Saint Peter Nguyen Van Hieu (1783 - 1840) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint

Peter Nguyen Van Hieu was born in Dong Chuoi village in 1783. He was received into the House of God and ordained as a catechist. Catechist Hieu was sent to assist priests and served with Father Khoan in Phuc Nhac parish.
 Catechist Hieu was gentle, virtuous and zealous in encouraging the faithful to receive the sacraments of the Eucharist and Anointing of the Sick.
 On August 24, 1837, Catechist Hieu was arrested along with Father Khoan and Catechist Thanh in Dong Bien. While imprisoned in Ninh Binh, Catechists Hieu and Thanh endured many tortures. Despite enticements or threats from the mandarins, Catechist Hieu remained steadfast and refused to trample on the cross. He chose to endure all sufferings rather than betray his faithfulness to God.
 Initially, Father Khoan, Catechist Thanh and Catechist Hieu were imprisoned together. Later, the mandarin separated Father Khoan, while keeping Catechists Thanh and Hieu together, intending to more easily sway them. Whenever Catechist Thanh was tortured and beaten, Catechist Hieu had to endure the same. The two catechists encouraged each other to overcome difficulties and keep the faith until the end.

 When being dragged past the cross by soldiers, Catechist Hieu cried out so people would know he was being forced and not walking of his own will. As he passed by the statue of the Redeemer, he lifted his feet to avoid touching it.
 The first time he was sentenced to imprisonment, Catechist Hieu felt both sadness and joy - joy at suffering for the faith, but sadness at not being able to die for it. On Fridays, he fasted. When visited by the faithful, he urged them to keep the faith and asked for prayers that he might have the grace of martyrdom.
 The second time he was sentenced to death, despite enticements and threats, Catechist Hieu firmly refused until the angry mandarin sent him back to prison under the death sentence.
 The night before his execution, Catechist Hieu prayed all night. On April 28, 1840, the mandarin ordered the execution of Father Khoan along with Catechists Hieu and Thanh. On the way to the execution ground at the foot of Canh Dieu mountain, the three sang hymns of thanksgiving. At the execution site, after soldiers sawed off their shackles and bound Catechist Hieu to the stake, the death sentence was carried out.
 The faithful from Yen Moi village (now Gia Lac parish of Phat Diem diocese) brought Catechist Hieu's remains to the village for burial. Catechist Peter Nguyen Van Hieu was beatified on May 27, 1900 and canonized on June 19, 1988.