Faith of Vietnamese martyr celebrated at beatification

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect for the Section for First Evangelisation and New Particular Churches of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelisation, officiated at the ceremonies at Tac Say Pilgrimage centre under Can Tho Diocese in southern Vietnam on July 2.

The event sparked enthusiasm among Catholics, forcing the authorities to close the national highway running through the pilgrimage centre to accommodate the crowds. About 70,000 Vietnamese people, including Catholics and people from other faiths, witnessed the ceremonies.

In his homily, Cardinal Tagle described Blessed Diep as “a witness to the faith and a martyr” of the Church, and said his life was a gift not only to the Church in Vietnam but also to the wider Church and to humanity. The martyred priest “invites each of us to choose God and to rely on him every day of our lives”, he said.

Cardinal Tagle also challenged Catholics to bear witness to Christ with their lives and said: “The world today badly needs people willing to bear witness to the truth. Let us not live for violence, hatred, division, incitement or falsehood.”

Blessed Diep served the Tac Say Parish from 1930 until he was killed on March 12, 1946, during a period of turmoil and violence. Despite repeated warnings, he refused to abandon his parishioners.

Blessed Diep is now one of Vietnam’s not-yet-canonised Blesseds, following Andrew of Phu Yen, Vietnam’s first martyr, who was beatified by St John Paul II in 2000.

The Vatican canonised 117 Vietnamese martyrs in 1988, honouring Catholics who chose death rather than abandoning their faith during deadly persecution.

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Thousands attend martyred priest’s beatification in Vietnam (UCA News)