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André Trần Văn Trông
Soldier
1814 - 1835
Feast Day: 28/11
#Layman
In the holy deeds of André Trần Văn Trông, a soldier from Huế, we see the prominent image of a mother. Pope Leo XIII praised her for showing courage "following the example of the Queen of Martyrs." Just as Mary was present at the foot of the Cross offering her beloved Son, that mother was also present during the execution to offer her only son. She walked beside him, not weeping or grieving, but calmly and cheerfully encouraging him to remain steadfast.
When André Trông's head fell, she bravely stepped onto the execution ground, loudly demanding the officials: "This is my son, the child I raised and nurtured. He is still my son; please give me back his head." After saying this, she spread out her garment, wrapped it around her son's bloodied severed head, and then buried it at home.
The dreams of youth.
André Trần Văn Trông was born in 1814 in a Catholic family in Kim Long, Phú Xuân (Huế). He was the only son, and at the age of 15, his father passed away, leaving the family in the situation of a widow and an orphan. To help his mother make a living, André Trông had to leave his studies and join the community in Thợ Đúc, weaving silk for the royal family. He was honest, never stealing from his job, always working diligently, and avoided disputes and conflicts. Every afternoon, after tiring hours of work, he often went fishing by the picturesque Perfume River, connecting with nature.
Historian Rodriguez described his feelings in the following verses (Martirologie III, pp. 158 – 159):
"Oh, the serene nature's silent beauty,
Under the shade of trees wafting the scent of flowers,
The sparkling water soothes the soul,
Reflecting the green mountains..."
But this peaceful life didn't last long. The meager wages of a silk weaver weren't enough to support the family. At 20, André Trông left his mother to join the army.
Into the battle
After serving eight months in the army, in November 1834, the court ordered all Catholic soldiers to present themselves. Without hesitation, André Trông and 12 fellow workers from Thợ Đúc went to meet the officials. They were asked to renounce their faith and step on the Holy Cross. All 13 Catholic soldiers firmly refused. The officials then resorted to brutal torture... one by one, 12 of them gave up, leaving only André Trông remaining steadfast. Soldiers tied him up and brought him to the Holy Cross, but he refused to disrespect the image of the Lord. He was then transferred from the barracks to jail. The officials sentenced him to death, but did not execute him immediately.
For a year in prison, André Trông endured many hardships, but his faith grew stronger every day. He prayed fervently, especially entrusting his life to the Virgin Mary, asking for the grace to remain faithful to the end. The supplies he received, he shared with his fellow prisoners and the guards, earning their respect. This gave him the opportunity to confess, receive communion, and visit his mother.
When he learned that Father Ngôn was active in Phú Xuân, André Trông asked the prison warden for permission to go home for a day, under the watch of a soldier. Knowing the priest's whereabouts, André Trông and the soldier rowed to the other side of the river at noon. Everyone else had gone ashore to eat and rest. André Trông went to Father Ngôn's boat, pushing it gently into the stream. The two shared their feelings, and André knelt down to receive absolution. After confession, he expressed his wish to receive communion, and Father Ngôn arranged for it the next morning at Kẻ Văn. Then André and the soldier rowed back to Kim Long. They went ashore and spent a night at his mother's house. Imagine the joy of the mother and son reuniting in such unexpected circumstances. She encouraged him to remain faithful.
The next morning, André Trông and the soldier hurriedly rowed to the meeting point. Meeting the "precious guest" again, he knelt down to receive the Holy Eucharist. Father Ngôn blessed him: "May the Holy Body of Jesus Christ preserve you for eternal life." He replied: "Amen". Then, joyfully and in gratitude for the blessed sacrament he just received, he returned to prison as promised.
The feelings of mother and son
After a year in prison, with no hope of André Trông changing his stance, the officials decided to execute him on 28.11.1835. That morning, the faithful soldier met a relative. He asked if André wanted anything to eat. André replied, "I want to fast to prepare myself for martyrdom," and continued: "Please help my mother. We are family; she will also love and care for you. Please tell her not to worry about me, and to pray for my eternal holiness. I will always remain faithful to the Lord until death."
However, the relative couldn't convey the message. When André Trông's mother heard of his execution, she hurriedly went to meet him at the market entrance, where he would pass. Seeing him, she only asked one brief question: "During your time away from home and in prison, did you owe anyone anything? If so, let me know, and I'll repay them on your behalf." That's the heart of a mother. She knew her son had the courage to endure any pain; now, she only worried about his moral debts.
When he assured her he owed no one, she continued walking beside him, calmly offering words of encouragement. When they reached the execution site and the soldiers removed his shackles, he took them, handed them to a soldier, and said, "Please give these to my mother as a keepsake." His mother, standing nearby, heard clearly. However, she wanted more than just the shackles; she wanted to receive his severed head as well.
The execution drum sounded, the executioner swung his blade, and the 21-year-old martyr's head fell. André Trông's mother, who witnessed the event, came forward to the commanding officer demanding her son's head. She wrapped it in her garment, held it close, and said as she kissed it: "Oh, my beloved son, remember to pray for me!"
On 27.5.1900, Pope Leo XIII beatified the heroic soldier André Trông. He praised the exemplary mother, who mirrored the image of the Virgin Mary, the Queen of Martyrs, at Mount Calvary.
On 19-06-1988, Pope John Paul II canonized him as a saint.