Saint Michael Hồ Đình Hy
Court mandarin of the Nguyễn dynasty, beheaded in 1857 for his Christian faith
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Layperson
- Life
- d. 1857
- Era
- 19th century
- Feast
- 22 May
- Countries
- Vietnam
Life story
Michael Hồ Đình Hy was born around 1808 (the date is uncertain) at Như Lâm in the Thừa Thiên region, according to the gCatholic listing. He rose to a high position at the Nguyễn court, and Vietnamese accounts describe him as the superintendent of the royal silk workshops. According to Fides he served under three kings. He lived at the time of Emperor Tự Đức, whose edicts made the Christian religion a crime.
Fides reports that, speaking to the king, he said he had served under three kings and would accept any punishment rather than betray his faith in Jesus Christ. He was found guilty of following the Christian religion and sentenced to death. According to the gCatholic listing he was beheaded at An Hòa in Quảng Nam, and the Holy See's list of the Vietnamese martyrs gives the date as 22 May 1857.
He was beatified in 1909 (gCatholic gives 2 May 1909) and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on 19 June 1988 with 116 other Vietnamese martyrs. The group of 117 Vietnamese martyrs died between 1745 and 1862, and their common feast is 24 November.
Works and witness
- Rose to a high position at the Nguyễn court
- Is described as the superintendent of the royal silk workshops
- Told the king he would accept any punishment rather than betray his faith (Fides)
- Beheaded on 22 May 1857
- Canonized on 19 June 1988
Saints from the same country
References
- Holy See, list of the Vietnamese martyrs canonized 19 June 1988 (vatican.va, ns_lit_doc_19880619_martiri_vietnam_it) – Michele Ho Dinh Hy, layman, 22 May 1857
- Fides, “The celebration of the Vietnamese martyrs” (fides.org/en/news/71197) – high position at court, served three kings, his words to the king
- GCatholic.org, saints database entry 'Saint Micae Hồ Đình Hy' – born c. 1808 at Như Lâm, died at An Hòa, beatified 2 May 1909, canonized 19 June 1988 (seen via search excerpt)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.