Saint Dominic Tran Duy Ninh (1841 - 1862) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint

The new convert Dominic Tran Duy Ninh was born in 1841 in Trung Linh village, Nam Dinh province (now part of Trung Linh parish, Bui Chu diocese). He was a virtuous young Catholic. At age 20, he married and lived a simple life in his hometown.

Everyday, he diligently worked in the fields. In the evenings after dinner, he often gathered with fellow Catholics to pray the rosary. That peaceful life was disrupted by the intense anti-Catholic decrees under the reign of King Tu Duc.

On September 16, 1861 at age 21, he and many other Catholics were arrested and taken to Xuan Truong province. In prison, despite the brutal torture, the prisoners remained steadfast in their faith, refusing to step on the Cross. Ninh and his fellow prisoners had the words “left religion” carved onto their faces before being exiled everywhere.

Over 9 months in prison, he continuously suffered cruel punishments. But faced with seductions and threats, he remained loyal. Saint Dominic Ninh was forced to renounce the Catholic faith. But he bravely replied: “If children are not allowed to disrespect their parents, how can followers dare to offend the image of God - the Creator of heaven and earth. Do what you want with me, but don’t force me to sin by stepping on the Holy Cross."

Hearing this, the chief magistrate became angry. Faced with such courage and indomitability, Governor Nguyen Dinh Tan ordered Saint Ninh’s execution at An Triem court on June 2, 1862.

In the dossier for Ninh’s beatification, Rosa Hun testified: “I saw him imprisoned in heavy shackles in Dong Vi, but he still smiled happily.”

Dominic Tran Duy Ninh was beatified in 1951 and canonized in 1988, becoming a martyr exemplifying steadfastness to the Catholic faith.