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The martrydom of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, priest, martyr and faithful witness, received into the bosom of Christ on this day in 1839
Christ was persecuted during his life on earth, and so the body that extends the life of Christ on earth, the Catholic Church, must also experience persecution. This has happened from the crucifixion, through the stoning of St. Stephan, through the killing of Christians in Rome, from those times up through our own times. One only needs to look at the persecuted Christians in Iraq, the Holy Land, India, and China to make this point clear.
Today’s saint highlights the witness that Christians make to the radical newness and the radical change that Christ brought to the world. Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions provided the ultimate witness to the truth of about Christ before their fellow country-men between the years of 1820 and 1862. They were among some of the first Catholics in Vietnam. These martyr-witnesses includes the namesake of this feast, a priest by the name of Andrew Dung-Lac, but families, normal men and women (even a nine year old girl) who gave the ultimate to be faithful to Christ.
As the United States bishops stated after a visit to the Church in Vietnam in January of 1989:
Today’s saint highlights the witness that Christians make to the radical newness and the radical change that Christ brought to the world. Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions provided the ultimate witness to the truth of about Christ before their fellow country-men between the years of 1820 and 1862. They were among some of the first Catholics in Vietnam. These martyr-witnesses includes the namesake of this feast, a priest by the name of Andrew Dung-Lac, but families, normal men and women (even a nine year old girl) who gave the ultimate to be faithful to Christ.
As the United States bishops stated after a visit to the Church in Vietnam in January of 1989:
The Church in Vietnam is alive and vigorous, blessed with strong and faithful bishops, dedicated religious, and courageous and committed laypeople.... The Church in Vietnam is living out the gospel in a difficult and complex situation with remarkable persistence and strength.
The Church is feed by the blood of martyrs as the early Fathers used to say, and so She is still feed by Her martyrs as the vigor of the Church in Vietnam bears witness to in these days.
Let us take strength from the courageous example that Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions showed in the face of persecutions. Let us bear faithful witness as Christians in our public life, so that we too can bring new life and renewed vigor to the Church in the United States. What we can be the blessing of courageous and committed lay people, helping the Church live out the gospel in the complex times we live in.
Let us take strength from the courageous example that Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions showed in the face of persecutions. Let us bear faithful witness as Christians in our public life, so that we too can bring new life and renewed vigor to the Church in the United States. What we can be the blessing of courageous and committed lay people, helping the Church live out the gospel in the complex times we live in.
Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions...
…Pray for Us!
Mary, Queen of All Martyrs…
…Pray for Us!
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