Saint Dominic Đinh Văn Đạt: From Mistake to the Glory of Martyrdom

Saint Dominic Đinh Văn Đạt (1803–1839) was a soldier from Phú Nhai village, Nam Định province (now part of Phú Nhai parish, Bùi Chu Diocese). He is renowned for his words of total trust before his execution: “I entrust you and our children to God. God will provide for you and our children.”

The Trial of Faith in 1838

In 1838, Provincial Governor Trịnh Quang Khanh was severely reprimanded by King Minh Mạng for not actively enforcing the edict banning Christianity. To prove his loyalty to the court, the governor organized a feast for his troops and issued an ultimatum to the Catholic soldiers under his command.

Two gates were opened:

  • The right gate had a Crucifix placed on the ground: Anyone who stepped on the image would be allowed to return to their wives and children.
  • The left gate displayed instruments of torture, shackles, and chains: Reserved for those who firmly refused to renounce their faith.

Under the pressure of fear, the majority of Catholic soldiers closed their eyes and stepped on the Crucifix. Only fifteen courageous servicemen chose the path of suffering and were imprisoned. However, under brutal torture, particularly the beating of their fingertips, this number gradually dwindled. Eventually, three prominent figures—Đinh Văn Đạt, Phan Viết Huy, and Bùi Đức Thể—also relented. They agreed to step on the holy image to be released, reunite with their families, and receive rewards. Governor Trịnh Quang Khanh joyfully reported to the court that all Catholic soldiers under his command had apostatized.

A Tormented Conscience and the Path to Repentance

Although he had returned home, Mr. Đạt’s conscience ceaselessly tormented him. Feeling uneasy about his cowardice and facing the suspicious gazes of the parish community, the three soldiers determined to make amends. They fasted, performed penance, and approached the governor to return their reward money and request to reaffirm their faith.

The governor refused to accept the money and did not accept their reaffirmation locally, as he had already reported to the court that they had abandoned their faith. He told them that if they wished to reaffirm their faith, they must personally travel to the imperial capital of Huế to submit a petition to the King.

Courageously Accepting the Death Sentence

Phan Viết Huy and Bùi Đức Thể embarked on a nearly three-week journey on foot to the imperial capital. Mr. Đinh Văn Đạt could not accompany them as he was required to stay with his military unit, so he entrusted his two comrades to submit a joint petition on his behalf.

In Huế, taking advantage of the day King Minh Mạng made a public appearance, the two men courageously blocked his path, knelt, and presented their petition requesting to reaffirm their faith. King Minh Mạng flew into a rage and ordered all three men (including Mr. Đạt, once the matter came to light) to be imprisoned. Although the Minister of Justice used various enticements, promising titles and wealth, their faith remained unshaken.

On June 12, 1839, Saints Phan Viết Huy and Bùi Đức Thể were executed at the Thuận An estuary. Saint Dominic Đinh Văn Đạt was sentenced to death by strangulation. On July 18, 1839, on the way to the execution ground in Nam Định, upon seeing his wife and children again, he spoke his final words, filled with love yet firmness:

“I cannot love you and our children more than God. To do so would be unworthy of being a disciple of Christ. I entrust you and our children to God. God will provide for you and our children.”

His remains were buried in the garden of his eldest brother’s house. After the ban on Christianity was lifted, the faithful exhumed his relics and transferred them to the Phú Nhai Holy Shrine.

Mr. Dominic Đinh Văn Đạt was beatified on May 27, 1900, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988, along with other Vietnamese martyrs.

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.