admin
06-06-2006, 08:30 PM
June 17
Saint Peter ĐA
Carpenter
(1802-1862)
* Courageous Faith.
Saint Peter Đa was the last martyr of the 117 Vietnamese martyrs honored by the Church. His death ended the perilous era and commenced a peaceful period for the Church of Vietnam. Even though he was just a simple and uneducated Christian growing up in a poor family, but the courage and strong faith of the carpenter Peter Đa, no less than that of his shepherd, had helped him accept sacrifice, even his life, to keep his loyalty with Christ.
* Devout Live.
Peter Đa was born around 1802 into a working-class family in the village of Ngọc Cục, Lục Thuỷ parish, Nam Định province, in the vicariate of Mid North. His father was a Catholic while his mother was a non-Catholic. Even so, Peter Đa was baptized as a baby and reared in the Christian faith.
Peter Đa was married and made his living as a carpenter. He was an exemplary father who took great care of raising his children and guided them by his own religious live. On the other hand, he participated enthusiastically in parish works; he took on the job of ringing the church bell and of worship minister.
Following the edict of Segregation and Integration, Mr. Peter Đa was arrested when he was around 60 years old and taken to Xuân Trường prefecture along with other Christians. After spending 6 days in jail there, he was transferred to Qua Linh where he was savagely tormented, but he bravely endured the sufferings refusing to walk over the cross. Unable to convince him and others to renounce their faith, the mandarin ordered them burned to death.
* Glory to the Loyal Servant.
On June 17, 1862 the loyal servant Peter Đa was taken to the place of execution. On the way, he was cheerful and calmly prayed entrusting everything to God’s providence. Additionally he asked God to grant him the courage to overcome the final torture for the sake of the Most Holy Teacher.
As the pyre fire died down, soldiers feared that he was still alive, so they beheaded him. Therefore, it could be said that St. Peter Đa, an indomitable Christian, had sacrificed twice for the immortal Truth: by fire and decapitation. The remains of the loyal servant were buried at the site of execution. The following year, his remains were exhumed and buried back at his hometown.
On April 29, 1951, the carpenter of Ngọc Cục village, Peter Đa, was elevated by Pope Pius XII to the rank of blessed.
Hoàng Tôn Thất
Saint Peter ĐA
Carpenter
(1802-1862)
* Courageous Faith.
Saint Peter Đa was the last martyr of the 117 Vietnamese martyrs honored by the Church. His death ended the perilous era and commenced a peaceful period for the Church of Vietnam. Even though he was just a simple and uneducated Christian growing up in a poor family, but the courage and strong faith of the carpenter Peter Đa, no less than that of his shepherd, had helped him accept sacrifice, even his life, to keep his loyalty with Christ.
* Devout Live.
Peter Đa was born around 1802 into a working-class family in the village of Ngọc Cục, Lục Thuỷ parish, Nam Định province, in the vicariate of Mid North. His father was a Catholic while his mother was a non-Catholic. Even so, Peter Đa was baptized as a baby and reared in the Christian faith.
Peter Đa was married and made his living as a carpenter. He was an exemplary father who took great care of raising his children and guided them by his own religious live. On the other hand, he participated enthusiastically in parish works; he took on the job of ringing the church bell and of worship minister.
Following the edict of Segregation and Integration, Mr. Peter Đa was arrested when he was around 60 years old and taken to Xuân Trường prefecture along with other Christians. After spending 6 days in jail there, he was transferred to Qua Linh where he was savagely tormented, but he bravely endured the sufferings refusing to walk over the cross. Unable to convince him and others to renounce their faith, the mandarin ordered them burned to death.
* Glory to the Loyal Servant.
On June 17, 1862 the loyal servant Peter Đa was taken to the place of execution. On the way, he was cheerful and calmly prayed entrusting everything to God’s providence. Additionally he asked God to grant him the courage to overcome the final torture for the sake of the Most Holy Teacher.
As the pyre fire died down, soldiers feared that he was still alive, so they beheaded him. Therefore, it could be said that St. Peter Đa, an indomitable Christian, had sacrificed twice for the immortal Truth: by fire and decapitation. The remains of the loyal servant were buried at the site of execution. The following year, his remains were exhumed and buried back at his hometown.
On April 29, 1951, the carpenter of Ngọc Cục village, Peter Đa, was elevated by Pope Pius XII to the rank of blessed.
Hoàng Tôn Thất