Ngày 13/1 Thánh Dominic Phạm Trọng Khảm

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January 13

Saint Dominic PHẠM TRỌNG KHẢM
Judge
(1780-1859)
Dominic Phạm Trọng Khảm was born circa 1780 into a wealthy family with seven children in the village of Quần Cống, Trà Lũ Township, Xuân Trường Prefecture, Nam Định province (in the present diocese of Bùi Chu). His father was Mr. Phạm Trí Khiêm, a well-known government official well respected by the people. Absorbing his father’s many virtuous traits, Khảm was widely known as a dutiful son. At 18, obeying his parents’ wish, he married Miss. Agnes Phượng, a virtuous girl in the village. The couple lived harmoniously and was respected by the local people. Especially, they shared responsibilities in raising and encouraging their children to study. Mr. Thìn, their son, rose to become township chief, was well respected by all, and was also a loyal witness of faith to his last breath like his father. Their three daughters: Nhiêu Côn, Nhiêu Trữ and Hậu Địch, were also allowed to attend schools like their sons and were known for their resourcefulness and wit.
When arrested, Judge Khảm, nearly 80 years old, was the leader in the village, a tertiary member and also the president of the parish leadership group. Everyone agreed that he was a Piusus, charitable, and dedicated in his works. Missionaries including bishops also knew of his virtues and even stayed in his house during the difficult days. In the parish, he collaborated with the pastor leading and organizing the community. In the village, he was an honorable man who paid attention to the villagers needs, both physically and spiritually, readily helped the poor, and urged everyone to be brave under persecutions. His descendants wrote: “Family members had to invite the destitute to sit at the table before he started the meal.”
Because of his willingness to share his wealth, he set up a ruse to feed the whole village: he had the village herald to all corners and fields of the village to invite all to a kite-flying competition. Winning and losing were immaterial because all were feted to a grand feast.
When soldiers came and surrounded the village of Quần Cống, he gathered all the villagers together to advise them to persevere. To persuade the weak of heart, he warned: “Those among you who walk over the cross will be evicted from the village when the mandarin leave and will not be able to find a plot to bury themselves.” Nevertheless he was arrested. On the trip of transporting “stubborn” Christians to Nam Định province, Judge Khảm was isolated from the rest, right in the boat of the mandarin, to prevent him from influencing others. But during his time in prison, he was the support, the inspiration, and the person who encouraged and shared with fellow inmates his material goods as well as his spirituality.

Saint Joseph PHẠM TRỌNG TẢ
Canton Chief
(1820-1589)

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Saint Lucas PHẠM TRỌNG THÌN
Canton Chief
(1820-1859)
Even though they were separated by 20 years in age, Mr. Joseph Tả and Mr. Lucas Thìn’s lives were intertwined in the historical background during the persecution. The former was the ex-canton chief while the latter was the current chief of Quần Cống. They must certainly talk among themselves so that with the urging of Bishop Sampedro Xuyên of the central vicariate of Tonkin[1] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#_ftn1) (North Vietnam), they chose dialogue as the approach to maintain peace with the authorities. They built a relationship with the governor to establish in him the spirit of compassion and generosity. Unfortunately, that approach was futile and they had to pay for the peace mission with their lives.
Joseph Phạm Trọng Tả was born around 1800 in the village of Quần Cống, Trà Lũ district, Xuân Trường prefecture, Nam Định province. Mr. Joseph Tả was one of Mr. Dominic Phạm Thăng’son and also Saint Khảm’s cousin. He was already 60 when he was arrested. He was a religious Christian, a Dominican Tertiary member, and the ex-canton chief. Together with Mr. Lucas Thìn, he worked to assist parishioners lived Christian life during the difficult time. Genealogical accounts read: “He had many servants. He visited and gave them New Year lucky money even before the New Year. The amount of many was usually twice what they gave him as gifts during the year. He also cut in half what they owed him and forgave those who were destitute. He also did the same to debts owed by villagers. When his wife grumbled, he responded coolly: “We forgive debts owed by others, God forgives our sins.”
Lucas Phạm Trọng Thìn was Judge Dominic Khảm’s son. He was born circa 1820 in Quần Cống village, Trà Lũ district, Xuân Trường prefecture, Nam Định province. Under this honorable and well-to-do home headed by Judge Dominic Khảm’s, Lucas Thìn had grown up in a Christian environment and became an educated man. With his intellect and diligence, he soon achieved “success and fame.” At the moment of his arrest he was only 40 years old and was a trusted and powerful canton chief. Actually when he first assumed the job, he neglected his Christian responsibilities due to frequent social visits with other mandarins (his wife was Mrs. Maria Tâm). But with his father’s and especially the confessor priest’s advices, he became contrite with all his heart. Henceforth he became a model of sanctity, a head of family, a religious member of the Dominican Tertiary Từ, and a trusted leader.
In 1858, the persecution was intensified as the allied navy of France and Spain was threatening Vietnam in Đà Nẵng. The furious King Tự Đức ordered mandarins to strictly carry out his edicts against Christianity. However, in reality, the success depended on the efforts of the local authorities. Taking advantage of that fact, Bishop Sampedro Xuyên designated Messrs. Joseph Tả and Lucas Thìn the important task of peace messengers because they were government leaders with easy access to higher authorities.
Knowing the bishop’s agenda and with their understanding of Christians in Quần Cống, The two met with Nam Định governor to urge him to go easy on Christians and promised to exhort villagers to be loyal to the king. The negotiation was nearing completion when a disgruntled man in Cao Xá stirred up an uprising against the local authorities. As a result, the governor interrupted the talk and ordered the roundup of missionaries, priests and respected Christian leaders. He also accused Messrs. Joseph Tả and Lucas Thìn of deceit and waited for opportunities to arrest them. We will learn of these opportunities in the subsequent section.
Three times before the tribunal, the two resolutely refused to walk over the cross regardless of threats and tortures. When the mandarin asked them to put their thoughts on paper, Mr. Lucas Thìn professed his faith clearly and bravely as followed:” As a Christian, I am willing to suffer all tortures even the most painful death rather than commit the smallest sin against my faith. I myself write these words.”
Lucas Thìn.
Against the mandarin’s wishes, Mr. Lucas Tả did not offend the cross; moreover he advised others not to commit the “hideous” sin.
As Jesus, the Prince of Peace, had used the crucifix to reconciliate mankind’s ingratitude to the God Father, Messrs. Joseph Tả and Lucas Thìn forever remained messengers of peace by their deaths to demonstrate their faith to God and loyalty to their country.

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[1] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#_ftnref1) By decree of September 9,1659, Pope Alexander VII established the first two dioceses in Vietnam using the Gianh River as the boundary: North of the river is Diocese of Tonkin (Dang Ngoai) and south of the river is Diocese of Cochin China (Dang Trong).

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* Bearing Witness By The Whole Christian Village.
In 1858, to start the five years of the most violent persecution in the history of the Vietnamese Church, the king offered rewards to those who would provide information on European missionaries’ hiding places and threatened to severely punish those who provided them sanctuary. Consequentially, the missionaries had to go into hiding, moving from village to village. Quần Cống village was a relatively safe place because all the village officials were Catholics who willingly welcomed them. Foreseeing the probability of his capture, Bishop Sampedro Xuyên, the Holy See’s representative in the central vicariate of Tonkin, had officiated the mass consecrating Fr. Valentino Vinh as Coadjutor Bishop on June 14 in Ninh Cường with Fr. Riado Hoà and Fr. Carreras Hiển as co-consecrators. Afterward, all four went to Quần Cống and took refuge at Judge Dominic Khảm, Mr. Joseph Tả’s and Mr. Nhiêu Côn’s homes.
Informed of the European missionaries’ presence in Quần Cống, the security mandarin of Nam Định immediately led soldiers in pursuit. However, warned of the imminent raid, Judge Dominic Khảm quickly helped the missionaries out of the village. Bishop Valentino Vinh and the two priests went to Trà Lũ village while Bishop Sampedro Xuyên went to Kiên Lao where he was arrested on July 8. After the missionaries had left, the judge, holding a whip, walked behind the village herald who went in front shouting: “Villagers, the judge declares that any person who walks over the cross will be given three canes and driven out of town.” The judge then assembled villagers together to give them encouragement.
Soon after, soldiers rushed into the village, gathered villagers, sent for the Judge Dominic Khảm and said: “Immediately hand over European and native priests as well as catechists hiding in the village. If not, you will be arrested, your possessions will be confiscated, your house will be burned, and you will be accused of the crime of opposition against the king.” Staying calm because knew that missionaries had long gone, Judge Dominic Khảm ascertained: “True, there are priests in our faith, but how do we know where they live. Your Honor can freely search, if any priest is found, do whatever you want.”
Soldiers spread out and searched every single home without locating any missionary. However, they discovered a number of icons and sacramental vestments, so they accused the homeowner of providing refuge to priests. Judge Dominic Khảm quickly assumed responsibility by admitting ownership of those sacramental items. Nevertheless, the mandarin still ordered the whole family arrested.
Back at the place where villagers were assembled, the mandarin placed a crucifix in the middle and forced everyone to walk over. However he was not successful because no one walked over the cross that day even under threats from soldiers. An elderly tremblingly made a few steps forward out of fear, but Judge Dominic Khảm quickly stopped the old man and reprimanded him. The mandarin angrily shouted: “I will lose my job if I cannot convict Judge Khảm and these unfortunate people.” He then ordered the arrest of Judge Dominic Khảm, Mr. Dominic Tả, Mr. Lucas Thìn, along with a number of other Christians, and brought them the provincial city of Nam Định. Judge Dominic Khảm was transported aboard the mandarin’s boat.
* We Have Heaven.
In Nam Định, Judge Dominic Khảm and his son, Lucas Thìn, were separeated at first, but saw see each other in court and later jailed together. Happy to be together, the two encouraged each other to bear the sufferings for the love of Christ. All the Quần Cống prisoners together decided to maintain their faith even if they had to pay with their life. Particularly Judge Dominic Khảm, often speaking for the group, tried to explain Christian teachings to the mandarin.
The day after Bishop Sampedro Xuyên was arrested, the mandarin had the three men brought to the bishop. The men greeted the bishop and could not hide their joy seeing their shepherd. Seeing their actions, the mandarin presumed that they had harbored this missionary. Although the bishop had actually stayed at his home, Judge Dominic Khảm explained in generality: “As Christians, we respect and love any priest even those we don’t know.”
After four and a half months of incarceration, the mandarin informed the three of their death sentence by strangulation. Mr. Lucas Thìn demanded to know the crime for which they were convicted; the mandarin revealed that they were convicted for the crime of opposing the king. Mr. Lucas Thìn contested. In the end, following his suggestion, the following words were added to the sentence: “NOT WALK OVER THE CROSS.” The men were happy because they were going to be martyred for Christ. In the remaining days, the men prepared themselves for they day of martyrdom.
The three witnesses of faith understood deeply Christ’s words blessing those who would be persecuted in his name. To the three men, being tortured and executed for Christ was the ultimate honor. They happily awaited it while encouraging others. And after informed of the arrival of execution, Judge Dominic Khảm joyfully told everyone: “Today my son and I will be in Heaven.” All three were ready to leave this world to join the rank of Martyred Saints and to open their arms to receive the Glory which God had promised to His loyal servants.
On 1/13/1859, besides Judge Dominic Khảm, Joseph Tả and Lucas Thìn, seven Quần Cống parishioners were also led to the execution site in Bảy Mẫu, Nam Định. They loudly recited the Rosary as they walked. At the site, they continued to say the Creed, the Prayer of Trust, the Prayer of Love, and the Act of Contrition; then they called out Jesus’ name. Soldiers pushed them to the ground, tied them to stakes planted in the ground. Each person was strangled by two executioners pulling on a rope looped around their neck. Quần Cống Christians brought the martyrs’ remains back to their parish for solemn burials.
Pope Pius XII elevated the three martyred heroes: Dominic Phạm Trọng Khảm, Joseph Phạm Trọng Tả and Lucas Phạm Trọng Thìn to the rank of blessed on 4/29/1951.