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24-09-2006, 05:00 PM
November 7
Saint Vincent PHẠM HIẾU LIÊM
Dominican Priest
(1732-1773)
*Conference of Four Religions.
Reviewing the martyrs’ lives, we can see that they were witnesses for Christ twice: with their lives and with their words. They had talked to profess their faith. Some corrected falsifications, some explained theology. But the most fascinating story among the 117 Vietnamese martyrs’ stories was the three-day discussion between two Catholic priests, Fr. Vincent Liêm and his friend Fr. Jacinto Gia, and representatives of the three other major religions in Vietnam at the time: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
Where does man come from? What is the purpose of life? What happens after death? Those were the three biggest issues of mankind that were discussed in the conference of four religions. The polite and precise words, superb analysis on the history together with excerpts from writings from Confucius, Lao-tze as well as Buddhism as recorded in the book “Conference of Four Religions” which was reprinted 14 times in Sài gòn[1] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=3572#_ftn1), will forever remind us of Fr. Vincent Liêm, the book’s author and one of the panelists as well as the first Vietnamese priest being martyred.
*Vincent of Peace.
Vincent Phạm Hiếu Liêm was welcomed into this world in 1732, in the hamlet of Thôn Đông, Trà Lũ village, Thiên Trường city, Sơn Nam Hạ province. His father, Mr. Antôn Doãn, was one of the hamlet leaders. His mother, Mrs. Maria Doãn, was very religious, devoting her life to raise her children. At 12, Liêm entered the monastic life at the seminary in Lục Thuỷ. After 6 years of education and training, he exhibited intelligent and spiritual traits that caught the eyes of Dominican priests working in the east vicariate of Tonkin. Vicar Espinoza Huy chose him as one of the men awarded scholarship from the king of Spain, and sent him to Manila (The Philippines) to further his education at the Juan de Letran institution.
After three years of overachieving at school, he joined the Dominican order and received his habits on 9/9/1753. The following year, he solemnly professed sacred vows along with three other Vietnameses[2] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=3572#_ftn2), adopting the nom-de-guerre Vincent of Peace (VINHSƠN HOÀ BÌNH). Thereafter, Vincent of Peace started the four years of theology and was ordained a priest in 1758.
After the ordination Fr. Liêm began his repatriation to serve his homeland. On October 3rd, 1758, he could not hide his emotions saying farewell to his professors and friends before boarding the ship to go home after eight years of friendship. Arriving in Trung Linh on 1/20/1759, he could not hold his tears of joy reuniting with Vicar Huy who met him at the dock, as well as relatives, fellow villagers, and Christians who were also eagerly awaiting the “triumphant” homecoming of a priest returning from foreign studies.
*The Messenger of Good News.
Back in Vietnam, at first Fr. Vincent Liêm was appointed a professor at Trung Linh seminary. He poured all his skills and energy to transfer all his knowledge to students. But the real wish of Fr. Vincent of Peace was to spread the Good News of peace to others. Not too long after, he left the seminary to enter the field of evangelization. In turn, he assumed pastoral responsibilities for parishes: Quất Lâm, Lục Thuỷ, Trung Lễ, Trung Linh, Trung Lao and when Fr. Jacinto Gia was arrested, he also served the Lai Ổn region.
His missionary works were not only limited to the parishes but also expanded to the villages on non-believers, regardless of danger of the religious persecution, especially under Lord Trịnh Sâm (1767-1782). No matter where it was, he always demonstrated his ardent love and care to all, as a result people really loved him. He encouraged all to be brave; consoled those who were in anguish, and never hesitated doing things that would benefit them spiritually.
Although very successful in his missions, he was never satisfied with himself. In his letters, we can still read: “I beg the bishop and the provincial to ask God, during mass and in your prayers, for me to be better and to accept difficulties as God’s will.” Due to the work of missionaries, a prince, the sixth brother of Lord Trịnh Doanh, wanted to receive the sacrament of baptism before his death. Fr. Liêm received the news as the joy of the Vietnamese Church, and announced the news to the provincial in Manila[3] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=3572#_ftn3).
Saint Vincent PHẠM HIẾU LIÊM
Dominican Priest
(1732-1773)
*Conference of Four Religions.
Reviewing the martyrs’ lives, we can see that they were witnesses for Christ twice: with their lives and with their words. They had talked to profess their faith. Some corrected falsifications, some explained theology. But the most fascinating story among the 117 Vietnamese martyrs’ stories was the three-day discussion between two Catholic priests, Fr. Vincent Liêm and his friend Fr. Jacinto Gia, and representatives of the three other major religions in Vietnam at the time: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
Where does man come from? What is the purpose of life? What happens after death? Those were the three biggest issues of mankind that were discussed in the conference of four religions. The polite and precise words, superb analysis on the history together with excerpts from writings from Confucius, Lao-tze as well as Buddhism as recorded in the book “Conference of Four Religions” which was reprinted 14 times in Sài gòn[1] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=3572#_ftn1), will forever remind us of Fr. Vincent Liêm, the book’s author and one of the panelists as well as the first Vietnamese priest being martyred.
*Vincent of Peace.
Vincent Phạm Hiếu Liêm was welcomed into this world in 1732, in the hamlet of Thôn Đông, Trà Lũ village, Thiên Trường city, Sơn Nam Hạ province. His father, Mr. Antôn Doãn, was one of the hamlet leaders. His mother, Mrs. Maria Doãn, was very religious, devoting her life to raise her children. At 12, Liêm entered the monastic life at the seminary in Lục Thuỷ. After 6 years of education and training, he exhibited intelligent and spiritual traits that caught the eyes of Dominican priests working in the east vicariate of Tonkin. Vicar Espinoza Huy chose him as one of the men awarded scholarship from the king of Spain, and sent him to Manila (The Philippines) to further his education at the Juan de Letran institution.
After three years of overachieving at school, he joined the Dominican order and received his habits on 9/9/1753. The following year, he solemnly professed sacred vows along with three other Vietnameses[2] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=3572#_ftn2), adopting the nom-de-guerre Vincent of Peace (VINHSƠN HOÀ BÌNH). Thereafter, Vincent of Peace started the four years of theology and was ordained a priest in 1758.
After the ordination Fr. Liêm began his repatriation to serve his homeland. On October 3rd, 1758, he could not hide his emotions saying farewell to his professors and friends before boarding the ship to go home after eight years of friendship. Arriving in Trung Linh on 1/20/1759, he could not hold his tears of joy reuniting with Vicar Huy who met him at the dock, as well as relatives, fellow villagers, and Christians who were also eagerly awaiting the “triumphant” homecoming of a priest returning from foreign studies.
*The Messenger of Good News.
Back in Vietnam, at first Fr. Vincent Liêm was appointed a professor at Trung Linh seminary. He poured all his skills and energy to transfer all his knowledge to students. But the real wish of Fr. Vincent of Peace was to spread the Good News of peace to others. Not too long after, he left the seminary to enter the field of evangelization. In turn, he assumed pastoral responsibilities for parishes: Quất Lâm, Lục Thuỷ, Trung Lễ, Trung Linh, Trung Lao and when Fr. Jacinto Gia was arrested, he also served the Lai Ổn region.
His missionary works were not only limited to the parishes but also expanded to the villages on non-believers, regardless of danger of the religious persecution, especially under Lord Trịnh Sâm (1767-1782). No matter where it was, he always demonstrated his ardent love and care to all, as a result people really loved him. He encouraged all to be brave; consoled those who were in anguish, and never hesitated doing things that would benefit them spiritually.
Although very successful in his missions, he was never satisfied with himself. In his letters, we can still read: “I beg the bishop and the provincial to ask God, during mass and in your prayers, for me to be better and to accept difficulties as God’s will.” Due to the work of missionaries, a prince, the sixth brother of Lord Trịnh Doanh, wanted to receive the sacrament of baptism before his death. Fr. Liêm received the news as the joy of the Vietnamese Church, and announced the news to the provincial in Manila[3] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=3572#_ftn3).