Saint Dominic Bui Van Uy (1812-1839) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint
Bui Van Uy, a Dominican priest, was born in 1813 in Tien Mon, Thai Binh. He was arrested and executed by dismemberment on December 19, 1839 in Co Me under the reign of King Minh Mang for following Catholicism together with Toma De. On May 27, 1900, Pope Leo XIII beatified him; on June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized him with the feast day on December 19 every year.
Bui Van Uy declared "If I dare to step on the cross, I offend God and am unfilial to my parents, because they gave birth to me and taught me to be loyal to the faith unto death," showing his steadfastness to the Catholic faith tradition taught by his parents since childhood, willing to sacrifice his life to uphold that faith in the face of persecution by the court.
Bui Van Uy was born in 1812 in Tien Mon village, Thai Binh. From a young age his family sent him to live at the parish with Father Tu, and after becoming a catechist he worked alongside Father Tu in Ke Danh and Ke Mot (Bac Ninh) until his arrest at age 26. He was known as a gentle, pious man, a trusted assistant to Father Tu, whose greatest dream was to sacrifice himself so that Father Tu could avoid arrest.
On June 29, 1838, troops captured Bui Van Uy and Father Tu in Ke Mot village. When threatened with decapitation, Bui Van Uy joyfully cried out that he looked forward to being martyred for the faith, though the grace of long life was not yet granted to the staunch defender of the faith.
Despite the magistrate's frequent urges to get Bui Van Uy to renounce his faith by stepping over a cross or piece of wood, he steadfastly refused, even comparing such acts to trampling the image of God and his parents. His strong will could not be shaken.
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 Dominic Bui Van Uy 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 ,Dominic Bui Van Uy 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
Dominic Bui Van Uy 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.