On December 3, 1775, in a family belonging to the Diocese of Ávila, in the kingdom of Spain, a baby boy named Jose Fernandez was born into an overjoyed family. Raised in an environment of Catholic virtue, a vocation to the religious life early on took root in his soul. Encouraged by his parents, the young man Jose Fernandez applied to join the Dominican Order.

At the age of 27, Brother Fernandez made his first profession at the Convent of Saint Paul and continued his theological studies at the Order's study house. After being ordained a priest, with great missionary zeal, he volunteered to join the Province of the Most Holy Rosary in the Philippines, and from there, he boarded a ship to Manila, ready to set out to fulfill the command of the Redeemer: "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19).

On February 18, 1806, Father Jose Fernandez landed at Cửa Hàn, Đà Nẵng, during the reign of King Gia Long. He quickly learned the Vietnamese language and adopted the beloved local name: Hiền.

Throughout his pastoral years, Father Hiền prioritized the work of preaching the Good News to the unconverted and reaped abundant fruit. He successively undertook many important responsibilities: serving the Kiên Lao parish, acting as the Rector of the Major Seminary, and as the Superior of the Ninh Cường Minor Seminary, contributing to the flourishing of these communities.

At the end of 1837, the persecution against the faith intensified. Despite being ill, Father Hiền had to continuously go into hiding and carry out his pastoral duties amidst countless difficulties. When he was captured by the mandarin's soldiers, they tempted him to abandon the faith, saying that if he would only agree to trample on the Cross, he would not only be released but also appointed as an interpreter mandarin. Faced with this hollow promise, Father Hiền calmly replied: "I did not come here to serve the earthly kings, but only to preach the Religion of God." He expressed his willingness to die for the Faith to the two bishops who were already imprisoned there.

At noon on July 24, 1838, after renewing his act of consecration to God and giving thanks for the grace the Lord had bestowed upon him during his 32 years of diligent missionary work in the land of Tonkin (Northern Vietnam), Father Jose Fernandez Hiền peacefully suffered decapitation.

He was beatified on May 27, 1900, and was canonized on June 19, 1988.