Jesuit missionaries came to Andrew’s Vietnam village to preach the Gospel when he was sixteen. Andrew began to study with the priests so that he could understand what it meant to be a follower of Christ. He was baptized later that year and was eager to begin sharing his faith.
Andrew became a catechist, helping others to learn about Jesus’ life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven. He taught with such joy and deep faith that he was an inspiration not only to his students, but also to the other catechists of his village.
The king of Vietnam declared that Christianity was illegal. He ordered the Jesuits to leave the country. The army was given instructions to arrest anyone who was a follower of Christ.
Andrew was the first one arrested. He was told that his life would be spared if he would give up his faith, but Andrew refused. He was sentenced to death. As he was led to his execution, Andrew said these words to the crowd that had gathered: “Let us return love for love to our God.”
Andrew was only nineteen when he was martyred in 1644. Andrew’s example helps us to understand what it means to live the eighth Beatitude: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
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