St. Andrew Dung Lac and companionsFeast Day: November 24
Born: 1795
Death: 1839
Born to a poor pagan family in a small village
Patron of Vietnam
Through the missionary efforts of various religious families beginning in the sixteenth century and continuing until 1866, the Vietnamese people heard the message of the gospel, and many accepted it despite persecution and even death.
Andrew along with 117 other martyrs were given the opportunity to give the ultimate price for their witness to that Good News between 1820 and 1862. Andrew was one of the named martyrs because his devotion led him to the calling of the priesthood. At the age of 12, he met a Catholic catechist and was educated in the faith for three years before being baptized. He then took on the role of catechist himself. In 1823 he was ordained a priest with the Foreign Mission Society of Paris.
Andrew worked with other priests and missionaries to spread the Gospel. He led a simple life with constant fasting in order to give more to those he ministered. In 1835 he was imprisoned under emperor Minh-Mang's persecution but was ransomed. He would be arrested on three other occasions. On the last arrest, he was taken to a prison to be tortured in hopes that he would renounce the faith. He and another companion (Peter Thi) were eventually beheaded in 1839.
They showed that they wanted the gospel of Christ to take root in their people and contribute to the good of their homeland.
St. Andrew and companions, pray for us!
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