Saint Peter Dinh Van Dung (1800 - 1862) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint

Saint Peter Dinh Van Dung was born in 1800. He was a devout Catholic, belonging to the parish of Trung Dong, Ke Men commune, Thai Thuy district, Thai Binh province, in the Diocese of Trung Dang Ngoai. Working as a fisherman, Dinh Van Dung lived a simple and virtuous life as a believer, while also educating his descendants to live according to the faith.

In the spring of 1862, the catastrophic persecution of Catholics struck Dong Phu village. Dung was arrested and taken to the prefecture, then exiled to Ngoc Chi village, and later transferred to Luong My village, Quynh Coi district.

In the dire circumstances of his 62-year-old exile, Dung endured wearing shackles on his legs, subjected to numerous tortures on the public roads, and forced to trample on the Holy Cross, yet he remained steadfast in his faith.

Seeing that they couldn't shake his faith, the authorities devised a plan to have soldiers take him to visit his family. In that emotional moment, despite being in shackles and hearing the cries of his wife and children, Dung remained calm, comforting and encouraging them to accept courageously: "Please don't cry, but rejoice, for I am about to offer my life for the glory of Christ." After that, he bid farewell to his family and returned to prison.

In April 1862, Dung was exiled to the non-Catholic village of Luong My and imprisoned for an additional two months. Knowing they couldn't sway his firm belief, the authorities sentenced him to be burned alive, a sentence carried out on June 6, 1862, in Nam Dinh, under the reign of King Tu Duc.

Witnessing Dinh Van Dung's steadfast faith, he was confined in a bamboo cage and burned alive. His martyr's remains were buried right at the execution site. Later, devout believers in the area solemnly brought his remains back for burial at the courtyard of Dong Phu parish church.

Fisherman Peter Dinh Van Dung was beatified on April 29, 1951, and canonized on June 19, 1988.