Saint Paul Lê Bảo Tịnh
Feast day: November 24
Saint Paul Lê Bảo Tịnh, priest and martyr, who wrote a famous letter from prison (24/11)
Who is he?
Saint Paul Lê Bảo Tịnh was a Vietnamese priest, one of the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs. He is best remembered for the letter he wrote from prison, which is now read in the Office of Readings on the feast of the Vietnamese Martyrs.
Life story
He was born around 1793 in Trinh Hà, Thanh Hoá. From a young age, he wanted to give himself to God; he studied and became a catechist, someone who helps the priests teach the catechism. For a time, he lived as a hermit, spending many hours in prayer and sacrifice.
In those days, practicing the faith was forbidden. In 1841, under King Thiệu Trị, he was arrested. He was beaten, had to wear a heavy cangue around his neck and chains, and was locked in a dark prison, hungry, thirsty and hot.
In 1843, from prison, he wrote a letter to the seminarians. He honestly described the sufferings he had to bear. But he said that by God’s grace his heart was still overflowing with joy, because Christ was with him and carried the burden with him. He asked everyone to pray that he would stay faithful to the end, and encouraged the seminarians to follow the Lord bravely.
Later, he was released and spent many years teaching seminarians. He was gentle and hardworking, and he loved the young people who wanted to become priests.
Under King Tự Đức, the persecution flared up again. He was arrested once more. On 6 April 1857, he was beheaded in Nam Định, at about 64 years old.
On 19 June 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized him together with 116 other martyrs of Vietnam. The Church celebrates them together on 24 November.
Why is he a saint?
Saint Paul Lê Bảo Tịnh was faithful to God until death. He spent years in prison without blaming anyone. In the middle of suffering, he stayed peaceful and joyful, because he believed that God was always with him. His letter still gives strength to countless people today.
A lesson for you
- When something sad or hard happens, remember that God is always with you, and talk to him about it.
- Pray for seminarians and priests.
- Be grateful to the Vietnamese Martyrs, who kept the faith safe for us.
Identifying marks
- A wooden cangue around his neck and iron chains on his hands: he was imprisoned for his faith, yet stayed peaceful and joyful.
- A letter in his hand: the famous letter he wrote from prison to the seminarians.
- A red stole over a black áo dài, with a black khăn đóng (turban): he was a Vietnamese priest; red is the color of the martyrs.
- A martyr’s palm branch: he died for the faith and shares in the victory with God.
- Among the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs (*): he is often painted in group pictures of the martyrs.
(*) Only in some pictures and statues.
The text on this page is the saint card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
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