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24-09-2006, 04:54 PM
November 5th
Saint Dominic HÀ TRỌNG MẬU
Dominican Priest
(1794-1858)
* The Mass of a Life.
“When Fr. Mậu was brought to the execution site, I noticed that he was very calm. His two hands were together just like when he was praying over the Eucharist at mass.”
The testimony of witness Maria Di probably revealed clearly the spirit of saint Dominic Hà Trọng Mậu in the day of being martyred. After 30 years as a priest with countless masses, the priest was certainly happy with the sacrifice of his own life like Jesus on Mount Golgotha. On the bank of Hưng Yên River that day, amidst the noisy shouts and conversations of soldiers and spectators, he knelt there quietly in intense prayer and readied his body to receive the blessed saber slaying.
* Difficulties Unfazed.
In 1794 the village of Phú Nhai, Xuân Trường city, Nam Định province, the land of saints Thomas Dụ and Dominic Đạt, was honored with the birth of baby Dominic Hà Trọng Mậu, the future martyr. Reaching maturity, he asked his parents, Mr. Dominic and Mrs. Maria Mỹ, for the permission to offer his life to God and to live with a group of people sharing the same purpose. Like the good seed sown on a fertile land, there, the young Mậu was educated and taught virtues. As he grew older, he also became wiser and more spiritual, as well as well liked by everyone.
He then recognized that God wanted him to advance further, so he applied to the seminary where he studiously studied until his ordination. In 1829 together with 10 priests in the diocese, Fr. Mậu asked to join the Dominican order in order to united with God and have a more intimate fellowship among themselves on their mission to disseminate the Good News. The following year, all 11 professed their solemn vows. His novitiate class later had 7 martyrs; the other 6 Beatitudes are waiting to be canonized[1] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#_ftn1).
Going through the arduous days during King Minh Mạng’s persecution, through the calmer days under King Thiệu Trị, to the 10 difficult years under King Tự Đức, he always poured his heart out for his sheep, never feared hardship, never quivered before challenges, instead used all his mental ability and physical strength for the benefit of souls. He was responsible for many parishes, but no matter wherever needed him, he was ready regardless of dangers.
On 8/27/1858 soldiers raided the village of Kẻ Điền and arrested Fr. Mậu, people helping out in the rectory together with some parishioners and brought them to Hưng Yên. More than two months in jail, even forced to carry a cangue and tortured repeatedly, he steadfastly affirmed his faith in God. Moreover, he transformed the jail into a base of new mission. Here, he met and encouraged Christians inmates to accept all the misery for the faith. He also many change their life. Specifically, several devout lay women brought Christians into jail to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
* The Sacrificial Mass of Love.
He always carried a rosary even though he has to appear in court repeatedly. In his spare time, he prayed and meditated Christ’s Passion. Because he always treated others with compassion, charity and care, everyone loved him. Mrs. Anna Nguyễn Ngoan, a frequent visitor, confirmed: “Even the guards respect and admire him.”
Once realizing that they could not make the warrior of faith renounce his religion, government officials of Nam Định sentenced him along with 21 Christians. Informed of the sentence, Fr. Mậu was exuberant and helped other Christians with their confessions and prepared them for the grace of martyrdom.
On 11/5/1858 on the way to the execution field, everyone felt that he was intensely celebrating mass. With his eyes looking toward the heaven, and his hands often joined together, he led the group of martyrs-to-be. At the execution site on the bank of Hưng Yên River, he knelt and prayed for a moment, then extended his neck out for the executioner. His body was buried solemnly at the church of Mai Linh parish in Nam Định.
Pope Pius XII elevated Fr. Dominic Hà Trọng Mậu, Dominican priest, to the rank of blessed on 4/29/1951.
[/URL][URL="http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#_ftn1"][1] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#_ftnref1) Bùi Đức Sinh, Đaminh TĐ Việt I, p. 154.
The six Beatitudes are: Đaminh Khang, Phêrô Khanh, Nicolas Tý, Phêrô Cảnh, Phêrô Quyền và Vinhsơn Trí.
Saint Dominic HÀ TRỌNG MẬU
Dominican Priest
(1794-1858)
* The Mass of a Life.
“When Fr. Mậu was brought to the execution site, I noticed that he was very calm. His two hands were together just like when he was praying over the Eucharist at mass.”
The testimony of witness Maria Di probably revealed clearly the spirit of saint Dominic Hà Trọng Mậu in the day of being martyred. After 30 years as a priest with countless masses, the priest was certainly happy with the sacrifice of his own life like Jesus on Mount Golgotha. On the bank of Hưng Yên River that day, amidst the noisy shouts and conversations of soldiers and spectators, he knelt there quietly in intense prayer and readied his body to receive the blessed saber slaying.
* Difficulties Unfazed.
In 1794 the village of Phú Nhai, Xuân Trường city, Nam Định province, the land of saints Thomas Dụ and Dominic Đạt, was honored with the birth of baby Dominic Hà Trọng Mậu, the future martyr. Reaching maturity, he asked his parents, Mr. Dominic and Mrs. Maria Mỹ, for the permission to offer his life to God and to live with a group of people sharing the same purpose. Like the good seed sown on a fertile land, there, the young Mậu was educated and taught virtues. As he grew older, he also became wiser and more spiritual, as well as well liked by everyone.
He then recognized that God wanted him to advance further, so he applied to the seminary where he studiously studied until his ordination. In 1829 together with 10 priests in the diocese, Fr. Mậu asked to join the Dominican order in order to united with God and have a more intimate fellowship among themselves on their mission to disseminate the Good News. The following year, all 11 professed their solemn vows. His novitiate class later had 7 martyrs; the other 6 Beatitudes are waiting to be canonized[1] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#_ftn1).
Going through the arduous days during King Minh Mạng’s persecution, through the calmer days under King Thiệu Trị, to the 10 difficult years under King Tự Đức, he always poured his heart out for his sheep, never feared hardship, never quivered before challenges, instead used all his mental ability and physical strength for the benefit of souls. He was responsible for many parishes, but no matter wherever needed him, he was ready regardless of dangers.
On 8/27/1858 soldiers raided the village of Kẻ Điền and arrested Fr. Mậu, people helping out in the rectory together with some parishioners and brought them to Hưng Yên. More than two months in jail, even forced to carry a cangue and tortured repeatedly, he steadfastly affirmed his faith in God. Moreover, he transformed the jail into a base of new mission. Here, he met and encouraged Christians inmates to accept all the misery for the faith. He also many change their life. Specifically, several devout lay women brought Christians into jail to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
* The Sacrificial Mass of Love.
He always carried a rosary even though he has to appear in court repeatedly. In his spare time, he prayed and meditated Christ’s Passion. Because he always treated others with compassion, charity and care, everyone loved him. Mrs. Anna Nguyễn Ngoan, a frequent visitor, confirmed: “Even the guards respect and admire him.”
Once realizing that they could not make the warrior of faith renounce his religion, government officials of Nam Định sentenced him along with 21 Christians. Informed of the sentence, Fr. Mậu was exuberant and helped other Christians with their confessions and prepared them for the grace of martyrdom.
On 11/5/1858 on the way to the execution field, everyone felt that he was intensely celebrating mass. With his eyes looking toward the heaven, and his hands often joined together, he led the group of martyrs-to-be. At the execution site on the bank of Hưng Yên River, he knelt and prayed for a moment, then extended his neck out for the executioner. His body was buried solemnly at the church of Mai Linh parish in Nam Định.
Pope Pius XII elevated Fr. Dominic Hà Trọng Mậu, Dominican priest, to the rank of blessed on 4/29/1951.
[/URL][URL="http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#_ftn1"][1] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#_ftnref1) Bùi Đức Sinh, Đaminh TĐ Việt I, p. 154.
The six Beatitudes are: Đaminh Khang, Phêrô Khanh, Nicolas Tý, Phêrô Cảnh, Phêrô Quyền và Vinhsơn Trí.