Andrew Trần An Dũng Lạc
Priest
1795 - 1839
Feast day: December 21
#Priest
Inspired by Saint Peter...
"Quo vadis, Domine?" Lord, where are you going? ...
While fleeing the terrifying persecution of Emperor Nero upon the city of Rome, the chief apostle Peter was shocked and posed the above question when he unexpectedly encountered Jesus Christ, bearing His Cross, walking in the opposite direction.
What followed was a profound silence... A silence that seemed as though it would last for eternity, unmatched by any other moment. Peter felt as though he saw the answer in Christ's eyes, reminiscent of the look Jesus gave him after Peter denied Him three times. In that tranquil atmosphere, a sorrowful yet tender voice echoed, "When you abandon my people, I must go to Rome to be crucified again." Peter stopped in his tracks and suddenly understood.
The apostle had fled to avoid the wrath of a tyrant, heeding the heartfelt pleas of the faithful who saw him as their strength, their breath, their rock. They believed he needed to live to continue serving the flock. Now, Peter recalled the greatest lesson from his Master Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, who at the age of 33, sacrificed Himself on the Cross for the salvation of mankind.
In that miraculous moment, Saint Peter suddenly remembered and instead of running away hesitantly, he walked with determination, turning back... to be more like his Lord. From then on, on the rock of Peter, Rome became the eternal city. Who would have thought so back then? Indeed, who would have understood it?
After his third arrest, Father Anrê Dũng Lạc felt the lesson of Saint Peter. He believed that humans might not always align with God's will. He pleaded with the faithful not to ransom him again; he had accepted to sacrifice himself, becoming a beacon, merging his light with many others, bearing witness to God in this beloved homeland.
Three Arrests
Born into a non-Christian family in Bắc Ninh in 1795, Trần An Dũng followed his parents to Kẻ Chợ, now Hanoi. Due to poverty, he was taken under the wing of a teacher who nurtured and baptized him with the Christian name, Andrew. Later, he zealously entered the Vĩnh Trị seminary, residing with Father Lan. From then, young Dũng was diligent, had a flair for poetry, and was courteous in his interactions. It's said that he could memorize a passage after reading it just twice.
After 10 years of teaching and three years of theology, on March 15, 1823, Father Dũng was ordained a priest, serving various parishes and living a devout life. Besides observing the Church's fasting rules, he maintained his fast throughout Lent and often on Fridays and Saturdays. He often ate simple meals and dedicated himself fully to his pastoral duties, never hesitating in his responsibilities, and had a special affection for the poor, sharing most of his resources with them.
When King Minh Mạng's persecution intensified with a nationwide decree on January 6, 1833, he had to hide among the faithful and later sought refuge in Kẻ Roi, establishing a parish there. One day, right after celebrating Mass, soldiers stormed in. He discreetly removed his liturgical vestments and blended in with the congregation. He was arrested along with 30 other believers because the authorities did not recognize him as a priest. A local official ransomed him with six silver coins, acknowledging him as a family member attending the service. From then on, he went by the name Lạc.
His second arrest occurred when visiting Kẻ Sông for confession with Father Thi, as was his monthly routine. The district chief captured both priests, negotiating a ransom of 200 quan. The faithful could only gather 100, so only Father Lạc was released. However, on his return journey, due to bad weather, his boat had to dock. The house he took shelter in was being searched by soldiers, leading to his third arrest and subsequent imprisonment with Father Thi in Bình Lục district.
Again, the faithful, along with Bishop Retordd Liêu, tried to ransom him. However, Father Lạc felt God had a different plan for him. He shared the story of Saint Peter, who escaped prison twice but, on the third occasion, Jesus asked him to stay and become a martyr in Rome. He pleaded with the faithful not to waste any more money on his ransom.
Winning Hearts
The district chief of Bình Lục treated both priests kindly. They were served food from his personal kitchen and were respected and treated well by the guards. They continued their religious practices, fasting and praying together. They often shared their provisions with the guards and kept only the bare minimum for themselves.
On All Saints' Day (1-11-1839), Father Trân brought the Holy Communion to the prison. On seeing him, Father Dũng Lạc greeted, "Hello, uncle, I've been waiting for you since we've run out of provisions." Afterward, he reverently received the sacrament and shared it with the elderly Father Thi.
By the end of 1839, when the execution order came, both priests joyfully accepted their death sentences as a grand reward. On their way to the execution ground, they prayed in silence. As they exited the city gates, Father Lạc clasped his hands, singing praises to God in Latin. Before the execution, the executioner told them, "We don't know what you did wrong; we're just following orders. Please don't hold it against us."
Father Lạc smiled and responded, "Just do as you've been ordered." They then requested a few moments for final prayers before bowing their heads for the executioner's blade.
Both became martyrs on December 21, 1839, near the Cầu Giấy gate in Hanoi. Father Lạc's remains were interred at the house of Ms. Lý Quý nearby.
Pope Leo XIII beatified Father Anrê Dũng Lạc on May 27, 1900. On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized him, placing him at the forefront of the list of 117 Vietnamese Martyrs.
Remembering Saint Dũng Lạc, one should recall the verses he penned in a letter from prison to Father Thực, expressing his sentiments:
"In this place, amidst the officials,
I pen these verses to express my anguish.
My heart aches for fellow believers still struggling,
And I yearn for the peace and solace they bring.
Winter ends, and Spring arrives once again,
Enduring suffering now will lead to eternal gain.
Why fear hardships when you're a hero in the making,
I pray we'll meet in Heaven, for the Lord's taking."