Saint Peter Đoàn Văn Vân: The Virtuous Catechist, Martyred for His Faithfulness—The Martyrs of Vietnam
Saint Peter Đoàn Văn Vân was born in 1780 in Kẻ Bói village, Kẻ Sông parish, Hà Nam province. From a young age, young Vân followed and assisted Father Thi in the House of God, after which he was sent to the seminary. At age 25, he received his catechist diploma and was assigned to serve the two parishes of Bầu Nọ and Nỗ Lực.

Catechist Vân lived gently and affably, showing particular compassion for the poor. Thanks to his virtuous character, he was entrusted with managing the parish house of Bầu Nọ. Once, Mr. Tương and Mr. Huống—two village officials—having gambled away the tax money collected from the people, came to borrow rice from the communal store to make up the loss. Seeing their moral blindness, Head Catechist Vân refused. Resentful, they falsely accused the village before authorities, claiming “Bầu Nọ village is harboring a religious leader and even has a church and chapel.”

The provincial mandarin led soldiers to search but found no one. Later, Tương and Huống ambushed Catechist Vân, handed him over to officials, and falsely testified that he was the religious leader.

Before the court, the district mandarin, noting the catechist was nearly 80 years old, only asked whether he was a religious leader. The catechist humbly replied, “Respected Mandarin, I speak truly and dare not lie. I am only a catechist. If Your Excellency considers me a religious leader, that is by Your Excellency’s judgment, but I dare not accept it.”

He was imprisoned for four months in Lâm Thao. During this time, the faithful regularly visited and brought supplies; Father Nguyên came to hear his confession, and Mr. Giáp brought the Eucharist for him to receive.

King Minh Mạng endorsed the verdict: “Catholic religious leader.” Before his execution, catechist Đoàn Văn Vân spent time in silent prayer, then was beheaded on May 25, 1857 at the Sơn Tây execution ground. His remains were taken for burial at the Bách Lộc parish church.

Catechist Peter Đoàn Văn Vân was beatified by the Holy Father on May 2, 1909 and canonized on June 19, 1988.