Today we rejoice with the entire Church, my brothers and sisters, for the amazing courage, faith, and love for Christ that could not be snuffed out in these Christians of Vietnam. Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc and his companion martyrs.
Between the 17th and 19th century, Vietnam underwent waves of violent persecutions under various emperors. Christians were viewed as threats to national unity, loyalty, and security—loyalty to the emperor—because of their allegiance to a foreign king, in inverted commas. Much akin to what happened with the early Christians, who were viewed as a threat by the emperors who pronounced themselves divine, gods on earth to be worshipped and adored.
These courageous martyrs, before giving the ultimate testimony of their love for Jesus—117 of them, including clergy, laity, men, women, catechists, husbands, fathers, peasants, bishops, and religious—were imprisoned, tortured, exiled, beheaded. All modes of execution were used to try to force them to renounce their faith. But the 117 of them would give the ultimate witness by the shedding of their blood, which led to their canonization by Saint Pope John Paul II the Great in 1988.
Saint Andrew Gundlach was a Vietnamese diocesan priest, and he was known for his humble virtue and repeated arrests. He changed his name from Tran Dung to Andrew Dunlap after baptism.
In today’s gospel, Jesus foretold: “You will be handed over to courts and scourged.” And this was literally fulfilled in Vietnam. The gospel warns of legal persecution, and history shows this literally took place. Christians were tied to stakes and executed publicly, often after imperial tribunals. They faced torture designed to force apostasy, mirroring Jesus’s warning.
My brothers and sisters, the point is, the gospel is never theoretical. These martyrs lived it word for word, and they clung to Jesus. Jesus also says: “You will be led before governors and kings for my sake.” Once again, many of these martyrs were executed by direct imperial order. Bishops and priests were interrogated by governors and royal officials. Their trials were not merely punishments, but testimonies before rulers—opportunities to proclaim the faith—turning persecution into divine evangelization.
But then Jesus promises in the same gospel: “Do not worry about what you are to say.” And in fact, the Spirit spoke through these martyrs. Eyewitness accounts record the martyrs praying and preaching to the executioners. Imagine—they’re about to face their death, they’re praying for them and preaching to them, forgiving their persecutors publicly, professing Christ with serenity and confidence. Their final words were Spirit-led confessions of faith, not mere human courage alone, which would also be amazing, but it went beyond.
Jesus then also says in today’s gospel: “Brother will hand over brother, children against parents.” An internal division fuelled persecution among many Vietnamese families. Vietnamese Christians were often betrayed by neighbours, officials, or relatives seeking imperial reward or fearing association. So persecution, as the Lord foretold, does not always come from outside forces, but from fractured relationships with those who you would deem closer to you—exactly as Jesus foretold.
My brothers and sisters, the gospel predicts persecution. The Vietnamese martyrs embody that prophecy in history. Their witness shows us how to suffer with faith, speak through the Holy Spirit, and endure to the end. Their legacy strengthens the Church today.
But none of it would have been possible had they not had a deep connection to God. And so Saint Andrew and his companions would ask us today: What is your link like? Where is your connection at? Spend time with Jesus today. Ask Him to continually give you the grace of courage under duress, of faith even in the face of persecution, of love and forgiveness when betrayed by those closest to you.
And may Almighty God, through the intercession of the Queen of Martyrs and Saint Andrew and his companions, grant you special blessings of courage and faith today in our Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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