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06-02-2006, 12:24 PM
March 11
Saint Dominic CẨM
Priest and Dominican Tertiary
(?-1859)
* Going on Missions.
Going to any place where service is required.
Is it not military discipline? Hence Fr. Dominic Cẩm truly was a “soldier” of Christ fighting for love.
Is it not the virtue of a loyal servant? Fr. Dominic Cẩm was also really a wise and loyal servant who “distribute the food allowance at the proper time” and always “light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return.”
Going to any place where service is required. It was a very simple and ordinary notion which does not have any trace of a “great” journey or an endeavor that is life-changing. But every ordinary activity is still a true endeavor, and if the outside appearance of an endeavor could not express completely the tenacity and loyalty of a soldier or of a loyal servant, then in Fr. Dominic Cẩm’s life, death, right his death, had completed everything, had bared the best of all the endeavors, because it truly was the only endeavor leading to Father’s Home.
* Dedicated Priest.
Dominic Cẩm was born in the village of Cẩm Giang (or Cẩm Chương), Kẻ Roi parish, in Bắc Ninh province (presently Hà Bắc which includes Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang provinces). Known for his intelligence and resourcefulness early, Dominic Cẩm was chosen for religious life. After theology formation, Dominic Cẩm was ordained a priest. A short time later, the young priest joined the Dominican Tertiary Confraternity. He was very devoted to pastoral ministry, and was admired by the superior as well as everyone.
In 1848 after the Holy See divided the east vicariate of Tonkin (North Vietnam) into two vicariates, East (Hải Phòng) and Middle (Bùi Chu), even though his birthplace was in the East vicariate, Fr. Dominic Cẩm was assigned to the Middle vicariate because the number of Christians was three times higher in the Middle vicariate. When the persecution became violent, he had to go into hiding, going from place to place, for the benefit of Christians. However, whenever his pastoral service was required, Fr. Dominic Cẩm was willing to go any place even in the danger of being arrested.
Early 1859 he took refuge in Hà Lang where his presence was discovered and betrayed to the authority (money or position rewards were given to informers at the time.) Therefore the authorities came and arrested the priest in on 1/21/1859 and brought him to Hưng Yên.
In front of the governor, Fr. Dominic Cẩm admitted to being a Catholic priest, expressed his willingness to accept all tortures but not trampling on the cross. After many fruitless advices and threats, the governor had him thrown into a cramped cage for many long months.
* Heavenly Glory.
During his imprisonment, his characters and dignity won over soldiers who allowed many Christians to come and visit. Following the Disciple Paul’s example, Fr. Dominic Cẩm took advantage of the visits to preach the Good News and advised everyone to maintain a strong faith and to have complete trust in God. Through Christian visitors, he wrote letters to Bishop Valentino Vinh, expressing his loyalty to Christ and his desire for the grace of martyrdom. The bishop sent Fr. Hương to visit and hear his confession on January 30.
Receiving the news of the sentence of beheading, Fr. Dominic Cẩm appeared joyful. On the way to the execution field, he was proud like a victorious soldier. Mrs. Maria Huệ, a Christian witnessing at the execution testified:
“At the execution site, he knelt and prayed for a short moment, then happily gave the signal for the executioner to carry out his task.”
The executioner swung the saber three times but could not sever the head. He had to slice it back and forth many times to separate the head from the body. The date was March 11, 1859. His remains were later brought to Cẩm Chương, his birthplace, for burial.
On April 29, 1951 Pope Pius XII elevated Fr. Dominic Cẩm along with 24 other martyrs to the rank of blessed.
Hoàng Tôn Thất
Saint Dominic CẨM
Priest and Dominican Tertiary
(?-1859)
* Going on Missions.
Going to any place where service is required.
Is it not military discipline? Hence Fr. Dominic Cẩm truly was a “soldier” of Christ fighting for love.
Is it not the virtue of a loyal servant? Fr. Dominic Cẩm was also really a wise and loyal servant who “distribute the food allowance at the proper time” and always “light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return.”
Going to any place where service is required. It was a very simple and ordinary notion which does not have any trace of a “great” journey or an endeavor that is life-changing. But every ordinary activity is still a true endeavor, and if the outside appearance of an endeavor could not express completely the tenacity and loyalty of a soldier or of a loyal servant, then in Fr. Dominic Cẩm’s life, death, right his death, had completed everything, had bared the best of all the endeavors, because it truly was the only endeavor leading to Father’s Home.
* Dedicated Priest.
Dominic Cẩm was born in the village of Cẩm Giang (or Cẩm Chương), Kẻ Roi parish, in Bắc Ninh province (presently Hà Bắc which includes Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang provinces). Known for his intelligence and resourcefulness early, Dominic Cẩm was chosen for religious life. After theology formation, Dominic Cẩm was ordained a priest. A short time later, the young priest joined the Dominican Tertiary Confraternity. He was very devoted to pastoral ministry, and was admired by the superior as well as everyone.
In 1848 after the Holy See divided the east vicariate of Tonkin (North Vietnam) into two vicariates, East (Hải Phòng) and Middle (Bùi Chu), even though his birthplace was in the East vicariate, Fr. Dominic Cẩm was assigned to the Middle vicariate because the number of Christians was three times higher in the Middle vicariate. When the persecution became violent, he had to go into hiding, going from place to place, for the benefit of Christians. However, whenever his pastoral service was required, Fr. Dominic Cẩm was willing to go any place even in the danger of being arrested.
Early 1859 he took refuge in Hà Lang where his presence was discovered and betrayed to the authority (money or position rewards were given to informers at the time.) Therefore the authorities came and arrested the priest in on 1/21/1859 and brought him to Hưng Yên.
In front of the governor, Fr. Dominic Cẩm admitted to being a Catholic priest, expressed his willingness to accept all tortures but not trampling on the cross. After many fruitless advices and threats, the governor had him thrown into a cramped cage for many long months.
* Heavenly Glory.
During his imprisonment, his characters and dignity won over soldiers who allowed many Christians to come and visit. Following the Disciple Paul’s example, Fr. Dominic Cẩm took advantage of the visits to preach the Good News and advised everyone to maintain a strong faith and to have complete trust in God. Through Christian visitors, he wrote letters to Bishop Valentino Vinh, expressing his loyalty to Christ and his desire for the grace of martyrdom. The bishop sent Fr. Hương to visit and hear his confession on January 30.
Receiving the news of the sentence of beheading, Fr. Dominic Cẩm appeared joyful. On the way to the execution field, he was proud like a victorious soldier. Mrs. Maria Huệ, a Christian witnessing at the execution testified:
“At the execution site, he knelt and prayed for a short moment, then happily gave the signal for the executioner to carry out his task.”
The executioner swung the saber three times but could not sever the head. He had to slice it back and forth many times to separate the head from the body. The date was March 11, 1859. His remains were later brought to Cẩm Chương, his birthplace, for burial.
On April 29, 1951 Pope Pius XII elevated Fr. Dominic Cẩm along with 24 other martyrs to the rank of blessed.
Hoàng Tôn Thất