Saint Joseph Nguyen Dinh Uyen (1775 - 1838) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint

Saint Joseph Nguyen Dinh Uyen was born in 1775 in Ninh Cuong village, Nam Dinh province (now part of Ninh Cuong parish, Bui Chu Diocese). He lived a virtuous and diligent religious life, joined the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer, was cared for by Father Nhan, made his vows and wore the habit of the Dominican Third Order.

He was appointed as a devoted assistant to Bishop Henares - Minh, of the Diocese of Dong Dang Ngoai, and officially ministered for many years in Tien Chu parish.

On May 29, 1838, the provincial mandarin of Hung Yen sent troops to surround Tien Chu village, searching to arrest the Western missionary leader, but failed to find Bishop Henares - Minh. A soldier saw Uyen wearing the Dominican Third Order habit and reported him to the mandarin. So Uyen was arrested.

The mandarin ordered him to step on the crucifix and he would be released, but Uyen firmly refused. The mandarin shouted: "If you don't renounce your religion, I will behead you!" Uyen calmly replied: "Your Excellency, I must be beheaded to hope to live again." The mandarin ordered him shackled and imprisoned.

At the court, the mandarin ordered 4 soldiers to carry Uyen in shackles and force him to step on the crucifix, but he curled up his legs to avoid touching the image. Seeing this, the soldiers beat his legs with sticks. In that painful moment, he fervently called upon the Lord and the Virgin Mary to give him strength to endure the torment steadfastly.

The mandarins passed this sentence: "Nguyen Dinh Uyen, a native, followed the Catholic religion, called himself a missionary priest. He has been severely reprimanded, tortured and punished many times. But he stubbornly refused to recant, so he deserves death. Therefore, we sentence Nguyen Dinh Uyen to beheading."

Upon hearing this, he rejoiced, praised God, and took medicine to treat his illness while awaiting the glorious day. But according to God's miraculous will, on July 4, 1838, he died in prison from illness, old age and starvation to bear witness to the faith, under the reign of King Minh Mang.

Joseph Nguyen Dinh Uyen was beatified on May 27, 1900 and canonized on June 19, 1988.