Saint Paul Le Van Loc (1830 - 1859) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint

Saint Paul Le Van Loc was born in 1830 in An Nhon village, Tan Binh prefecture (later Saigon) into a devout Catholic family. He was adopted and raised by the parish priest of Cho Quan, who sent him to study at the Cai Nhum Seminary.

In 1843, Bishop Dominique Lefebvre sent Le Loc to study at the Penang Seminary. After returning in 1850, Le Loc began teaching catechism to those preparing for baptism and assisted with liturgical duties at the Cho Quan parish. On February 7, 1857, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Lefebvre in Lai Thieu. He was then appointed director of the minor seminary in Thu Duc. Due to unrest, the seminary had to relocate to Thi Nghe.

Two years later, the Thi Nghe Seminary temporarily closed. Father Loc went into hiding in areas near Saigon and Gia Dinh, continuing to train seminarians for the Church.

In the summer of 1858, French warships arrived in Da Nang. The officials angrily intensified their hunt for priests. At that time, Father Loc was hiding at the home of a former seminarian. A non-Christian woman discovered him and reported him to the officials. They arrested Father Loc on December 13, 1858.

Surprised by the young age of the priest, but upon Loc confirming he was indeed a priest and asking to be held solely responsible while sparing the faithful, the provincial official spared him torture but jailed him awaiting execution orders.

In spring 1859, the French generals decided to change strategy, sending troops to seize Gia Dinh province by sea via Can Gio. The officials urgently petitioned the king to order the execution of priest Le Van Loc.

He was executed on February 13, 1859 at Truong Thi Square at the age of 29, just 2 years after ordination. His short but zealous life of service became a shining example of faith and selfless sacrifice.

After his martyrdom, the faithful secretly brought his body for burial at the Cho Quan parish. His relics are now venerated at the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica in Saigon.

The martyr Paul Le Van Loc was beatified on May 2, 1909 and later canonized on June 19, 1988.