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05-09-2006, 02:34 PM
October 6
Saint Francis TRẦN VĂN TRUNG
Corporal
(1825-1858)
*Yes to Fighting the French, No to Abandoning Faith.
“Trung was a corporal, previously charged with cheating during a promotions examination, demoted and found guilty. He recently wanted to reenlist in the army, but refused to walk over the cross, so he is sentenced to death by beheading.”
Reading the preceding sentence handed down to Private Francis Trần Văn Trung, everyone can comprehend his heart. Like most other Catholics under King TựĐức’s reign, Mr. Trung volunteered for the military to defend his homeland, but at the same time kept his loyalty to God.
Francis Trần Văn Trung was born into a Catholic family circa 1825 in Phan Xá, Quảng Trị province, under King Minh Mạng’s reign. His father was also a corporal, but had long been retired. Following in his father’s footstep, he also joined the military, and rose to the rank of corporal. At the age of 24, Trung married his hometown sweetheart. Together, they had 4 children. Like other Catholic fathers, Trung fulfilled his Christian duties to his family.
The original prison term mentioned in his death sentence was somewhat distinctive. Corporal Trung and 11 of his fellow soldiers were ordered to go though an examination. At this trouble time, passing an exam required not brain but money. So even though he was more than capable to pass the test, but to be sure, he bribed his commanders. Unfortunately, the disagreement among the commanders about the splitting of the money reached King TựĐức, so he ordered all 12 soldiers imprisoned.
*Patriotism and Faith.
After the Port of Hàn was captured by the French Foreign Legion under the command of Admiral Rigault de Genouilly on September 1, 1858, King TựĐức ordered all jailed soldiers released to fill the ranks defending the royal capital of Huế. Corporal Trung and his fellow prison inmates were eager to join. But before heading to the front, their commanders ordered to the soldiers to step on the crucifix. The other 11 soldiers obeyed, but Mr. Trung did not. His commander asked:
-Why don’t you walk on the cross? Are you a Christian?
-Yes, I am Catholic. I am ready to fight the enemy to defend our country, but I will never abandon my faith.
The straight answer portraying dual feelings of country and God brought the corporal back to prison. In a month of imprisonment, he was interrogated harshly many times, punished 3 times with 50 canes each time. Those beatings did not weaken his resolve to keep his faith. Knowing that he would be executed, he was not frightened, but looked forward to the day.
An Exemplary Head of Household.
Living with the death sentence, Corporal Trung calmly put his family matter in order. He counseled his wife: “After I die, please take good care of the children! Love our children and do not remarry.” His 8 years old daughter, Catarina Thông, was permitted to stay in jail to look after him. Upon hearing that the parish had started catechism classes, he sent her home to study catechism telling her to listen to the priests.
Remembering that he still owed money to some persons and fearing that they might make his children their servants in exchange for those debts. The servitude could be hard on his children and left them with very little time for faith formation, so he advised his wife on which possessions to sell to pay off all the debts.
The Cross On His Neck.
Failing to make Corporal Trung giving up his faith, the authorities petitioned King TựĐức to approve his execution, and the king issued his order. On the morning of October 6, 1858, Corporal Trung was led to the execution site in An Hoà (Huế) by five officials on horseback and escorted by 50 soldiers. Informed of the news, Fr. Andrew Thoại of Dương Sơn parish, in disguised, brought along a catechist and blended in with the crowd to bless the corporal’s contrition. He had given words to the prisoner through his family on how to recognize him: the priest would keep his hand in front of his face holding a cigarette between his fingers. The corporal had prepared to receive his last rite of reconciliation.
However, the event did not turned out as planned: the officials halted the execution and sent message to the king asking him to commute his sentence with the reason that the execution would be considered by the French military as a challenge that might give it cause to attack. They stayed at the field and waited until 6:00 PM without any news from the king, they then pulled themselves to a nearby restaurant for dinner taking the securely chained corporal with them. At 8:00 PM, the king’s edict arrived ordering the immediate execution and threatened to punish those daring to ask for his commutation.
Hearing of the king’s execution order, Corporal Trung looked for Fr. Thoại, but the priest had left thinking that the execution would be delayed until the following day. Immediately, he knelt down on the ground and asked the executioner to draw a cross on his neck with lime to express his fidelity to Christ. Afterward, he bravely extended his neck to be decapitated. His head was left exposed for three days to set an example for others before it could be buried. Presently, the body of this witness of faith is still kept in the church of Dương Sơn parish.
Pope Pius X beatified Corporal Francis Trần Văn Trung on May 2, 1909.
Saint Francis TRẦN VĂN TRUNG
Corporal
(1825-1858)
*Yes to Fighting the French, No to Abandoning Faith.
“Trung was a corporal, previously charged with cheating during a promotions examination, demoted and found guilty. He recently wanted to reenlist in the army, but refused to walk over the cross, so he is sentenced to death by beheading.”
Reading the preceding sentence handed down to Private Francis Trần Văn Trung, everyone can comprehend his heart. Like most other Catholics under King TựĐức’s reign, Mr. Trung volunteered for the military to defend his homeland, but at the same time kept his loyalty to God.
Francis Trần Văn Trung was born into a Catholic family circa 1825 in Phan Xá, Quảng Trị province, under King Minh Mạng’s reign. His father was also a corporal, but had long been retired. Following in his father’s footstep, he also joined the military, and rose to the rank of corporal. At the age of 24, Trung married his hometown sweetheart. Together, they had 4 children. Like other Catholic fathers, Trung fulfilled his Christian duties to his family.
The original prison term mentioned in his death sentence was somewhat distinctive. Corporal Trung and 11 of his fellow soldiers were ordered to go though an examination. At this trouble time, passing an exam required not brain but money. So even though he was more than capable to pass the test, but to be sure, he bribed his commanders. Unfortunately, the disagreement among the commanders about the splitting of the money reached King TựĐức, so he ordered all 12 soldiers imprisoned.
*Patriotism and Faith.
After the Port of Hàn was captured by the French Foreign Legion under the command of Admiral Rigault de Genouilly on September 1, 1858, King TựĐức ordered all jailed soldiers released to fill the ranks defending the royal capital of Huế. Corporal Trung and his fellow prison inmates were eager to join. But before heading to the front, their commanders ordered to the soldiers to step on the crucifix. The other 11 soldiers obeyed, but Mr. Trung did not. His commander asked:
-Why don’t you walk on the cross? Are you a Christian?
-Yes, I am Catholic. I am ready to fight the enemy to defend our country, but I will never abandon my faith.
The straight answer portraying dual feelings of country and God brought the corporal back to prison. In a month of imprisonment, he was interrogated harshly many times, punished 3 times with 50 canes each time. Those beatings did not weaken his resolve to keep his faith. Knowing that he would be executed, he was not frightened, but looked forward to the day.
An Exemplary Head of Household.
Living with the death sentence, Corporal Trung calmly put his family matter in order. He counseled his wife: “After I die, please take good care of the children! Love our children and do not remarry.” His 8 years old daughter, Catarina Thông, was permitted to stay in jail to look after him. Upon hearing that the parish had started catechism classes, he sent her home to study catechism telling her to listen to the priests.
Remembering that he still owed money to some persons and fearing that they might make his children their servants in exchange for those debts. The servitude could be hard on his children and left them with very little time for faith formation, so he advised his wife on which possessions to sell to pay off all the debts.
The Cross On His Neck.
Failing to make Corporal Trung giving up his faith, the authorities petitioned King TựĐức to approve his execution, and the king issued his order. On the morning of October 6, 1858, Corporal Trung was led to the execution site in An Hoà (Huế) by five officials on horseback and escorted by 50 soldiers. Informed of the news, Fr. Andrew Thoại of Dương Sơn parish, in disguised, brought along a catechist and blended in with the crowd to bless the corporal’s contrition. He had given words to the prisoner through his family on how to recognize him: the priest would keep his hand in front of his face holding a cigarette between his fingers. The corporal had prepared to receive his last rite of reconciliation.
However, the event did not turned out as planned: the officials halted the execution and sent message to the king asking him to commute his sentence with the reason that the execution would be considered by the French military as a challenge that might give it cause to attack. They stayed at the field and waited until 6:00 PM without any news from the king, they then pulled themselves to a nearby restaurant for dinner taking the securely chained corporal with them. At 8:00 PM, the king’s edict arrived ordering the immediate execution and threatened to punish those daring to ask for his commutation.
Hearing of the king’s execution order, Corporal Trung looked for Fr. Thoại, but the priest had left thinking that the execution would be delayed until the following day. Immediately, he knelt down on the ground and asked the executioner to draw a cross on his neck with lime to express his fidelity to Christ. Afterward, he bravely extended his neck to be decapitated. His head was left exposed for three days to set an example for others before it could be buried. Presently, the body of this witness of faith is still kept in the church of Dương Sơn parish.
Pope Pius X beatified Corporal Francis Trần Văn Trung on May 2, 1909.