Saint Augustine Nguyễn Văn Mới: The Journey from Paganism to Martyrdom
Saint Augustine Nguyễn Văn Mới (1806–1839) was an exemplary layman whose feast day is celebrated on December 19. His life is a vivid testament to the power of grace and loyalty to the Catholic faith.
Beginning with a Love for the Faith
The saint was born in 1806 in Bồ Trang village, Thái Bình province. Today, this location belongs to the Bái Đông parish community, Bồ Ngọc parish, Quỳnh Hoa commune, Quỳnh Phụ district, Thái Bình province, within the Diocese of Thái Bình. Born into a pagan family, Mr. Mới’s connection to the faith began when he frequently worked as a hired laborer in Đức Trai village, Kẻ Mốt parish.
Living among a fervent Catholic community, Mr. Mới grew to admire the faith. At the age of 31, he formally requested to join the Church, was baptized by Father Nguyễn Văn Tự, and entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic, beginning his new life in Christ.
Trials of Faith and Imprisonment
On June 29, 1838, a major incident occurred when provincial troops from Bắc Ninh surrounded Đức Trai village to arrest the priest. Father Nguyễn Văn Tự was captured, along with orders forcing the people to renounce their faith. While many panicked and fled, two catechists, Hà Trọng Mậu and Bùi Văn Úy, remained. Mr. Nguyễn Văn Mới, along with Mr. Nguyễn Văn Đệ and Mr. Nguyễn Văn Vinh, firmly refused to trample on the Cross. This act led to their arrest and imprisonment in Bắc Ninh alongside Father Tự.
Sentenced to Death for the Faith
On November 24, 1838, the provincial authorities in Bắc Ninh held their final trial. The prisoners were tortured one by one, starting with Mr. Nguyễn Văn Mới. The officials both threatened and persuaded him, forcing him to step over an image of the Cross placed on the ground. In the face of this pressure, the hero of faith knelt, bowed before the Cross, kissed it, and whispered a prayer of surrender: “O my Lord, save me; I entrust my soul and body into Your hands.”
Under the reign of King Minh Mạng, an order was issued to execute the believers. On December 19, 1839, Saint Augustine Nguyễn Văn Mới was sentenced to death by strangulation at the Cổ Mễ execution ground (Bắc Ninh). His remains were later respectfully escorted and buried at the church of Phương Vĩ parish, Diocese of Bắc Ninh. In 1945, when migrating to the South, the faithful of Phương Vĩ parish carried his relics with them as a treasure of faith.
Canonization
The exemplary life of Saint Augustine Nguyễn Văn Mới was 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.