Saint Dominic Nguyen Van Cam (1810 - 1859) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint

Dominican priest Dominic Cam was born in Cam Chuong, Ke Roi parish, Bac Ninh province. No documents have been found regarding his year of birth. He died on March 3, 1859 in Hung Yen. On April 29, 1951, Pope Pius XII beatified him along with 24 other martyrs. On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized him as a saint. His feast day is March 11.
Saint Dominic Nguyen Van Cam (1810 - 1859) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint
Last updated 16:21 19/11/2023 GMT+7

On the road of duty

Going anywhere when duty calls, isn't that the discipline of a soldier? Father Cam was truly a soldier of Christ, fighting for love - isn't that the virtue of a loyal servant? Father Cam was also a wise and faithful servant, always holding a lantern waiting for the master to return. Going anywhere when duty calls seems simple and normal, nothing indicating a great departure, yet it was still a real departure in every ordinary task, and death itself fulfilled everything, revealing the noblest aspects of those departures, because in fact it was just one departure home to the Father.

Zealous priest

Dominic Cam was born in Cam Giang village, Ke Roi parish, Bac Ninh province. He was admitted to the seminary for his intelligence and astuteness. After completing his theology studies, he was ordained a priest and joined the Dominican Order. In 1848, when the Holy See divided the Vicariate of East Tonkin, although he was from Bac Ninh in the East vicariate, he was sent to serve in the Central vicariate where there were 3 times as many Catholics. Here, amidst severe persecutions, he had to go into hiding but was always ready to go anywhere when duty called. In early 1859, while hiding in Ha Lan, someone discovered and denounced him, so he was arrested and taken to Hung Yen. Before the Governor-General, he bravely admitted to being a Catholic priest and was willing to accept any punishment rather than trample the Cross. After many failed attempts to dissuade him, he was locked in a cramped cage for months.

Heavenly glory

While imprisoned, Father Cam was able to convert the soldiers, so they allowed the faithful to come and visit him. He took this opportunity to teach catechism and encourage everyone to keep their faith strong. With the help of the faithful, he wrote to the Bishop expressing his steadfast loyalty to Christ and hope to be martyred. When he heard he was sentenced to death, he rejoiced happily. On the way to the execution ground, he appeared like a warrior about to win victory. At the execution ground, it took soldiers 3 strikes to behead him. His body was returned to Cam Chuong for burial.

On April 29, 1951, he was beatified. On June 19, 1988, he was canonized a saint.