Saint Paul Lê Bảo Tịnh – Martyr Priest, a Dedicated Teacher Amidst Persecution - Saints Martyred for the Faith in Vietnam
Saint Paul Lê Bảo Tịnh was born in 1793 in Trinh Hà village, Hoàng Hóa district, Hà Trung prefecture, Thanh Hóa province. At age 12, he went to live with Father Duệ in the Bạch Phát parish. Three years later, he was sent to Vĩnh Trị Seminary. After completing his studies, Brother Tịnh was appointed as the seminary's prefect and professor.

For a long time, he had yearned to live as a hermit. Storing away dried rice, he fled into the forest, found a cave, and lived in seclusion, praying for an entire year. When Easter came, Bishop Jacques Longer - Gia anticipated that the brother would seek out a priest for confession, so he ordered priests not to hear his confession and instructed them to persuade him to return. The brother disguised himself, lined up, and went to confession among the laity. Father Pierre Eyot - Tấn grew suspicious, interrogated him, but the brother answered cleverly. Finally, the brother confessed the truth. Heeding Father Tấn's advice, he recognized the superior's will as God's will, and courageously returned to Kẻ Vĩnh Seminary, confessed to Father Nhân, continued his theology studies, and taught Latin.

In 1837, Brother Tịnh was sent on a mission to Laos. When King Minh Mạng intensified persecution, Vĩnh Trị Seminary was dissolved, and the missionary group had to return home. In the winter of 1841, while teaching catechism to new converts in the Thạch Tổ congregation, Kẻ Đầm parish, Hà Nam province, he was arrested by the village chief and handed over to the canton chief. From then on, his way of the cross stretched for over seven years in the Hanoi prison.

On April 24, 1843, from his prison cell, he wrote a letter to the seminarians: "I, Paul, am in chains for the sake of Christ... May the blessing of God be as the dew that soaks and fosters your studies, increasing your progress both in virtue and in knowledge..."

King Thiệu Trị commuted his death sentence to life exile in Phú Yên. But while he was being held in Trấn Phủ prison (Huế) awaiting departure, the king passed away. King Tự Đức ascended the throne and granted amnesty. Brother Tịnh was released and returned to Vĩnh Trị Seminary – which had by then been reestablished.

With a spirit of obedience and humility, in 1848, at age 56, he was ordained a Deacon. The following year, he was ordained a priest and appointed Director of Vĩnh Trị Seminary. Fluent in classical Chinese, he opened a school to teach characters and practiced medicine. Though stern in appearance, Father Tịnh lived kindly, amiably, diligently hearing confessions and preaching, inspiring many souls.

In 1857, the prefect of Ninh Bình reported to the governor of Nam Định, Nguyễn Đình Hưng, about hunting down a religious leader. Remembering the priest had once treated his illness, the governor sent someone to warn Father Tịnh, but the messenger fell ill along the way.

On the morning of February 27, 1857, the priest calmly invited the officials in for water, presenting his permit to open a school. However, due to the discovery of liturgical items in the school, he was arrested and taken to the provincial capital. Before leaving, he entered the church to pray and bid farewell to the seminarians – his beloved children.

In prison, he steadfastly confirmed he was a priest, even though Governor Hưng suggested he declare himself a "layman teaching Chinese characters and practicing medicine." For 37 days, he strengthened the faith of his weaker brethren. Twelve days before his execution, he wrote a long letter in Latin to the seminarians with deeply moving words.

On April 6, 1857, before carrying out the sentence, Governor Hưng made one final plea for him to renounce his faith. The priest replied: "My body is in your hands, you may torment it as you wish. But my soul belongs to God, nothing can make me sacrifice it."

Father Lê Bảo Tịnh was beheaded at the Bảy Mẫu execution ground. His remains were interred beneath the floor of Vĩnh Trị Church. In 1880, his remains were reinterred at Sở Kiện Cathedral, Hà Nam province.

Priest Paul Lê Bảo Tịnh was proclaimed Blessed by Pope Pius X on May 2, 1909, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988.