“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).
This Scripture verse serves as a moving summary of the short but faith-filled life of Saint Augustine Phan Viết Huy. Born in Hạ Linh village (now part of Liên Thủy parish, Bùi Chu Diocese) in 1795, Huy grew up in an atmosphere of vibrant faith, where Christianity was strongly proclaimed thanks to the exemplary lives of virtuous pastors and steadfast laypeople.
From an Unfulfilled Dream to an Exemplary Family Life
In his youth, Augustine Huy dreamed of becoming a catechist to serve the Church. However, when this dream did not come to pass, he gladly accepted God’s will, choosing the lay state and starting a family. Despite his military career, Mr. Huy faithfully fulfilled his duties as a husband and father. He strove to raise his children in the faith and the fear of God, making his home a devout household that actively participated in all parish activities.
A Moment of Weakness and a Dramatic Return
In the spring of 1839, severe persecution against Christianity erupted in the Lục Thủy area, Xuân Trường district, Nam Định province. Provincial Governor Trịnh Quang Khanh ordered soldiers to trample on the Cross to prove their apostasy. Under immense pressure, many Catholic soldiers, including Phan Viết Huy, Bùi Đức Thể, and Đinh Văn Đạt, closed their eyes and complied with this blasphemous act.
However, immediately after that moment, the consciences of these faithful soldiers awakened. Tormented by remorse for denying their faith, they were driven to seek reconciliation with God. The three men resolved to repent and together returned to the Nam Định tribunal, boldly declaring: “Your Excellency, a few days ago, we foolishly renounced our faith in God. Now we have come to our senses and wish to return the money to you, so that we may sincerely worship God.”
Martyrdom for the Faith at Thuận An Sea Gate
In the summer of 1839, King Minh Mạng visited the city. Seizing the opportunity, Phan Viết Huy and Bùi Đức Thể, dressed in their military uniforms, boldly knelt in the street to present a petition professing their faith. The matter was reported to the King, and instead of showing mercy, the King flew into a rage and sentenced them to death.
The two witnesses were taken to the sea, where they suffered the penalty of being cut in half at the waist with a large axe before their bodies were thrown into the water. This heroic sentence was carried out at Thuận An Sea Gate on June 13, 1839. Their death was not an end, but the beginning of their glory in Heaven.
The Church declared Augustine Phan Viết Huy blessed on May 27, 1900, and canonized him as a saint on June 19, 1988. He remains a shining example of repentance and the courage to witness to Christ amidst a turbulent world.
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.