dominican saints
Bl. Joseph Dô Quang Hiên, M.C.O.P. &
Bl. Thomas Toán, M.T.O.P.
Feast Day June 27th
Bl. Joseph Dô Quang Hiên, M.C.O.P.
Dominican Priest
(1775-1840)
Feast Day: June 27th
Born: 1775 at Quan-phuong, in the province of Nam-dinh, Vietnam
Died: May 9, 1840.
Beatified: 1900 (cultus confirmed) by Pope Leo XIII
We come now to 1840 during which many were martyred — sealing with their blood the truth of the Religion of the Crucified. One of these heroes was Father Joseph (Do Quang) Hien (or Hieu), who was born in 1775 in the populous Christian community of Quan-phuong in the province of Nam-dinh. He had been a companion of Bishop Dominic Henares and had made profession in the Dominican Order on October 13, 1813.
“I should flee and hide but if God wants me to suffer martyrdom, so much the better,” this venerable old man would say. And suffer he did. He had been hiding in a cave for nine months when he was denounced by a pagan. When he was taken out and brought to Governor Trinh-quanh-Khanh, he was ordered to step on the cross. Father refused and said: “I adore my Lord, therefore, I will not tread on the cross.” For answering thus, he was given forty lashes on 20 December 1839. The blood flowed but he never stopped saying the sweet name of Jesus. Father Joseph was then 64.
Two days later, with a heavy cangue on his shoulders, he was taken to the capital and locked in the prison of Nam-dinh. He remained there for five months. During his stay, this venerable old man converted the jailers, brought reconciliation to some and catechized and baptized many others. He would have done more but when the Mandarin found out what was happening, he had him placed in total confinement. In his new quarters, Joseph painted images of the cross which he passed out to the Christians.
After several rough and humiliating interviews with the Mandarins and judges and after many promises and torments, Joseph — with a certain irony — said to the executioners: “I am very old and I am not afraid of death.” The Mandarins were finally exasperated with him because they could not break him. They condemned him to be decapitated on May 9, 1840, in the city of Nam-dinh. He was beheaded while praying on his knees at the execution site of Nam Dinh.
Bl. Joseph Dô Quang Hiên was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 27, 1900.
Bl. Thomas Toán, M.T.O.P.
Lay Dominican
(1767-1840)
Feast Day: June 27th
Born: 1767 at Cam-ban, in the province of Thai-binh, Vietnam
Died: June 27, 1840.
Beatified: 1900 (cultus confirmed) by Pope Leo XIII
This martyr was born in 1767 in the town of Can-ban (or Can-phan), in the province of Thai-binh. “For me to hide and reserve my life so that I can administer to the faithful is something I cannot do,” he told a priest who had asked him to join him in hiding.
Thomas was 73 years old when he was taken prisoner. He was brought before the Mandarins several times; each time he came out victorious. Neither bribery, threats, being exposed to the inclement weather, nor presented naked to the jeers and insults of the mob, could break his decision to die for Christ.
One day, sad to say, he fell. He could no longer stand the harassment, threats and attacks of the people. Catechist Toan stepped on the cross in their presence. With one voice they cried: “He stepped on the cross, he stepped on it.” He apostatized a second time, stepping on it again.
Instantly, Thomas was touched by grace, realized his grave sin and repented. He wept, confessed his sin and did penance. He changed into a different person, a more superior one. He received the grace to endure many more terrible tortures than before. Among others, he was exposed naked to the hot sun with a cangue around his neck with his hands tied to it. He also had crucifixes tied to his feet which he had to step on whenever he walked.
On one occasion, the Mandarin held a banquet and invited him, saying sarcastically: “Eat so that you can step on the cross.” To this, the holy man answered: “To eat to step on the cross, never shall I do it again.” The Mandarin retorted: “If that is what you want, then I prohibit everyone from ever giving you something to eat.” And thus it was done.
Bishop Dominic Martí, O.P. said that once in a while, Tham, a non-Christian sergeant, risked his life to bring Toan some food to eat. He was able to get some clean clothing for him and saved the old as pious relics. When Thomas was close to death, the sergeant, like the Good Thief, said to him: “Remember me when you get to heaven.”
After a rigorous and prolonged martyrdom, Thomas Toan died of starvation. His body was swollen from the blows he had received, and he had become blind. He died in his prison cell from being stripped off his clothes, tied two small crosses on his feet, and exposed to sunlight for 13 days straight without eating or drinking, suffering from humiliating torments on June 27, 1840; all the prisoners were witnesses to his baneful but glorious triumph. Catechist Thomas was then 75.