Saint Paul Nguyen Van My was born in 1798 in the village of Ke Non, also called Son Nga, in Thanh Liem district, Ha Nam province. His parents were very devout. When he was young, Paul My was registered in the parish records as Nguyen Van Huu, but his family called him Hao.
At age 15, My went to live at the parish house and the Bishop gave him the name My. Two years later, Father Luat from Ke Dam parish took My to live with him and train him in parish duties. My lived with Father Luat for 4 years, then went to study Latin at the minor seminary in Vinh Tri. Afterwards, he returned to assist Father Nghiem, a missionary priest, and then worked at the community house until the Bishop assigned him to Bau No parish to help Fathers Phan and Tan - two other missionary priests.
Those who knew Teacher My praised and respected him. Because he diligently did his duties, helped parishioners receive the sacraments, advised sinners to repent, and guided non-believers to the Holy religion of God.
When the imperial troops surrounded Bau No village intending to arrest Father Tan, they captured Teacher My along with Teachers Duong and Truat. On December 18, 1838, the officials executed Teacher My by beheading. After the torture, they gave his remains to the parishioners for burial, then withdrew the troops to the province. When the troops left, the faithful exhumed My's remains, wrapped them in a mat, and reburied him in Ke May village, Cao Mai district. A few years later, Paul My's remains were returned to his homeland of Ke Non for final rest.
Paul Nguyen Van My was beatified on May 27, 1900 and canonized on June 19, 1988.