Saint Joseph Le Dang Thi (1825 - 1860) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint

Saint Joseph Le Dang Thi was born in 1825 in Van Quy village, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province into a military family. As he grew up, he chose to serve in the imperial court, following in his ancestors' footsteps, and held the position of squad leader serving in Ha Tinh. There, he started a family with a local young woman and had three children with her. After his wife passed away early, he became a widower.

In 1859, King Tu Duc issued a decree strictly prohibiting Catholicism. Mr. Thi then took the opportunity of illness to request discharge from the military. Due to difficult circumstances, he could not bring his wife and children back to his hometown, so he returned to Ke Van alone.

In early 1860, the decree banning Catholicism was enforced throughout the country. On January 28, 1860, Mr. Thi was arrested along with some colleagues and taken to Quang Tri to be punished because someone had reported them. When interrogated, Mr. Thi happily admitted that he was a squad leader and a Catholic.

He was later released but had to report back. On January 29, 1860, Mr. Thi reported back and was imprisoned with 31 others at the Quang Tri prison. In jail, he was tortured many times and pressured to renounce his faith, but he remained steadfast. During this time, he also managed to instruct his wife and children to live beautifully for God and made an appointment to reunite with them in heaven.

His devotion and joyful endurance of torture inspired a guard to convert to Catholicism. Many nights, the soldiers even unlocked his shackles so he could go to the nearby Co Vuu Church to receive the sacraments.

On October 24, 1860, the king ordered Mr. Thi to be executed upon the recommendation of the court officials. On the way to the execution grounds, he cheerfully bid farewell to everyone. At the execution site, after being absolved and praying, he was tied to a post and executed by beheading.

According to his wish, his body was buried with honor at the Phu Cam Church. Currently, the remains of this martyr are still kept at the Church of the Redemptorists in the Archdiocese of Hue.

The squad leader Joseph Le Dang Thi was beatified by the Catholic Church on May 2, 1909 and canonized on June 19, 1988.