Saint Anthony Nguyen Dich (1769-1838) - Vietnamese Martyr Saints

Saint Anthony Nguyen Dich, born in 1769 in Chi Long village, Nam Dinh province, was an exemplary model of faith and courage. He used his fortune to support the missionary work of the Paris Foreign Missions Society. When he was arrested for harboring priests, he remained steadfast in his faith and was beheaded on August 12, 1838. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 27, 1900 and canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988.

A martyr from a martyr family

Saint Anthony Nguyen Dich was a shining example for fathers in educating and guiding the faith of their children. He passed on to his children a strong faith, which made them willing to sacrifice their lives for Christ.

Two of his sons, Mr. Ly Thi and Mr. Pho Nham, were also martyred for their faith. Mr. Ly Thi was tortured to death in 1858, while Mr. Pho Nham was exiled to Cao Bang where he passed away.

The saint educated his children through his own life of witnessing the faith. His words were only a part, but his deeds and actions were the most precious lessons for his children.

Biography of Saint Anthony Nguyen Dich

Saint Anthony Nguyen Dich was born in 1769 in Chi Long village, Nam Sang district, Nam Dinh province. His father was a virtuous man, so he moved his family to Ke Vinh village (Vinh Tri) for the convenience of religious activities. Anthony Dich grew up there.

Mrs. Mary Men (Mieu), the widow of Saint Michael Nguyen Huy My, in her testimony before the tribunal investigating the beatification, provided us with valuable information about Anthony Dich's biography: "Back then, my father's name was Khiem. When he had his first son, he named him Hieu, so people called my father Hieu. When he had his second son named Dich, my father took that name Dich and kept it forever... Our family were diligent farmers, but we did not neglect religious duties. On the contrary, we diligently went to confession and received communion. My father always cared for the religious life of his ten children and the servants. Every day, he appointed one or two people to stay home while the others went to Mass. I saw my father fulfill his religious duties. He took great care in educating his children, hiring tutors to teach his sons Confucian literature, and refusing proposals from wealthy families whose sons were not devout Catholics..."

The four martyrs from one family are powerful evidence of the strength of moral and religious education.

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All for the Church

Mr. Trum Dich, who was especially concerned about the future of the Church, deeply loved the priests and seminarians. He generously welcomed them and helped them materially. When the Ke Vinh seminary was hit by a typhoid epidemic and many seminarians died, the superiors decided to disperse the rest. Mr. Trum Dich volunteered to take in some seminarians, providing care and medical treatment until they fully recovered. He did not hesitate to expend effort and money.

His charity was shown through his care for the poor, regardless of their religion, and his frequent visits to console and comfort lepers. That's why, although he did not hold the title "Trum", the people still respected and called him that.

During a period of intense religious persecution, for two years he sheltered and supported a group of seminarians in his home. Bishop Havard Du, bishop of the diocese, had also taken refuge in his home.

A respected family leader

Governor Trinh Quang Khanh tried every means, from persuasion to torture, to make Mr. Trum Dich renounce his faith. The governor said: You are old now, your children have grown up, you have a prosperous household, so give up your religion to enjoy your old age with your children and grandchildren. Mr. Dich replied firmly: My children have been taken care of, I have a duty to worship God. You can pardon or convict me, but don't make me give up my faith.

The governor ordered Mr. Trum Dich to be dragged past the Cross, but he curled up his legs, angering the governor who ordered him to be beaten. Carrying shackles, suffering torture, and physical weakness due to old age, he thought he could not endure the torment and trial to the end. However, thanks to God's grace, the encouragement of Father Nam, the cheering of his fellow prisoners, and especially the noble spirit of sacrifice of his son-in-law Michael Ly My, he remained steadfast until his martyrdom. Mr. Ly My took the blows in place of his father-in-law three times, resulting in lighter shackles for Mr. Trum Dich.

In prison, Mr. Trum Dich suffered little physical torture, but he increased his interior merits through charity and virtue. He shared food and money with non-Catholic fellow prisoners, and focused on praying the Rosary, going to confession and fervently receiving communion right in the prison.

Seeing that he could not persuade Mr. Trum Dich to renounce his faith, the governor wrote a petition to the royal court. Here is the content accusing him:

"The man named Dich believed in and practiced the heterodox religion despite the ban. He did not turn in the priest Mai Nam to officials, but continued to harbor him, refusing to listen to advice and warnings. Most seriously, he refused to trample on the cross, proving himself stubborn and disobedient to the law. We have repeatedly ordered him to trample the cross in public, but he answered: 'I have kept the faith since I was small, I am ready to die rather than abandon it.' Therefore, we request he be sentenced to decapitation to set an example for others."

On August 12, 1838, the death sentence for Mr. Trum Anthony Nguyen Dich, Father James Do Mai Nam, and his son-in-law Michael Nguyen Huy My was approved by King Minh Mang. The three were taken to the Bai Mau execution ground in Nam Dinh. Father Mai Nam was executed first, followed by Mr. Trum Nguyen Dich, then Mr. My.

That night, the remains of the 69-year-old Mr. Anthony Nguyen Dich were carried back to Ke Vinh village in a solemn, emotional atmosphere. The villagers held a grand funeral procession and burial for him in front of his home, where he had left behind the bright example of an exemplary dignitary and respected family leader.

On May 27, 1900, Pope Leo XIII beatified Father Mai Nam, Mr. Ly My, and Mr. Trum Anthony Nguyen Dich. On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized them as saints.