Saint Augustin Nguyen Van Moi (1806-1839) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint
Augustin Nguyen Van Moi, a poor farmer of the Third Order of St. Dominic, was born in 1806 in Phu Trang, Nam Dinh. He was martyred on December 19, 1839 in Co Me, known for his zeal and charity despite poverty. He was executed by strangulation for refusing to step on the cross. Pope Leo XIII beatified him together with four others on May 27, 1900. Later, Pope John Paul II canonized them as saints on June 19, 1988. Their feast day is celebrated annually on December 19.
Augustin Nguyen Van Moi was born in 1806 in the village of Bo Trang, Thai Binh to a pagan farming family. Upon reaching adulthood, he worked as a laborer in the village of Duc Trai in Ke Mot, Bac Ninh, where through contact with the faithful he asked to learn the faith. At age 31 he was baptized by Father Tu and given the name Augustine. Although a recent convert, he demonstrated staunch faith equal to longtime believers, readily willing to sacrifice for Christ.
A few years after his baptism, Father Tu officiated the marriage of Augustin Nguyen Van Moi to a young woman of the parish. According to witness accounts in his canonization records, he lived the faith very well, especially by praying the rosary every evening despite long tiring work days, never missing the devotion to the Virgin Mary.
On June 29, 1838, when soldiers surrounded the village of Ke Mot, arrested Father Tu, and forced the people to the town hall for roll call, to step on the cross, some of the faithful managed to escape, others complied with the soldiers’ demands, only Augustine and two others steadfastly refused to step on the cross and were arrested with Father Tu, Mr. Canh and two other catechists, then escorted to prison in Bac Ninh.
Comforting Consolation
After a fruitless month of torture, on July 27, 1838, the provincial mandarin of Bac Ninh sentenced Father Tu and Mr. Canh to death, but considered Augustin Nguyen Van Moi weak-minded so sentenced him to flogging then exile, according to the laws of the time, exile was for those who recanted, not death, but King Minh Mang determined the crime of following the Christian faith more serious, so ordered the immediate beheading of the first two, while Moi would face strangulation if he did not change his mind after a year.
On September 5, 1838, upon hearing of Father Tu and Mr. Canh’s executions, Augustin Nguyen Van Moi was very saddened, Catechist Mau called on the brothers to pray together, comfort each other and recall the Father’s teachings. For 3 consecutive nights during prayers, the catechists said they saw visions of Father Tu returning to encourage them, saying they would die for the faith like him but must undergo trials to prove themselves worthy, whether dreams or actually the Father's messages, this helped them overcome their sorrow and courageously live as models even in prison.
Prior Commitment in Prison
Augustin Nguyen Van Moi and four others had worn the habit of the Third Order of St. Dominic but had not yet taken vows. Deeply memorable to him were Father Tu's words about the religious habit on the day he received news of his martyrdom. Catechist Mau wrote to Father Huan of the Dominican Order requesting permission for them to take vows in the Order despite inability to fully observe the fast, since they could not make vows in person before the superior, to accept the letter itself as solemn vows in his presence, expressing their ardent desire for full communion with the Order.
“To the honor and glory of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we Franciscans, Dominics, Augustines, Thomases and Stephanos, in the presence of Father Huan representing Father Hermosilla, superior of the Penitent Order of St. Dominic, vow and desire to observe the rule and constitutions of the Order until death."
After being united with the Dominican Order, the five brothers were even more active in prison ministry under Catechist Mau’s guidance, taking turns interacting with fellow prisoners, introducing them to the Lord, teaching catechism then bringing them to Mau for baptism, they baptized at least 44 people. The prison now echoed with prayers, hymns of praise and petitions for all to be filled with God's abundant blessings, demonstrating their missionary zeal after bonding with the Dominican Order "until death."
Witness Before the Mandarin
Over a year later, on August 19, 1839, the five were brought to trial, the mandarin placed a cross on one side and torture instruments on the other, urging them to renounce their faith for pardon. Catechist Mau replied on their behalf that they were determined to remain loyal to the Lord and ready to die in any manner. They then knelt to venerate the cross, praying for deliverance and entrusting their souls. Frustrated at their staunch loyalty, the mandarin returned them to prison, saying he could not pardon this group because they did not bother to beg for mercy.
On November 24, the five were tried again, still firmly refusing to deny their faith. Catechist Mau told the mandarin they worshiped only the one God who is the common Father of all creatures, King above all kings, and longed to shed their blood to prove their faithful love. On December 19, 1839 before the executions, as a final chance, the mandarin said if they walked by or circled the statue they would be pardoned, but they were not fooled. Kneeling in prayer, Catechist Mau quoted Scripture saying they longed to return to the Lord as the deer longs for streams of water, asking the mandarin to carry out the king’s sentence. They remained steadfast to the end.
Realizing he could not shake their unyielding resolve, the mandarin ordered their executions for the crimes of following the Christian faith, heresy and stubborn refusal to step on the cross. Along the way, they appeared joyful, Catechist Mau marched ahead and the brothers followed smiling, telling onlookers they were advancing toward heaven. Upon arrival at the place of execution, each one was tied to a stake then strangled to death. The faithful brought their bodies for burial in the Christian villages. The five heroes steadfastly shed their blood for the faith.
On May 27, 1900, Pope Leo XIII beatified Franciscus Xavier Ha Trong Mau, Dominic Bui Van Uy, Augustin Nguyen Van Moi, Thomas Nguyen Van De and Stephanus Nguyen Van Vinh. Later on June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized them as saints.