Saint Peter Vũ Văn Truật
Catechist (1817 – 1838)
Date of martyrdom: December 18

Saint Peter Vũ Văn Truật was born in 1817 in Hà Thạch village, part of Kẻ Thiếc parish, Sơn Vy district, Sơn Tây province. Orphaned of his father at a young age and coming from a poor family, he was unable to attend school. Nevertheless, Peter Truật was devout from an early age and longed to dedicate himself to serving God. At age 15, he was accepted into the Church House by missionary Cornay (Tân).

In 1838, the catechist Truật went to assist two missionaries, François Marette (Phan) and Jean Cornay (Tân), who were overseeing the Bầu Nọ parish. Despite his limited education, he was capable of teaching the catechism to the faithful.

The wife of a rebel leader named Đức, Madam Yến, hoping to atone for her husband’s crimes, reported to the authorities that Western missionaries were hiding in Bầu Nọ. When government troops surrounded the village, catechist Truật was gathered at the communal house for a roll call. Because he did not disclose the missionaries’ hiding place, he was put in cangue, tortured, and arrested on June 20, 1837, then taken to Sơn Tây prison.

Bishop Havard (Du), hearing of the catechist Truật’s courageous profession of faith, elevated him to the rank of "catechist" to encourage the faithful to remain steadfast in their faith before non-believers and the authorities. After four months of imprisonment, he was sentenced to death by strangulation, with the execution to be carried out later.

On December 18, 1838, in the winter of the Year of the Dog (Mậu Tuất), catechist Peter Vũ Văn Truật was executed by strangulation at the execution ground near Đò Voi hill, Mông Phụ village. Before his death, he knelt in prayer beside the verdict plaque which clearly stated: “The accused Truật, family name Vũ, native of Hà Thạch village, Sơn Vy district, executed for following the Giatô (Catholic) religion, has confessed.” He also received the Sacrament of Confession from Father Triệu before offering his life.

Catechist Peter Vũ Văn Truật was proclaimed Blessed by Pope Leo XIII on May 27, 1900, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988.