St. Andrew Dung-Lac stands as a significant figure in the history of Christianity in Vietnam, being one of the 117 martyrs who lost their lives between 1820 and 1862 for their faith. This group of companions, which included Andrew, was recognized for their heroic sacrifices during a period of intense persecution of Christians. The arrival of Christianity in Vietnam can be traced back to the Portuguese missionaries, with the Jesuits establishing the first permanent mission in Da Nang in 1615. Here, they worked diligently to minister to Japanese Catholics fleeing persecution from their homeland. However, the 19th century witnessed severe crackdowns on the Christian community, with three major waves of persecution claiming the lives of between 100,000 and 300,000 Catholics. This violence was often directed at foreign missionaries, including members of the Paris Mission Society and Spanish Dominicans. In 1832, Emperor Minh-Mang implemented a ban on all foreign missionaries and forcibly attempted to make Vietnamese Christians renounce their faith. However, like the secret priest-holes in Ireland, many faithful Vietnamese created hidden spaces in their homes to protect their priests. A resurgence of persecution erupted in 1847, fueled by the emperor's suspicion of foreign influence amid political unrest. The martyrdom continued, culminating in 1862 with the execution of 17 lay persons, including a young child. Their beatification occurred on four separate occasions from 1900 to 1951, culminating in their canonization under the papacy of St. John Paul II.
St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, obtain for us the perseverance in serving Christ and follow Him in every circumstance of life.
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