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Saint Anê Lê Thị Thành (Mrs. Đê)
Laywoman
1781 - 1841
Feast Day: July 12
#Laywoman
Pioneer Saintess of Vietnam
Looking back at the history of the Catholic Church in Vietnam, many women have contributed blood and sweat to bear witness to their faith. However, the strong and unyielding spirit of faith of Saint Anê Lê Thị Thành stands out as a rare example. Even the famous governor Trịnh Quang Khanh, known as the "gray tiger of Nam Định", had to admit defeat in trying to persuade her to renounce her faith. Despite various tactics, ranging from sweet words to tortures, shackling, and brutal beatings, they couldn't shake her unwavering faith. The blood she shed became the foundation of countless martyrs, a supreme reward from God: Anê Lê Thị Thành, the pioneering saintess of the Catholic Church in Vietnam.
An exemplary mother
Anê Lê Thị Thành was born around 1781 in the village of Bái Điền, Yên Định district, Thanh Hoá province. From a young age, she followed her Mother back to her hometown of Phúc Nhạc, now part of the Phát Diệm diocese in Ninh Bình province. At age 17 she married Mr. Nguyễn Văn Nhất from the same village, and they lived together very happily and harmoniously, giving birth to two sons named Đê and Trân and four daughters: Thu, Năm, Nhiên, Nụ. According to local custom, parents were called by the name of their firstborn child, hence the names Mr. Đê and Mrs. Đê. The couple lived virtuously and righteously, and took great care in educating their children. Their youngest daughter Lucy Nụ testified during the canonization investigation as follows:
"Our mother took great care in educating us. She herself taught us to read and write and catechism, then how to attend Mass and make confession and receive communion. She did not allow us to be lazy about confession. When we were negligent, she urged us until we went. She had us join the Children of Mary sodality and the young women's group to pray the Rosary in church."
Another daughter, Anna Năm also confirmed: "Our parents only allowed their daughters to marry virtuous young men. After I married, our mother often visited and advised us to do good. Once she taught me: Obeying God's will, you have started a difficult responsibility by getting married. You must live prudently, do not argue with your parents-in-law. Accept joyfully the Cross that God sends you. She also advised my husband and I: You two must live in harmony and joy, never let anyone hear you arguing."
Mrs. Anê Đê was truly a shining example of virtue for Catholic mothers.
From charity to martyrdom
Mr. and Mrs. Đê were very charitable and cared for people, especially revered and eagerly helped priests who were in difficulty during the persecution. They set aside a section of their house for missionary priests to hide. It was this charity that led Mrs. Đê to the grace of martyrdom.
In March 1841 during the reign of Emperor Thiệu Trị, there were four priests present in Phúc Nhạc village. Fr. Berneux Nhân stayed at Mr. Headman Phaolô Thức's house, Fr. Galy Lý at Mr. Commander Cơ's house, Fr. Thành at Mrs. Đê's house, and Fr. Ngân at another house.
A man named Đễ who was helping Fr. Thành wanted to win merit and money, so he secretly reported the priests' whereabouts to Governor Trịnh Quang Khanh. The Governor personally led 500 soldiers in suddenly surrounding Phúc Nhạc village on the morning of Easter itself (April 14, 1841). He ordered the villagers gathered to have soldiers search each house. Fathers Thành and Ngân escaped in time. Fr. Nhân had just finished Mass and was hurriedly leaving his lodging, crossing over to hide in the kitchen loft of Mr. Blessed Cross Phước Mến's house, but accidentally left part of his cassock hanging out so he was the first one captured. Fr. Lý was brought by Mr. Commander Cơ over to Mrs. Đê's garden next door. Mrs. Đê pointed out to him the dry ditch in the back of the garden next to a bamboo grove: "Father please hide in this ditch, if God protects you then you will escape, otherwise you and I will both be captured."
After speaking she and her daughter Lucia Nụ used straw and dry branches to cover him, but the soldiers had seen the priest crossing through her yard, so they came and arrested Fr. Lý and Mr. Đê, the homeowner. Mr. Commander Cơ, four village dignitaries, and two nuns Anna Kiêm and Anê Thanh of the Blessed Cross Order were also arrested. They were all put in shackles and marched to the village common hall. Mrs. Đê's house was ransacked, rice, belongings, money were all taken by the soldiers. When she was arrested, Mrs. Đê was very frightened, but when they marched her to the common hall her face was joyful and no longer showed any fear.
Wearing a rose dress
The soldiers escorted the prisoners to Gia Định. They had to walk all night and suffered greatly. Mrs. Đê was weak, unable to bear the heavy shackles, and had to be supported many times. Arriving at Nam citadel she was imprisoned together with the two nuns. Six days later appearing before the tribunal, the judge ordered her to renounce her faith but she replied: "I only worship God, I will never abandon God's way for eternity..."
The officials ordered her beaten. At first they used rods, later large pieces of wood to smash her legs. She was undaunted, when her husband visited she explained why she remained so steadfast: "They beat me extremely cruelly, even a man could not withstand it, but I was strengthened by the Virgin Mary, so I did not feel any pain."
At the second and third interrogations, seeing Mrs. Đê still firmly constant, soldiers were ordered to beat her while dragging her over the Cross. But she prostrated herself on the ground, crying loudly that: "Dear Lord, please help me, I never want to deny my faith in You, but because I am a weak woman, they are using force to compel me to trample the Cross."
The next time before the tribunal, they tied her sleeves then released venomous snakes into her clothes, but Mrs. Đê kept calm in an astonishing way. She stood perfectly still so the snakes did not bite, only wriggled around then crawled out. The officials ordered her beaten even more fiercely then imprisoned her. But she was exhausted, unable to walk without support. A witness named Đang later recounted: "Mrs. Anê Đê was brutally beaten to the point her whole body was covered in blood and pus. Yet she remained cheerful, and even wanted to endure more suffering." She had truly exemplified the eighth Beatitude:
"Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
When her daughter Lucia Nụ visited her Mother in prison, seeing her blood-stained clothes she cried inconsolably. Her Mother comforted her with hopeful words: "Don't cry anymore, Mother is wearing a rose dress, I am happy to suffer for Lord Jesus, why are you crying?"
She further advised: "Go home and tell your siblings to take care of the house, diligently pray morning and night, ask God to give Mother strength to carry Jesus' Cross to the end. Soon Mother and child will reunite in Heaven."
Aside from the heavy torture and meager food, she also suffered from dysentery. The two nuns attentively cared for her, priests sent medicine and visited her, giving the sacraments of penance, anointing of the sick, and viaticum. In her final hours she was often heard praying: "Dear Lord, You died for me, I give my whole heart to follow Your will. Please forgive all my sins."
Finally she uttered these last words: "Jesus, Mary, Joseph! I entrust my soul and body into Your hands, grant me the grace to follow Your will in all things."
Mrs. Anê Đê went home to the Father on July 12, 1841, after three months imprisoned and sacrificing her life for the faith. She was 60 years old.
Following custom, the soldier burned her toes to show she had died. They prepared her body and the coffin brought by relatives, then buried her at the Năm Mẫu execution grounds. Six months later, the faithful transferred her to Phúc Nhạc.
On May 2, 1909, Pope Pius X beatified Mrs. Anê Lê Thị Thành. She was truly a model and patron for Catholic mothers in Vietnam. On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized her a Saint.