Nov. 24th - St. Andrew Dung Lac & Companion Martyrs

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of the martyrs, Andrew Dung-Lac, priest, and companions. In the beginning of the sixteenth century the first sowing of the Gospel of Christ began among the Vietnamese people. The seed of the Gospel grew through the blood of martyrs and the spiritual joy of the newly baptized faithful. During the 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th centuries, particularly during the reign of the Emperor Minh-Mang from 1820 to 1840, many Christians received the martyr’s crown.

These included, bishops, priests, men and women religious and members of the laity. All suffered torments of various kinds for their Christian faith and fidelity to the Cross of Christ and bore witness to Christ’s Church and the true religion established by Christ.

Some of the martyrs were decapitated, others hanged, others burned, or whipped to death, and others died during their imprisonment. In 1988, Pope John Paul II declared 117 Vietnamese martyrs-- as saints.

While in prison, St. Paul, one of the martyr companions of St. Andrew, wrote a letter. In his letter he writes: “The prison here is a true image of everlasting hell: to cruel tortures of every kind—shackles, iron chains, manacles—are added hatred, vengeance, calumnies, obscene speech, quarrels, evil acts, swearing, curses, as well as anguish and grief.

But, the God who once freed the three children from the fiery furnace is with me always; He has delivered me from these tribulations and made them sweet, for His mercy is forever. In the midst of these torments, which usually terrify others, I am, by the grace of God, full of joy and gladness, because I am not alone—Christ is with me.

Our Master bears the whole weight of the Cross, leaving me only the tiniest, last bit. He is not a mere on looker in my struggle, but a contestant, and the victor, and champion in the whole battle. Therefore, upon His head is placed the crown of victory, and His members also share in His glory.

I write these things to you in order that your faith and mine may be united. In the midst of this storm I cast my anchor toward the throne of God, the anchor that is the lively hope in my heart.”

Today, let us unite our prayers to those of St. Andrew Luc and companions, that no matter what happens in our daily struggles, whether there may be sufferings, trials, temptations and tribulations, we, like St. Andrew, will be filled with joy and gladness, knowing that we are not alone, because truly Our Lord carries our crosses leading us to His victory.