Blessed Andrew of Phú Yên
A young catechist of central Vietnam, the first Vietnamese martyr, in 1644.
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Martyr, Young saint, Layperson
- Life
- 1625 – 1644
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 26 July
- Countries
- Vietnam
Life story
Andrew was born in 1625 in the Phú Yên region of central Vietnam, then part of Đàng Trong, the southern realm of the Nguyễn lords. Accounts say he was baptised while still young, around 1641, by Jesuits working in Đàng Trong; the exact dates of his birth and baptism differ in some sources. He is often described as a young man of sincere and generous character who was well known among local Christians.
The Jesuits had been present in Đàng Trong since 1615, and the French priest Alexandre de Rhodes worked there from 1624. Andrew became a catechist, a layperson who helps priests teach the faith to a community, and worked closely with de Rhodes. Thanks to catechists like him, the faith reached many villages at a time when priests were few. De Rhodes later became well known for his work on the Vietnamese language, including the dictionary published in Rome in 1651, which helped lay the foundation of the Latin-based script now used for Vietnamese.
In 1644 the authorities ordered a crackdown on Christians. Andrew was arrested and put to death on 26 July 1644, before he was twenty. De Rhodes recorded his death in his missionary memoirs, which remain one of the main surviving sources about his life. For this reason he is often called the first Vietnamese martyr; the exact place of his execution varies by source. In later years, de Rhodes was expelled from Đàng Trong, and the Christian community there continued largely through its catechists.
John Paul II beatified him on 5 March 2000. His feast is 26 July.
Works and witness
- Was baptised while still young, around 1641.
- Served as catechist working with Father Alexandre de Rhodes.
- Was executed on 26 July 1644, before the age of twenty.
- Was beatified on 5 March 2000.
Saints from the same country
References
- Alexandre de Rhodes, Divers voyages et missions
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.