Saint Jose Fernandez Hien (1838 – 1775) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint

On December 3, 1775, a small family in the Diocese of Avila, Kingdom of Spain, joyfully welcomed the birth of a baby boy named Jose Fernandez. The family nurtured and raised Jose Fernandez in a Christian moral environment.

The calling to the religious life arose in Jose Fernandez's soul thanks to the shining example of faith and morality from his family. When he grew up, with the encouragement of his parents, Jose Fernandez asked to join the Dominican Order.

At the age of 27, Jose Fernandez made his first perpetual vows in the Dominican Order at the Convent of St. Paul. Afterwards, he continued to study theology at the Order's Academy. After being ordained a priest, Father Jose Fernandez volunteered to join the Province of the Most Holy Rosary in the Philippines and sailed to Manila to carry out the Lord Jesus' command: "Go and make disciples of all nations."

On February 18, 1806, an English ship brought Father Jose Fernandez ashore in Da Nang, Vietnam during the reign of King Gia Long. Father Fernandez quickly learned Vietnamese and was given the Vietnamese name Hien.

Father Hien prioritized missionary work among the local people and achieved great success. Later, Father Hien was appointed parish priest of Kien Lao parish, making an important contribution to the prosperity of this region. He was also appointed Director of the Major Seminary and Superior of the Minor Seminary in Ninh Cuong.

In late 1837, Father Hien was hunted by the court's authorities. While in poor health and having to hide, he still diligently carried out his pastoral duties. The mandarin advised him to renounce his faith to be pardoned and become an interpreter, but Father Hien replied: "I did not come here to serve earthly kings, but only to preach the Doctrine of God." He then expressed his willingness to sacrifice his life for the faith along with two colleagues who had been imprisoned earlier.

At noon on July 24, 1838, Father Hien reaffirmed his dedication of his life to God and thanked Him for the graces bestowed during his 32 years of tireless missionary work in northern Vietnam, before being martyred for the faith.

The priest Jose Fernandez - Hien was beatified on May 27, 1990 and canonized on June 19, 1988.