Saint Dominic Nguyễn Huy Nguyên

Dominic Nguyễn Huy Nguyên was born in 1800 in the parish of Ngọc Cục, Nam Định province. He was an herbal doctor who made up medicines and treated the people of the area, Catholic or not.

His work took him into many homes and showed him a great deal of poverty. So he did more than treat illness: he gave himself to works of charity, helping the poor and the lonely. The villagers loved and respected him for his goodness and compassion.

Later in life he was made head of the parish council of Lục Thủy, leading the lay committee that looked after the affairs of the parish. A kindly healer and a fine council head, he was known by sight and by name to everyone in the area.

His motto was a line from the Gospel:

“Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 16:25)

In 1861 the edict of dispersal was put into effect in Nam Định. A man as well known as Nguyên had nowhere to hide.

On September 14, 1861, the prefect of Xuân Trường arrested him and ordered him to step on the cross. He refused. He was taken to the village of Bạch Cốc, Vụ Bản district.

For more than seven months he wore the cangue and chains and was beaten. They carved the words “Tả Đạo” (“false religion”) on his cheek. The kind face that had bent over so many sick people now bore a criminal’s marks.

But at Bạch Cốc he was not alone. Four men from his own village of Ngọc Cục were imprisoned with him: Dominic Nguyễn Đức Nhi, Dominic Nguyễn Đức Mạo, Vincent Nguyễn Mạnh Tương and Andrew Nguyễn Mạnh Tường.

Each had his own family, trade and story. But once in prison they lived as one: praying the Rosary together, fasting together, praying together. When one grew weak, another held him up. When one lost heart, another encouraged him.

The old healer who had cared for so many was now cared for by his friends. The prison became a small community, a Catholic village in miniature behind bars.

On June 16, 1862, Dominic Nguyên and his four friends were beheaded at the Bạch Cốc execution ground, Nam Định, under Emperor Tự Đức. They were first buried at the execution ground and later reburied in their home village.

He was beatified on April 29, 1951, and canonized on June 19, 1988. His own feast day is June 16.

Nguyên’s story shows the strength of community. Five men from one village, sharing one faith, one prison and one execution ground. Alone, perhaps, they could not have held firm.

We need one another in the same way today. Friends who pray together, a community that knows how to hold each other up: sometimes that is what carries us through to the end.