Saint Augustin Schoeffler Đông – A Steadfast Witness of Faith
Saint Augustin Schoeffler, commonly known as Father Đông, was a priest of the Paris Foreign Missions Society. He was born on November 21, 1822, in the Diocese of Nancy-Metz, France, the eldest son in a family of six children. From the time he completed secondary school in 1846, he nurtured the desire to become a priest and dedicate himself to missionary work.
Commitment to the Mission Field
In the historical context of that time, going on mission meant facing the risk of death. Although his parents strongly tried to dissuade him, he remained determined to join the Paris Foreign Missions Society and was ordained a priest on May 29, 1847.
In November 1847, the newly ordained Father Augustin left Paris and set sail for the Far East. In 1848, he arrived in Hà Nội and received his pastoral assignment in Xứ Đoài, within the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Tonkin (Giáo phận Tây Đàng Ngoài). With missionary zeal, Father Đông actively preached the Gospel, leading to a growing number of baptisms.
Arrest and the Trial of Faith
In March 1851, while giving a Lenten retreat at Xứ Bầu Nọ, Father Đông was unfortunately betrayed by a profit-seeking believer who reported him to the local district chief (ông tuần tổng). The official set a trap, arresting Father Đông along with Father Phượng and two catechists as they were moving through the forest.
Seeking financial gain, the district chief demanded a ransom of one gold tael and one hundred silver taels to release the four captives. Father Đông stated that he did not have such money. Realizing that even if they received the money, they would still hand him over to the authorities, the priest cleverly said, “If the district chief is determined to demand ransom money, then release the three assistants, for they are the ones who know where the money is hidden.” This strategy succeeded; the district chief released Father Phượng and the two catechists, although those released did not return.
Final Words and Martyrdom
Angered by the deception, the district chief escorted Father Đông to the provincial capital of Sơn Tây. On the way, upon meeting a believer, Father Đông sent this message: “Go back and tell the brothers and sisters not to fear anything. No matter what happens, I will not denounce anyone.”
In prison, despite being interrogated multiple times, Father Đông firmly refused to trample on the cross or renounce his faith. In the early hours of May 1, 1851, at the Năm Mẫu execution ground, he knelt in prayer and calmly accepted beheading. His body was buried on the spot and was later exhumed and reinterred at the Bách Lộc community.
Glory in Heaven
The merits and martyrdom of Father Augustin Schoeffler - Đông were recognized by the Church. He was beatified on May 27, 1900, and officially canonized on June 19, 1988.
The content about the saint in this post is summarized and paraphrased from the book “Hạnh Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam” - Lives of the Vietnamese Martyrs (Vietnamese Bishops’ Conference, edited by Bishop Peter Nguyễn Văn Khảm, Tôn Giáo Publishing House, 2018). This post is not a verbatim copy but a re‑presentation based on the original source.