Saint Phanxicô Đỗ Văn Chiểu was born in 1797 in Trung Lễ village, Liên Thủy parish, Nam Định province (present-day Bùi Chu diocese). After four years of theology, he was chosen to be a catechist and joined the Dominican Order, actively collaborating with Bishop Henares Minh in teaching catechism and serving the faithful.

Catechist Chiểu was always zealous for the salvation of others. He once encouraged and prayed for a soldier to remain steadfast in his Christian faith until his last breath. Upon hearing that his younger brother had been arrested for his faith, he asked Father Hiển to offer two Holy Masses so that his brother might remain faithful.

In May 1838, Bishop Henares Minh and Catechist Chiểu were pursued for arrest. The two were given shelter by a non-Christian fisherman in Quần Anh village, but this very person later denounced them to collect a reward. On June 9, 1838, both were captured at Xương Điền and two days later were taken to the Nam Định magistrate's office.

Before the judge, Catechist Chiểu resolutely refused all attempts at persuasion. The official ordered soldiers to tie him to a stake and give him thirty lashes until he was torn and bloody, then shackle him and throw him in prison. When the official presented the final choice: step on a sacred image to be pardoned or face death, the catechist calmly replied: "When Your Honor is resting, would you consent to having your own child step on your face? How much more so for God the Lord of heaven and earth, whom all must worship—how could I dare to step on His image?"

On June 26, 1838, the catechist and the Bishop were taken to the Bảy Mẫu execution ground. Seeing the faithful weeping in grief, he said to them: "Brothers and sisters, go home, do not weep anymore; my teacher and I are returning to our true homeland today." After confessing to the Bishop, he prayed: "Lord, I commend my spirit into Your hands." The faithful buried him right at the site of his martyrdom. After the period of persecution, his remains were transferred to the church of Trung Lễ parish.

Catechist Phanxicô Đỗ Văn Chiểu was beatified on May 27, 1900, and canonized on June 19, 1988.