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30-06-2006, 08:16 AM
July 31
Saint Peter ĐOÀN CÔNG QUÝ
Priest
(1826-1859)
* The Early Years.
Mr. Anthony Đoàn Công Miêng and Mrs. Agnes Nguyễn Thị Thường lived in North Vietnam until 1820 when they relocated their family to the South, in the community of Búng, Hưng Thịnh village, Bình Thạnh canton, Thủ Dầu Một (presently Bình Dương city). In 1826, their youngest son Peter Đoàn Công Quý was born. He was the sixth child in the family and also the sacrifice that the family offered to God.
Noticing his intelligence, Mr. Miêng planned for his son to follow a professional career path in order to bring fame and fortune to the family. However, God had a different plan for his youngest son. Quý often visited and studied with Fr. Tám of the community of Búng. Later, with his parents’ permission he lived with the priest and came home only occasionally.
* Missionary Works.
In 1855 catechist Quý returned home during King Tự Đức’s issuance of his third edict of persecution which ordered the arrest of not only priests, but also forced Christians to renounce their faith, destroyed churches and other facilities. Against this dark backdrop, Bishop Lefebvre Nghĩa gave him the responsibly to teach catechism and to take care of Christians in the region. Seeing his ability over time, the bishop consecrated him with the lower holy orders. After three years or ministering in the surrounding communities, in September 1858, he was ordained into the priesthood in Thủ Dầu Một. After serving in parishes: Lái Thiêu, Gia Định, and Kiên Hoà, the bishop appointed Fr. Peter Quý assistant pastor of Cái Mơn (Vĩnh Long).
Father Peter Quý was chosen into the evangelization field at a special time: the attack in Cửa Hàn (Đà Nẵng) in September 1858 by French and Spanish forces made King Tự Đức more furious at foreign missionaries and Christianity. Therefore, the persecution became more brutal, however the commitment to evangelization had helped Fr. Peter Quý overcome all sufferings, threats, and dangers. After only three months in Cái Mơn, soldiers surrounded the convent of the Lovers of the Cross in search of priests without success, so they arrested several sisters to interrogate their whereabouts. Hearing of the sisters’ captures, Fr. Peter Quý wanted to give himself up in exchange for their release, but parishioners advised against it. He only abandoned this idea at the direction of diocesan vicar Borelle Hoà. From then on, he dressed as an ordinary person to visit, encourage, and to provide sacraments to parishioners.
* The Stations of the Cross.
The bishop assigned Fr. Peter Quý to the community of Đầu Nước in Cù Lao Giông, An Giang province, on December 27, 1858; ten days later (1/7/1858) receiving intelligence that an European priest was hiding in Mr. Lê Văn Phụng’s house in Đầu Nước, An Giang governor sent in 100 soldiers. As soldiers approached the village, Mr. Lê Văn Phụng and the priests were warned. Fr. Pernot Định advised Fr. Peter Quý to flee, but Fr. Peter Quý calmly replied: “As a native, the authority would have difficulty differentiate me from the others. You go first, I stay to put away sacramental vessels to negate trouble to the homeowner as well as the community, and I will soon follow.” After Fr. Pernot Định left the house, the authority poured in. Fr. Peter Quý hurriedly hid in the crawl space. The mandarin ordered Mr. Lê Văn Phụng to hand over the European priest, but the homeowner adamantly refused his existence. The mandarin then threatened him with torture. To avoid torture to the homeowner, Fr. Peter Quý gave himself up and admitted to be a priest. But soldiers did not believe and even asserted that a European priest was still in the house. Fr. Peter Quý had to reaffirm: “There is no foreign priest, I am the only priest here. Whoever wants to become a Catholic, I am ready to teach.”
The mandarin still did not believe because Fr. Peter Quý looked very young, he asked Mr. Lê Văn Phụng‘s 10-year-old grandchild to point out who the priest was. The child pointed to Fr. Peter Quý and replied: “This person!” Soldiers immediately bound and shackled the priest, Mr. Lê Văn Phụng, along with 32 Christians, and took them to Châu Đốc where they led them before the governor who interrogated and promised to free the priest if he renounce his faith as directed by the king’s edict. However, Fr. Peter Quý steadfastly maintained his being a priest as well as his faith.
On another occasion, the governor told the priest: “You are a man of honest, gentle, and dignified. Why are you attracted to the bad religion? Listen to me and abandon that religion.” Fr. Peter Quý replied: “His Honor, as a preacher, how can I abandon my faith? Moreover, this is the true religion and teaches only goodness, not a bad religion as you are mistaken.” The governor had the priest jailed and later tried different tricks to bait, threaten, and torture to make him change his mind. But the priest maintained his faith. In the end, the governor sent the death sentence petition to the royal capital. During his 7-month incarceration, Fr. Peter Quý celebrated sacraments, prayed and recited the Holy Rosary with fellow prisoners. A number of parishioners as well as a native priest visited him, heard confession, and brought him the Eucharist.
* Love for Mother.
Even in prison, Fr. Peter Quý still thought of his mother (his father had died). He sent the following letter to his mother informing her of his upcoming martyrdom:
“...
No matter how long the imprisonment or heavy cangue
Or shackles and chains will deter me,
I’ll be happy to endure all
To fulfill my duty as a loyal servant and dutiful son,
To pay back God’s immense grace
And parental love too.
Mother, don’t feel sorry,
But bear the pain to glorify God.
...”
Love
Your Son, Đoàn Quốc Quý
Native Priest
* After the Bell Rings.
Fr. Peter Đoàn Công Quý’s desire to sacrifice his life for God was accepted: on 7/30/1859, his death sentence and that of Mr. Emmanuel Lê Văn Phụng came back from the royal capital. The next morning, July 31, Fr. Peter Quý and Mr. Lê Văn Phụng joyfully went to the execution site in Chà Và with the authority and Christians. The soldier at the front held the sentence tablet and occasionally said aloud:
“The thirteenth year of King Tự Đức’s reign, An Giang province, the Year of the Sheep (1859), the seventh month, the second day.
The tablet:
Fr. Đoàn Công Quý, believed in perverse religion, assembled Christians: not rejecting his faith, violated national laws, sentenced to death.”
At the execution site, the two Christ’s witnesses knelt and prayed. Then Fr. Peter Quý absolved Mr. Lê Văn Phụng’s sins. And the execution moment arrived. Three gong sounds went up, the executioner swung the saber three times at Fr. Peter Quý and his head fell to the ground. The martyr left earth for the eternal land with 33 and one year of priestly works. His body was buried at Năng Gù church, later moved to Cù Lao Giông seminary in 1959 on the 100th anniversary of his martyrdom.
Pope Pius X beatified Fr. Peter Đoàn Công Quý on 5/2/1909.
Hoàng Tôn Thất
Saint Peter ĐOÀN CÔNG QUÝ
Priest
(1826-1859)
* The Early Years.
Mr. Anthony Đoàn Công Miêng and Mrs. Agnes Nguyễn Thị Thường lived in North Vietnam until 1820 when they relocated their family to the South, in the community of Búng, Hưng Thịnh village, Bình Thạnh canton, Thủ Dầu Một (presently Bình Dương city). In 1826, their youngest son Peter Đoàn Công Quý was born. He was the sixth child in the family and also the sacrifice that the family offered to God.
Noticing his intelligence, Mr. Miêng planned for his son to follow a professional career path in order to bring fame and fortune to the family. However, God had a different plan for his youngest son. Quý often visited and studied with Fr. Tám of the community of Búng. Later, with his parents’ permission he lived with the priest and came home only occasionally.
* Missionary Works.
In 1855 catechist Quý returned home during King Tự Đức’s issuance of his third edict of persecution which ordered the arrest of not only priests, but also forced Christians to renounce their faith, destroyed churches and other facilities. Against this dark backdrop, Bishop Lefebvre Nghĩa gave him the responsibly to teach catechism and to take care of Christians in the region. Seeing his ability over time, the bishop consecrated him with the lower holy orders. After three years or ministering in the surrounding communities, in September 1858, he was ordained into the priesthood in Thủ Dầu Một. After serving in parishes: Lái Thiêu, Gia Định, and Kiên Hoà, the bishop appointed Fr. Peter Quý assistant pastor of Cái Mơn (Vĩnh Long).
Father Peter Quý was chosen into the evangelization field at a special time: the attack in Cửa Hàn (Đà Nẵng) in September 1858 by French and Spanish forces made King Tự Đức more furious at foreign missionaries and Christianity. Therefore, the persecution became more brutal, however the commitment to evangelization had helped Fr. Peter Quý overcome all sufferings, threats, and dangers. After only three months in Cái Mơn, soldiers surrounded the convent of the Lovers of the Cross in search of priests without success, so they arrested several sisters to interrogate their whereabouts. Hearing of the sisters’ captures, Fr. Peter Quý wanted to give himself up in exchange for their release, but parishioners advised against it. He only abandoned this idea at the direction of diocesan vicar Borelle Hoà. From then on, he dressed as an ordinary person to visit, encourage, and to provide sacraments to parishioners.
* The Stations of the Cross.
The bishop assigned Fr. Peter Quý to the community of Đầu Nước in Cù Lao Giông, An Giang province, on December 27, 1858; ten days later (1/7/1858) receiving intelligence that an European priest was hiding in Mr. Lê Văn Phụng’s house in Đầu Nước, An Giang governor sent in 100 soldiers. As soldiers approached the village, Mr. Lê Văn Phụng and the priests were warned. Fr. Pernot Định advised Fr. Peter Quý to flee, but Fr. Peter Quý calmly replied: “As a native, the authority would have difficulty differentiate me from the others. You go first, I stay to put away sacramental vessels to negate trouble to the homeowner as well as the community, and I will soon follow.” After Fr. Pernot Định left the house, the authority poured in. Fr. Peter Quý hurriedly hid in the crawl space. The mandarin ordered Mr. Lê Văn Phụng to hand over the European priest, but the homeowner adamantly refused his existence. The mandarin then threatened him with torture. To avoid torture to the homeowner, Fr. Peter Quý gave himself up and admitted to be a priest. But soldiers did not believe and even asserted that a European priest was still in the house. Fr. Peter Quý had to reaffirm: “There is no foreign priest, I am the only priest here. Whoever wants to become a Catholic, I am ready to teach.”
The mandarin still did not believe because Fr. Peter Quý looked very young, he asked Mr. Lê Văn Phụng‘s 10-year-old grandchild to point out who the priest was. The child pointed to Fr. Peter Quý and replied: “This person!” Soldiers immediately bound and shackled the priest, Mr. Lê Văn Phụng, along with 32 Christians, and took them to Châu Đốc where they led them before the governor who interrogated and promised to free the priest if he renounce his faith as directed by the king’s edict. However, Fr. Peter Quý steadfastly maintained his being a priest as well as his faith.
On another occasion, the governor told the priest: “You are a man of honest, gentle, and dignified. Why are you attracted to the bad religion? Listen to me and abandon that religion.” Fr. Peter Quý replied: “His Honor, as a preacher, how can I abandon my faith? Moreover, this is the true religion and teaches only goodness, not a bad religion as you are mistaken.” The governor had the priest jailed and later tried different tricks to bait, threaten, and torture to make him change his mind. But the priest maintained his faith. In the end, the governor sent the death sentence petition to the royal capital. During his 7-month incarceration, Fr. Peter Quý celebrated sacraments, prayed and recited the Holy Rosary with fellow prisoners. A number of parishioners as well as a native priest visited him, heard confession, and brought him the Eucharist.
* Love for Mother.
Even in prison, Fr. Peter Quý still thought of his mother (his father had died). He sent the following letter to his mother informing her of his upcoming martyrdom:
“...
No matter how long the imprisonment or heavy cangue
Or shackles and chains will deter me,
I’ll be happy to endure all
To fulfill my duty as a loyal servant and dutiful son,
To pay back God’s immense grace
And parental love too.
Mother, don’t feel sorry,
But bear the pain to glorify God.
...”
Love
Your Son, Đoàn Quốc Quý
Native Priest
* After the Bell Rings.
Fr. Peter Đoàn Công Quý’s desire to sacrifice his life for God was accepted: on 7/30/1859, his death sentence and that of Mr. Emmanuel Lê Văn Phụng came back from the royal capital. The next morning, July 31, Fr. Peter Quý and Mr. Lê Văn Phụng joyfully went to the execution site in Chà Và with the authority and Christians. The soldier at the front held the sentence tablet and occasionally said aloud:
“The thirteenth year of King Tự Đức’s reign, An Giang province, the Year of the Sheep (1859), the seventh month, the second day.
The tablet:
Fr. Đoàn Công Quý, believed in perverse religion, assembled Christians: not rejecting his faith, violated national laws, sentenced to death.”
At the execution site, the two Christ’s witnesses knelt and prayed. Then Fr. Peter Quý absolved Mr. Lê Văn Phụng’s sins. And the execution moment arrived. Three gong sounds went up, the executioner swung the saber three times at Fr. Peter Quý and his head fell to the ground. The martyr left earth for the eternal land with 33 and one year of priestly works. His body was buried at Năng Gù church, later moved to Cù Lao Giông seminary in 1959 on the 100th anniversary of his martyrdom.
Pope Pius X beatified Fr. Peter Đoàn Công Quý on 5/2/1909.
Hoàng Tôn Thất