BL. ANDREW PHU YEN, MARTYR - 26 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 26th of July

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BLESSED ANDREW PHU YEN, MARTYR

[On] July 26, one of the Blesseds celebrated by the Church is Blessed Andrew Phu Yen, the first martyr of Vietnam.

HE HAD STAYED BEHIND TO CARE FOR THE SICK

When soldiers from Mandarin Bo arrived on July 25, 1644 to arrest a priest, they only found the lay youth, 19 year old Blessed Andrew Phu Yen, in the compound. Blessed Andrew had stayed behind to care for the sick. Not wishing to return empty handed to Mandarin Bo, the soldiers arrested Blessed Andrew, beat him up, destroyed his religious goods, and transported him to the governor’s palace.

HE ATTEMPTED TO PERSUADE HIM TO CHANGE HIS BELIEFS

That evening the soldiers delivered Blessed Andrew to Mandarin Bo, who attempted to persuade him to change his beliefs. Blessed Andrew refused to yield and he was put in chains and sent to prison. The next morning Mandarin Bo again tried to persuade Blessed Andrew to renounce his Faith. When he refused, a death sentence was passed. Blessed Andrew was taken away to a field outside the city, where many pleaded with Mandarin Bo to release the youth. This plea was refused. So Blessed Andrew spoke to those gathered around him:

"GOD SUFFERED AND DIED FOR US"

‘Brothers and sisters, dear Jesus wants us to use love to do what love requires. God suffered and died for us, so let us be ready to give our lives for the sake of life. I was arrested and would not die for any crime except for belief in God our Creator and Saviour. Everything we have comes from God, so I am not afraid of any punishment except hell that awaits those who refuse to believe in God. Be careful not to deny God and not to go to hell.’

"I HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO DO THIS"

After some delay, soldiers stepped forward and forced Blessed Andrew to kneel on the ground. Two executioners stood near Blessed Andrew. One of the soldiers said, ‘O God, if I am guilty of killing this man, forgive me because I have been ordered to do this.’ Blessed Andrew was stabbed many times and the body of this teenage martyr was later taken to the town of Hoi An. Blessed Andrew was beatified by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000.

(From: Spiritual Thought From FatherChris)

⬅️ Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions - Martyrs of Vietnam