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23-11-2006, 02:57 PM
Saint Andrew TRẦN AN DŨNG LẠC
Priest
(1795-1839)
* Following Peter’s Example...
- “Quo vadis, Domine?”
Teacher, where are you going?
On the escape road to flee Emperor Nero’s cruel persecutions which was brutalizing Rome, the leader of the disciples Peter uttered the precedent questions in bewilderment when he suddenly encountered the Lord Jesus carrying the cross in the opposite direction.
After that question was a short moment of silence... the silence seemed to last forever and probably would never repeated again. Peter seemed to be able to find the answer in the Lord Jesus’ eyes which was a little like Jesus’ eyes when Peter denied him three times. And in that silence, he suddenly heard a sad but sweet voice in his ears:
- When you abandon my people. I have to go to Rome to be nailed on the cross again.
Peter was dead quiet and immediately understood...
The disciple had left town to avoid the madness of a tyrant at the insistence of the faithful who considered him their strength, their breath, and their support. He had to live for the good of the flock. Now, Peter’s mind was refreshed with the greatest lesson from the Master Teacher Jesus, the carpenter of Nazareth who had died at the age of 33 on the cross to redeem mankind.
In that majestic instant, Peter abruptly remembered and instead of exhausted feet to run away, he purposely and decisively returned... in order to be like his Teacher. Henceforth, on Peter’s rock, Rome became the everlasting capital. Yes, no one could comprehend third at the time.
After the third arrest, Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc seemed to appreciate Peter’s lesson of the past. Man’s thinking might not be similar to God’s will. He begged Christian to stop paying ransom for his freedom; he had decided to sacrifice his own life to become a gleam of light uniting with other lights to give witness to God in this beloved land.
* Arrested Three Times.
Born into a pagan family of Bắc Ninh province in 1795. Trần An Dũng followed his parents to Kẻ Chợ, presently Hà Nội. Because of poverty, he was entrusted to a catechist who taught and baptized him with Saint Andrew as his patron. Soon after, Dũng asked to be admitted to Vĩnh Trị seminary and lived with Vicar Lan. At an early age, he exhibited special intelligence with an amazing memory. Additionally he was very diligent, gifted with poetic talent, and compassionate in his relationship with others. It was said that could remember by heart any excerpt by just reading it twice.
After serving ten years as catechist and three years of studying theology, on 3/15/1823 Deacon Dũng was ordained into the priesthood (same class as Saints Ngân and Nghi), and was appointed associate pastor of Đồng Chuối parish assisting Fr. Khiết. For the next three years, he helped Fr. Thi at Xứ Đoài, then Fr. Thuyết in Sơn Miêng. Finally, while serving as pastor at Kẻ Đầm parish, he was arrested. Throughout his life as a priest, Fr. Andrew Dũng led an austere life. Besides the Church’s obligatory fast days, he fasted the whole Lenten season, and on many occasions on Fridays and Saturdays. His normal meals were very simple. He put all his strength into his ministry, never hesitating for a moment helping his faithful. He had a special heart for the poor. Anything he had, he distributed almost all.
When King Minh Mạng’s persecutions intensified through the edict of nationwide ban of Christianity on 1/6/1833, the priest had to hide in Christians’ homes. He then escaped to Kẻ Roi where he built a rectory. One day, after finishing Mass, soldiers rushed in, he quickly changed into out of sacramental vestments and sat mixed in with the congregation. Nevertheless, soldiers arrested him as one of the 30 Christians they arrested that day because they did not recognize him. Mr. Thìn, the community leader, tricked the authorities that the priest was one of his relatives, and paid a ransom of 6 piasters to buy his freedom. From then on, he took on the name Lạc.
He was arrested the second time when he went to Kẻ Sông for his monthly sacrament of confession with Fr. Thi. Village chief Pháp arrested both priests and haggled with the faithful for a ransom payment of 200 piasters. Christians together came up with 100 piasters, so the village chief released only Fr. Lạc. However, on the way home, the weather turned windy and began to rain, his sampan had to dock. The home, which he was staying in, was searched by soldiers. Therefore, he was arrested the third time and brought to Bình Lục district together with Fr. Thi.
Once more, Christians and Bishop Retord Liêu tried to pay ransom for the two priests. But this time Fr. Andrew Lạc saw God’s plan for him, he sent words to the bishop mentioning Peter’s two escapes from prison until his third time when Jesus told him to return to Rome to die for faith. And he asked Christians to stop looking for money to buy his freedom.
Priest
(1795-1839)
* Following Peter’s Example...
- “Quo vadis, Domine?”
Teacher, where are you going?
On the escape road to flee Emperor Nero’s cruel persecutions which was brutalizing Rome, the leader of the disciples Peter uttered the precedent questions in bewilderment when he suddenly encountered the Lord Jesus carrying the cross in the opposite direction.
After that question was a short moment of silence... the silence seemed to last forever and probably would never repeated again. Peter seemed to be able to find the answer in the Lord Jesus’ eyes which was a little like Jesus’ eyes when Peter denied him three times. And in that silence, he suddenly heard a sad but sweet voice in his ears:
- When you abandon my people. I have to go to Rome to be nailed on the cross again.
Peter was dead quiet and immediately understood...
The disciple had left town to avoid the madness of a tyrant at the insistence of the faithful who considered him their strength, their breath, and their support. He had to live for the good of the flock. Now, Peter’s mind was refreshed with the greatest lesson from the Master Teacher Jesus, the carpenter of Nazareth who had died at the age of 33 on the cross to redeem mankind.
In that majestic instant, Peter abruptly remembered and instead of exhausted feet to run away, he purposely and decisively returned... in order to be like his Teacher. Henceforth, on Peter’s rock, Rome became the everlasting capital. Yes, no one could comprehend third at the time.
After the third arrest, Fr. Andrew Dũng Lạc seemed to appreciate Peter’s lesson of the past. Man’s thinking might not be similar to God’s will. He begged Christian to stop paying ransom for his freedom; he had decided to sacrifice his own life to become a gleam of light uniting with other lights to give witness to God in this beloved land.
* Arrested Three Times.
Born into a pagan family of Bắc Ninh province in 1795. Trần An Dũng followed his parents to Kẻ Chợ, presently Hà Nội. Because of poverty, he was entrusted to a catechist who taught and baptized him with Saint Andrew as his patron. Soon after, Dũng asked to be admitted to Vĩnh Trị seminary and lived with Vicar Lan. At an early age, he exhibited special intelligence with an amazing memory. Additionally he was very diligent, gifted with poetic talent, and compassionate in his relationship with others. It was said that could remember by heart any excerpt by just reading it twice.
After serving ten years as catechist and three years of studying theology, on 3/15/1823 Deacon Dũng was ordained into the priesthood (same class as Saints Ngân and Nghi), and was appointed associate pastor of Đồng Chuối parish assisting Fr. Khiết. For the next three years, he helped Fr. Thi at Xứ Đoài, then Fr. Thuyết in Sơn Miêng. Finally, while serving as pastor at Kẻ Đầm parish, he was arrested. Throughout his life as a priest, Fr. Andrew Dũng led an austere life. Besides the Church’s obligatory fast days, he fasted the whole Lenten season, and on many occasions on Fridays and Saturdays. His normal meals were very simple. He put all his strength into his ministry, never hesitating for a moment helping his faithful. He had a special heart for the poor. Anything he had, he distributed almost all.
When King Minh Mạng’s persecutions intensified through the edict of nationwide ban of Christianity on 1/6/1833, the priest had to hide in Christians’ homes. He then escaped to Kẻ Roi where he built a rectory. One day, after finishing Mass, soldiers rushed in, he quickly changed into out of sacramental vestments and sat mixed in with the congregation. Nevertheless, soldiers arrested him as one of the 30 Christians they arrested that day because they did not recognize him. Mr. Thìn, the community leader, tricked the authorities that the priest was one of his relatives, and paid a ransom of 6 piasters to buy his freedom. From then on, he took on the name Lạc.
He was arrested the second time when he went to Kẻ Sông for his monthly sacrament of confession with Fr. Thi. Village chief Pháp arrested both priests and haggled with the faithful for a ransom payment of 200 piasters. Christians together came up with 100 piasters, so the village chief released only Fr. Lạc. However, on the way home, the weather turned windy and began to rain, his sampan had to dock. The home, which he was staying in, was searched by soldiers. Therefore, he was arrested the third time and brought to Bình Lục district together with Fr. Thi.
Once more, Christians and Bishop Retord Liêu tried to pay ransom for the two priests. But this time Fr. Andrew Lạc saw God’s plan for him, he sent words to the bishop mentioning Peter’s two escapes from prison until his third time when Jesus told him to return to Rome to die for faith. And he asked Christians to stop looking for money to buy his freedom.