Blessed Andrew the Catechist Biography
Blessed Andrew the Catechist Biography, Feast Day, Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Beatification Date, Canonization Date |
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Date of Birth | 1625 AD |
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Country of Birth | Vietnam in Asia |
Matrimony/Holy Orders | Blesseds who were Not Married |
Profession | Catechist |
Place of Work | Viet Nam |
Date of Death | July 26, 1644 |
Place of Death | Kè Khàm, Quang Nam (in modern Viet Nam) |
Feast Day | July 26 |
Beatification | Beatified by Pope John Paul II |
Canonization | Canonized by N/A |
Patron Saint of | N/A |
Blessed Andrew the Catechist Biography
Blessed Andrew the Catechist, Anrê, son of a devout Christian mother, was baptized by the Jesuit missionary Father Alexandre de Rhodes at the age of fifteen. Andrew became a catechist a year later. Together with other catechists, he vowed in 1643 to serve the church for the rest of his life. In 1644 he was arrested and beaten after the king ordered Christianity to stop and forbid the natives from joining the religion. Andrew was offered a release by Mandarin Ong Nghe Bo if he gave up the belief; he refused. Sentenced on 26 July 1644 and executed the next day. Andrew was the first Vietnamese martyr.
Father de Rhodes took the body and sent it to Macao for burial. When the transport ship was attacked by pirates, it hit a rock and a hole was torn into the hull. A big stone rolled into the gap and held up the water, and the ship was able to deliver its cargo.
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