Saint Andrew Tran Van Trong (1814-1835) - Vietnamese Martyr Saints

Andrew Tran Van Trong, born in 1814 in Kim Long, Hue; died on November 28, 1835 in An Hoa, Hue. Trong was a young soldier, a royal weaver, and belonged to the Paris Foreign Missions Society. When the court discovered this relationship in 1834, he was imprisoned, stripped of all titles and detained. His mother was present when he was executed and received her son's head in her arms. He was beatified in 1900. His memorial day is November 28.

In a mother's embrace

In the story of Saint Andrew Tran Van Trong, the young soldier from Hue, the image of a courageous mother stands out. Pope Leo XIII praised her for showing courage in the example of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Martyrs. Like Mary standing at the foot of the Cross offering her Son, that mother was also present at the time of her son's execution to offer her only son. She walked beside her son, not complaining or grieving, on the contrary she remained calm, joyfully encouraging her son to remain steadfast to the end.

When Andrew Trong's head fell to the ground, the courageous mother stepped into the execution ground, loudly saying before the mandarins: "This is my child, the child I have nurtured and raised. Now he is still my child, please return to me my child's head." Having said that, she opened her robe, wrapped up the bloodied head, then brought it home for burial.

Youthful dreams

Andrew Tran Van Trong was born in 1814 into a Catholic family in Kim Long, Phu Xuan (Hue). He was the only son in the family, but when he was 15 years old, his father died prematurely, leaving the family in hardship as a widow and orphan. To help his mother make a living, Andrew Trong had to leave school to work with relatives as a royal silk weaver. As an upright person, he did not steal from the court, was always diligent at work and avoided quarrels and disputes. After exhausting hours of labor, every evening he often took a fishing rod and went to sit by the emerald green Perfume River, to be close to nature.

The historian Rodriguez described the young man's mood in the following verses (Martirologie III, pp. 158 - 159):

"Oh the tranquil scenic nature in serene silence,
Under the shady trees with fragrant flowers,
The shimmering water soothing to the soul,
The river reflecting the green lush mountains..."

But that peaceful life could not last long. The meager wages of the silk weaver were not enough to support the family. At the age of 20, Andrew Trong had to leave his mother and join the army.

Heading into battle

After serving 8 months in the military, in November 1834, the court ordered all Catholic soldiers to present themselves. Without any fear, Andrew Trong and 12 comrades from the Foundry came to see the mandarin. The mandarin demanded they obey the king, abandon their faith and trample the Cross. All 13 Catholic soldiers firmly refused. The mandarins brutally tortured them... one by one, 12 succumbed and surrendered, only Andrew Trong steadfastly persevered to the end. The soldiers tied him up, dragged him over the Cross but he lifted his legs to avoid desecrating the image of Christ. From the military camp, he was taken to prison. The mandarins condemned him to death but kept him imprisoned without immediately executing him.

During a year of imprisonment, Andrew Trong suffered immense hardship and pain, but his faith grew stronger and stronger through the trials. Anre fervently prayed and entrusted his life to Mary, asking Christ through Her intercession to grant perseverance to the end. The gifts of provisions he received, he shared with fellow prisoners and guards, earning everyone's affection. Thanks to that he had the special opportunity to confess, receive communion and meet his mother.

Having heard that Father Ngon was active in Phu Xuan, Andrew Trong asked the prison warden for permission to return home for a day under a soldier's supervision. Having found out the priest's address, Andrew Trong and the soldier rowed across the river arriving at noon. At that time, the fishermen had gone ashore to rest. Andrew Trong immediately stepped across to Father Ngon's boat and gently pushed it out into the middle of the river. The two whispered, then he knelt down to receive the priest's blessing and confession. After confession, he asked to receive communion, the priest blessed him: "May the Body of Christ keep you until eternal life". He replied: "Amen". Then in joy at receiving grace, he happily returned to the prison as promised to the warden.

The hearts of mother and child

After a year in prison, seeing Andrew Trong unchanged, the mandarins decided to execute him on November 28, 1835. That morning, he met with his cousin. The cousin asked if he wanted to eat anything, Andrew Trong replied: "I want to fast to prepare for martyrdom." Then he asked his cousin to tell his mother: "Do not worry about me, pray that you will always be virtuous, your child will remain faithful to Christ unto death."

But before the cousin could relay the message, Andrew Trong's mother heard news that her son was being taken away for execution, she immediately rushed to meet her child. Seeing her son, she simply asked: "During your time in prison did you incur any debts to anyone, if so let me know, I will repay them for you." Such was a mother's heart. She knew her son had enough courage to endure pain, she was only concerned for his moral debts.

When her son assured her he owed nothing to anyone, she continued walking beside him, calmly encouraging him. Upon reaching the execution site, after the soldiers removed his shackles, the stalwart soldier of faith immediately took them and handed them to a soldier nearby saying: "Please give these to my mother, for her to keep as a memento." His mother standing nearby heard very clearly, but she did not take that memento as enough, she still wanted to receive her own son's head.

The gongs and drums sounded, the executioner raised his sword, the 21-year-old martyr's head fell. His mother Andrew Trong witnessed it from the very first moment at the execution ground, she was relieved though deeply grieved, stepped forward to demand the commander return her son's head to her. Wrapping it in her robes then clutching it tightly to her chest, she alternately kissed it and repeated: "Oh my beloved child, remember to pray for your mother!"

On May 27, 1900, Pope Leo XIII beatified the heroic soldier Andrew Trong. He ceaselessly praised the exemplary courage of the valiant mother, who almost fully depicted the ancient image of Mary, Queen of Martyrs at Calvary.

On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized him as a Saint.