FRANCIS XAVIER TRUONG BUU DIEP, PRIEST AND MARTYR

FRANCIS XAVIER TRUONG BUU DIEP, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 12 MARCH

FRANCIS XAVIER TRUONG BUU DIEP, PRIEST AND MARTYR

A statue of Father Diep

Born on January 1, 1897 to a farming family in An Giang province, Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep studied at Phnom Phen seminary, whose apostolic vicariate covered a wide area in both Cambodia and Vietnam. He was ordained in 1924 and spent most of his priesthood serving poor people in the Mekong Delta. Assigned to Tac Say Parish, Bac Lieu province, southern Vietnam, in 1930, he became known for his tireless pastoral work and his willingness to defend vulnerable people in the violent aftermath of World War II.

During the First Indochina War, in 1945 - 1946, when Father Diep was faced with the dangerous and unstable political situation, he was advised to go into hiding, but he refused. When the French came to rescue him, Father Diep answered: “I live with the flock of my faithful, and if I must die, I wish to die with them.”

On March 12, 1946, he was arrested by the Japanese along with more than 70 villagers. They were all locked in a barn, and the executioners tried to kill them by burning the straw around them. Father Diep, offering his life for his community, told the soldiers: “I am the pastor of these faithful, I am ready to die for them. Take me.” The armed leader thought that by killing Father Diep he would destroy the community of Tac Say. At his words, many Catholics asked him for confession, and some non-Catholics asked him to baptize them. That night, the soldiers beheaded Father Diep. Witnesses said that he remained peaceful, showing no fear. He looked at his executioners and said: “I forgive you for your actions.” After beheading him, the executioners fell to their knees, trembling, and then fled into the forest. No one ever saw them again.

Father Diep's remains were later recovered. They are enshrined in his own church in Tac Say since 1969 where they are still venerated not only by Christians, but also by people of other religions who turn to him for intercession.

Bishop Peter Le Tan Loi of Can Tho confirmed that the Holy See authorized the beatification ceremony on July 2, 2026, at the Tac Say Pilgrimage Centre.

Bishop Loi said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization, will preside at the beatification as Pope Leo XVI's special envoy.

"This is a special gift from God," Bishop Loi said, describing the decision as a call for Catholics to follow Father Diep's "faithful witness, deep love for God and self-sacrificing service to others."

Sources:

https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Fr-Di%E1%BB%87p,-the-first-Vietnamese-martyr-of-the-20th-century,-to-become-a-Blessed-61981.html

https://www.fides.org/en/news/75833-ASIA_VIETNAM_Martyr_and_pastor_Father_Diep_gives_his_life_with_joy - Agenzia Fides, 27/12/2024

https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican-sets-beatification-vietnamese-priest-long-believed-slain-communists

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

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog