest said: “Anyone, please take the money for me, and give to the poor.” A soldier immediately slapped his face. The mandarin was furious at the soldier and scorned him: “It is not yet execution time, why are you so arrogant?” He then turned to the witness of faith, and asked him to sit, then said: “When the time comes, I’ll let you know.” Fr. Emmanuel Triệu immediately sat down and continued to pray.