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06-04-2006, 09:17 PM
May 25
Saint Peter ĐOÀN VĂN VÂN
Catechist
(1780-1857)
The Loyal Manager
Not too long after his hiding away from the rectory, the catechist Peter Đoàn Văn Vân felt uneasy and started to worry about the life of the parish. His entire live had been attached to managing the parish rectory, a job he put his heart and soul in to fulfill because he considered it a responsibility assigned by God.
The catechist Peter Vân decided to return to his job. That decision and the dedication to his responsibility had led him to the path of martyrdom. He was arrested at the entrance to the village of Tiên Cát on the way to the rectory.
Virtuous Like the Catechist Peter Vân
Peter Đoàn Văn Vân was born in 1780 in Kẻ Bói village, Kẻ Sông parish, Hà Nam province. When he was still young, he lived with Fr. Thi and was sent to a Latin school. At 25, he became a catechist and began his ministry in various parishes. His last assignment was at the village of Bầu Nọ, which was later renamed Nỗ Lực, including the responsibility for managing the rectory. He was dedicated to his work, generous to the poor, gentle and courteous to everyone, but very strict with himself. His meals were simple and his clothes were plain. Besides managing the rectory, he also ministered to parishioners living their Christian lives, visited the sick, and kept vigil by deathbeds, and pacified conflicts, divisions... His virtuous live was a model for the entire diocese. When people praised a catechist, they often said: “This person was as virtuous as the catechist Peter Vân.”
Sentence For a Priest
At the time, two village officials, Messrs. Tương and Huống, who had gambled away villagers’ tax money, went to the rectory to borrow rice to repay their debts. Knowing that the two were addict gamblers, Peter Vân refused their request, resulting in their going to the authorities with the accusation that: “There is a priest in the village of Nỗ Lực, a church, and even a rectory.” The mandarin immediately led soldiers to the village, but did not arrest anyone. Several days later, Tương and Huống arrested Peter Vân, took him to the authority accusing him of being a priest.
Before the tribunal, recognizing that the elderly man was over 70 years old, the prefecture mandarin only asked if he really was a priest. Mr. Peter Vân humbly replied: “Your Excellency, I tell the truth not daring to falsify, I am only a catechist. If you consider me a priest, it’s your idea; I dare not accept.” The mandarin urged him to renounce his faith to be freed, but the catechist replied: “Your Excellency, I have been a believer for these many years, how could I reject it?”
He was jailed in Lâm Thao for about four months. Parishioners dared not visit him fearing that the authority might abuse the catechist, only Fr. Nghiêm sneaked in twice to hear his confession and then asked parishioner Lê Văn Giáp to bring in the communion which gave the catechist tremendous consolation. The catechist Peter Vân was later transferred to the city of Sơn Tây jail for two more months. During this time, due to lack of care packages he suffered from hunger, and without money to bribe the guards he was despised, tormented, and harassed constantly. Nevertheless, even after many corrections by the catechist Peter Vân, the mandarins still accused him of being a priest.
The Reward For the Loyal Servant
When the verdict for Peter Vân, “Catholic Priest,” was approved by the king, he cheerfully waited for the day of honor. On the way to the execution site, the exhausted 77 years old man was helped by two soldiers to keep him from falling while another soldier pulled on a rope that was looped around his neck. However, a smile was always on his face.
At the execution site, the catechist asked the executioner for a few minutes to pray. Then, he bowed his head and the executioner swung the saber to severe his head. The catechist Peter Vân finished beautifully his life on earth, the exemplary life of a “loyal servant who distributes the food allowance at the proper time.” The catechist Peter Vân had lived virtuously and had sacrificed his life for God’s mission. The date was 5/25/1857. Parishioners of Bách Lộc parish buried his remains right at the execution site. Later his remains were relocated to the church of Bách Lộc.
Pope Pius X elevated the catechist Peter Phêrô Đoàn Văn Vân to the rank of blessed on 5/2/1909.
Hoàng Tôn Thất
Saint Peter ĐOÀN VĂN VÂN
Catechist
(1780-1857)
The Loyal Manager
Not too long after his hiding away from the rectory, the catechist Peter Đoàn Văn Vân felt uneasy and started to worry about the life of the parish. His entire live had been attached to managing the parish rectory, a job he put his heart and soul in to fulfill because he considered it a responsibility assigned by God.
The catechist Peter Vân decided to return to his job. That decision and the dedication to his responsibility had led him to the path of martyrdom. He was arrested at the entrance to the village of Tiên Cát on the way to the rectory.
Virtuous Like the Catechist Peter Vân
Peter Đoàn Văn Vân was born in 1780 in Kẻ Bói village, Kẻ Sông parish, Hà Nam province. When he was still young, he lived with Fr. Thi and was sent to a Latin school. At 25, he became a catechist and began his ministry in various parishes. His last assignment was at the village of Bầu Nọ, which was later renamed Nỗ Lực, including the responsibility for managing the rectory. He was dedicated to his work, generous to the poor, gentle and courteous to everyone, but very strict with himself. His meals were simple and his clothes were plain. Besides managing the rectory, he also ministered to parishioners living their Christian lives, visited the sick, and kept vigil by deathbeds, and pacified conflicts, divisions... His virtuous live was a model for the entire diocese. When people praised a catechist, they often said: “This person was as virtuous as the catechist Peter Vân.”
Sentence For a Priest
At the time, two village officials, Messrs. Tương and Huống, who had gambled away villagers’ tax money, went to the rectory to borrow rice to repay their debts. Knowing that the two were addict gamblers, Peter Vân refused their request, resulting in their going to the authorities with the accusation that: “There is a priest in the village of Nỗ Lực, a church, and even a rectory.” The mandarin immediately led soldiers to the village, but did not arrest anyone. Several days later, Tương and Huống arrested Peter Vân, took him to the authority accusing him of being a priest.
Before the tribunal, recognizing that the elderly man was over 70 years old, the prefecture mandarin only asked if he really was a priest. Mr. Peter Vân humbly replied: “Your Excellency, I tell the truth not daring to falsify, I am only a catechist. If you consider me a priest, it’s your idea; I dare not accept.” The mandarin urged him to renounce his faith to be freed, but the catechist replied: “Your Excellency, I have been a believer for these many years, how could I reject it?”
He was jailed in Lâm Thao for about four months. Parishioners dared not visit him fearing that the authority might abuse the catechist, only Fr. Nghiêm sneaked in twice to hear his confession and then asked parishioner Lê Văn Giáp to bring in the communion which gave the catechist tremendous consolation. The catechist Peter Vân was later transferred to the city of Sơn Tây jail for two more months. During this time, due to lack of care packages he suffered from hunger, and without money to bribe the guards he was despised, tormented, and harassed constantly. Nevertheless, even after many corrections by the catechist Peter Vân, the mandarins still accused him of being a priest.
The Reward For the Loyal Servant
When the verdict for Peter Vân, “Catholic Priest,” was approved by the king, he cheerfully waited for the day of honor. On the way to the execution site, the exhausted 77 years old man was helped by two soldiers to keep him from falling while another soldier pulled on a rope that was looped around his neck. However, a smile was always on his face.
At the execution site, the catechist asked the executioner for a few minutes to pray. Then, he bowed his head and the executioner swung the saber to severe his head. The catechist Peter Vân finished beautifully his life on earth, the exemplary life of a “loyal servant who distributes the food allowance at the proper time.” The catechist Peter Vân had lived virtuously and had sacrificed his life for God’s mission. The date was 5/25/1857. Parishioners of Bách Lộc parish buried his remains right at the execution site. Later his remains were relocated to the church of Bách Lộc.
Pope Pius X elevated the catechist Peter Phêrô Đoàn Văn Vân to the rank of blessed on 5/2/1909.
Hoàng Tôn Thất