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05-09-2006, 02:38 PM
October 11
Saint Peter LÊ TÙY
Priest
(1773-1833)
* Souvenir of Spirituality.
Similar to the story of the old Eleazar in the Old Testament who refused to ”pretend to be eating some of the meat of sacrifice” to escape death (2Maccabees 6, 18-28), St Peter Lê Tuỳ of Vietnam who did not feigned to be a physician and hid his identity as a priest as the mandarin suggested in order to survive. Like the old Israelite of the past, the priest’s death left behind a lasting mementos of spirituality and morality to Vietnamese as well as universal Catholics.
Peter Lê Tuỳ was born into a wealthy family in the village of Bằng Sở, district of Thanh Trì, Thường Tín prefecture, Hà Đông province, presently of the archdiocese of Hanoi. In 1773, the year he was born was also the year the two priests Vincent Liêm and Castaneda Gia, received their crowns of martyrdom in Hanoi by the order of Lord Trịnh Sâm. Deeply touched by their heroic deaths, his parents sent him to the seminary in Nam Định. In school, he was very intelligent, mature, and spiritual. After receiving his deaconate, Deacon Peter was assigned to assist Bishop De la Mothe Đậu evangelizing in Nghệ An. Soon later, he was ordained a priest, and became an associate pastor of Đông Thành parish in Châu Lộc, and then pastor of Nam Đường parish.
Fr. Peter Tuỳ was a pleasant and gentle priest very enthusiastic in his pastoral ministry. He sincerely carried out his responsibilities to the best of his abilities no matter where or what it was. Bishop Hậu praising his characters and his deeds, said: “No one is unhappy with Fr. Tuỳ.” For 30 years, the missionary Lê Tuỳ actively served the Vietnamese Church. However, like all other priests, when king Minh Mạng issued his edict of Christian persecutions on June 1, 1833, he had to carry out his activities in secret.
* Not Expecting Spectacular Grace.
On June 6t, 1833, Fr. Tuỳ went to the hamlet of Thanh Trai to perform the anointing of the sick to a near-death patient. In this small community wedged among the non-Catholics, they arrested and handed him over to the district chief of Thanh Phương. Christians negotiated to buy his freedom, but the chief agreed to set him free only on the condition that he had to admit to be a physician, not a priest. Fr. Cha Tuỳ unequivocally refused with the reason that making false statement was unchristian and unjust. Bound in a cangue, he was escorted to the provincial authority in Nghệ An. During his imprisonment, he always kept his spirit cheerful, his dignity, and maintained his bravery under tortures that people around him were inspired by his spirit.
One day, the mandarin had him brought before the court and asked: “Are you a Christian priest?” Hr replied: “Yes, I am a Catholic priest.” The mandarin told him: “You listen to me, everyone here is touched and pained by your imprisonment. No one wants you be sentenced to death. I feel the same. Now, you listen to me, you write an affidavit stating that you are a physician. That’s the only way I can save you.” Fr. Tuỳ responded: “I am not afraid of death. It makes no difference how I die, on a comfortable blanket and soft mattress, by being devoured by a lion or nibbled at by fish, or skinned or torn into a hundred pieces, death is death: therefore I am not afraid of death.” Respecting his age of 60, the judge did not order him beaten, only brought back to his jail cell.
During his 3 months in jail, he was well liked by everyone, from the mandarin to the guards as well as his fellow prisoners. The prison inmates told to one another: “Imprisoning such a kind and gentle man like caging a dangerous criminal is not right. Our punishment is a matter of fact. But what crime could he possibly commit?” The mandarin tried to have people urging him to lie being a physician to avoid the death sentence, all the same, he still reaffirmed that he was a priest.
At the time, the laws forbid the execution of those 60 or older. But, this was the start of Christian persecution, so in the petition outlining the case to the imperial court, even the mandarin assumed that the sentence would be a fine of some amount of money. On the contrary, King Minh Mạng put aside the traditionally humane laws of the land and on October 10, 1833 issued the following decree to the provincial authorities in Nghệ An: “The person named Tuỳ called himself a priest and had taught bad religion to the people, he must be beheaded.”
Upon hearing of the news, a Christian ran to jail to inform the death-row inmate. Fr. Tuỳ, unfazed, to be sure only asked a few questions, then said: “For so long, I have not dare dreaming of such a great blessing.” Finishing his dinner as usual, avoiding everyone he retired quietly to start preparing himself to receive the crown of martyrdom.
* Going to the Eternal World.
The following morning, October 11, 1833, the day the Church chose to honor the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, Fr. Tuỳ went to the execution field near the open market of Quân Ban as if he was going to a festival, his face shone with happiness, even spectators and government officials agreed: “Until now, no one on his way to be executed shows such courage.” A faithful laid out a mat on which the witness of Christ knelt down to pray, standing next to him was a soldier holding a wooden tablet inscribed with the sentence:
“The criminal has been studying superstition, claimed to be a priest, hid among the people to seduce them. Captured and investigated thoroughly. Must be immediately beheaded to deter others.”
A Christian, Mr. Bernad Thu, came to ask the mandarin to give the priest a few minutes to pray. The official relented and handed the prisoner some money traditionally given by the king to buy food for his last meal. Fr. Tuỳ refused the money and continued to pray. A few minutes later, Mr. Thu came near the priest, prostrated four times and said: “Very soon, you will go to the eternally blessed home where you have always dreamed of. For me, I remain in this mournful place, please remember me.” The priest also prostrated four times and advised: “Son, be strong and persevere, and you will also be given the everlasting reward.” The painful farewell scene had left many in tears.
Then, the priest told the executioner: “I am ready.” As the gong sounded, the executioner raised the saber: the martyr’s head dropped while his soul lifted off to Heaven. Christians asked for his body, placed in a casket, and solemnly carried it to the rectory in Tràng Nứa and buried it there. Thereafter, they exhumed his body and moved it to his parish of Yên Duyên, then finally to his hometown of Bằng Sở. Many who visited his grave were blessed. Mr. Bernado Thu had also witnessed many ailing persons who were healed through Fr. Lê Tuỳ’s intercessions.
On May 27, 1900, Pope Leo XIII elevated Fr. Peter Lê Tuỳ to the rank of blessed.
Saint Peter LÊ TÙY
Priest
(1773-1833)
* Souvenir of Spirituality.
Similar to the story of the old Eleazar in the Old Testament who refused to ”pretend to be eating some of the meat of sacrifice” to escape death (2Maccabees 6, 18-28), St Peter Lê Tuỳ of Vietnam who did not feigned to be a physician and hid his identity as a priest as the mandarin suggested in order to survive. Like the old Israelite of the past, the priest’s death left behind a lasting mementos of spirituality and morality to Vietnamese as well as universal Catholics.
Peter Lê Tuỳ was born into a wealthy family in the village of Bằng Sở, district of Thanh Trì, Thường Tín prefecture, Hà Đông province, presently of the archdiocese of Hanoi. In 1773, the year he was born was also the year the two priests Vincent Liêm and Castaneda Gia, received their crowns of martyrdom in Hanoi by the order of Lord Trịnh Sâm. Deeply touched by their heroic deaths, his parents sent him to the seminary in Nam Định. In school, he was very intelligent, mature, and spiritual. After receiving his deaconate, Deacon Peter was assigned to assist Bishop De la Mothe Đậu evangelizing in Nghệ An. Soon later, he was ordained a priest, and became an associate pastor of Đông Thành parish in Châu Lộc, and then pastor of Nam Đường parish.
Fr. Peter Tuỳ was a pleasant and gentle priest very enthusiastic in his pastoral ministry. He sincerely carried out his responsibilities to the best of his abilities no matter where or what it was. Bishop Hậu praising his characters and his deeds, said: “No one is unhappy with Fr. Tuỳ.” For 30 years, the missionary Lê Tuỳ actively served the Vietnamese Church. However, like all other priests, when king Minh Mạng issued his edict of Christian persecutions on June 1, 1833, he had to carry out his activities in secret.
* Not Expecting Spectacular Grace.
On June 6t, 1833, Fr. Tuỳ went to the hamlet of Thanh Trai to perform the anointing of the sick to a near-death patient. In this small community wedged among the non-Catholics, they arrested and handed him over to the district chief of Thanh Phương. Christians negotiated to buy his freedom, but the chief agreed to set him free only on the condition that he had to admit to be a physician, not a priest. Fr. Cha Tuỳ unequivocally refused with the reason that making false statement was unchristian and unjust. Bound in a cangue, he was escorted to the provincial authority in Nghệ An. During his imprisonment, he always kept his spirit cheerful, his dignity, and maintained his bravery under tortures that people around him were inspired by his spirit.
One day, the mandarin had him brought before the court and asked: “Are you a Christian priest?” Hr replied: “Yes, I am a Catholic priest.” The mandarin told him: “You listen to me, everyone here is touched and pained by your imprisonment. No one wants you be sentenced to death. I feel the same. Now, you listen to me, you write an affidavit stating that you are a physician. That’s the only way I can save you.” Fr. Tuỳ responded: “I am not afraid of death. It makes no difference how I die, on a comfortable blanket and soft mattress, by being devoured by a lion or nibbled at by fish, or skinned or torn into a hundred pieces, death is death: therefore I am not afraid of death.” Respecting his age of 60, the judge did not order him beaten, only brought back to his jail cell.
During his 3 months in jail, he was well liked by everyone, from the mandarin to the guards as well as his fellow prisoners. The prison inmates told to one another: “Imprisoning such a kind and gentle man like caging a dangerous criminal is not right. Our punishment is a matter of fact. But what crime could he possibly commit?” The mandarin tried to have people urging him to lie being a physician to avoid the death sentence, all the same, he still reaffirmed that he was a priest.
At the time, the laws forbid the execution of those 60 or older. But, this was the start of Christian persecution, so in the petition outlining the case to the imperial court, even the mandarin assumed that the sentence would be a fine of some amount of money. On the contrary, King Minh Mạng put aside the traditionally humane laws of the land and on October 10, 1833 issued the following decree to the provincial authorities in Nghệ An: “The person named Tuỳ called himself a priest and had taught bad religion to the people, he must be beheaded.”
Upon hearing of the news, a Christian ran to jail to inform the death-row inmate. Fr. Tuỳ, unfazed, to be sure only asked a few questions, then said: “For so long, I have not dare dreaming of such a great blessing.” Finishing his dinner as usual, avoiding everyone he retired quietly to start preparing himself to receive the crown of martyrdom.
* Going to the Eternal World.
The following morning, October 11, 1833, the day the Church chose to honor the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, Fr. Tuỳ went to the execution field near the open market of Quân Ban as if he was going to a festival, his face shone with happiness, even spectators and government officials agreed: “Until now, no one on his way to be executed shows such courage.” A faithful laid out a mat on which the witness of Christ knelt down to pray, standing next to him was a soldier holding a wooden tablet inscribed with the sentence:
“The criminal has been studying superstition, claimed to be a priest, hid among the people to seduce them. Captured and investigated thoroughly. Must be immediately beheaded to deter others.”
A Christian, Mr. Bernad Thu, came to ask the mandarin to give the priest a few minutes to pray. The official relented and handed the prisoner some money traditionally given by the king to buy food for his last meal. Fr. Tuỳ refused the money and continued to pray. A few minutes later, Mr. Thu came near the priest, prostrated four times and said: “Very soon, you will go to the eternally blessed home where you have always dreamed of. For me, I remain in this mournful place, please remember me.” The priest also prostrated four times and advised: “Son, be strong and persevere, and you will also be given the everlasting reward.” The painful farewell scene had left many in tears.
Then, the priest told the executioner: “I am ready.” As the gong sounded, the executioner raised the saber: the martyr’s head dropped while his soul lifted off to Heaven. Christians asked for his body, placed in a casket, and solemnly carried it to the rectory in Tràng Nứa and buried it there. Thereafter, they exhumed his body and moved it to his parish of Yên Duyên, then finally to his hometown of Bằng Sở. Many who visited his grave were blessed. Mr. Bernado Thu had also witnessed many ailing persons who were healed through Fr. Lê Tuỳ’s intercessions.
On May 27, 1900, Pope Leo XIII elevated Fr. Peter Lê Tuỳ to the rank of blessed.