Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

8/13/2019 Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

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Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

Cardinal's TestimonyExperiencing God's Liberating o!er

" #e! days a#ter $ !as #reed #rom a Communist prison in%anoi& $ had the great oy o# meeting a brother bishop&

"rchbishop (oger )ahony& !ho had come there #rom the#ree !orld* $ can still #eel my anxious heart beating !ith

emotion li+e ,aint eter !hen he met his #riends a#terbeing let out o# prison- .No! $ +no! it is all true* The Lordreally did send his angels and saved me #rom %erod and#rom all that the /e!ish people !ere expecting 0"cts12-113*

,everal days have gone by *** 4n t!o di##erentoccasions& the "merican Episcopal Con#erence invited adelegation o# three Vietnamese bishops to visit theCatholic Church in the 5nited ,tates- Cardinal /osephTrinh van Can #rom %anoi& "rchbishop aul Nguyen van6inh #rom ,aigon and mysel#* The visit& ho!ever& nevertoo+ place and since then my t!o brother bishops Canand 6inh have passed a!ay*

Today& $ can say& is an historic one #or me indeed& sinceit is $& the least #ortunate o# all three 7 and the solesurvivor& !ho am here among you* $t is proo# o# God8sliberating po!er and a truly !onder#ul surprise to be !ith

"rchbishop )ahony& no! a Cardinal o# the CatholicChurch& in his o!n "rchdiocese o# Los "ngeles& as ano##icially invited guest to spea+ to you about that verysub ect- .God8s Liberating o!er.* This time $ !as able tocome !ithout permission as $ am a #ree man in (ome9Than+ you so much& :our Eminence* "nd than+ you all#or your +indness and prayers*

The gospel story o# the resurrection o# La;urus !ill serveas our meditation* $ have been as+ed to share !ith youmy experience o# Christ8s liberating po!er during my 1* /esus gives La;arus a mission .Let him go #ree.

La;arus discovers that /esus is not only a #riend butabove all& that he is the ,avior& the Liberator&trans#orming& li#e7giving* La;arus embraces a ne! li#eand /esus sends La;arus on a mission o# liberation*

/esus raised La;arus #rom the dead but the miracle isonly a symbol* La;arus !as to live #or a #e! more yearsand then die* The #reedom /esus granted him !asin#initely more precious 7 eternal li#e9 .@hosoeverbelieves in me !ill never die*. 0/ohn =-2 3

$n 1=DD& #uneral masses !ere celebrated #or me all overthe !orld* Than+s to all the graces received& $ am stillalive and here among you today*

Let us praise God8s liberating po!er9 /esus #reedLa;arus a#ter #our days in the tomb* /esus #reed me a#terthirteen years in prison*

Ten (ules o# Li#e

)y dear #riends&$ do not !ish to spea+ about the negative aspects o#captivity* $ o##ered all that up to /esus& )ary and /oseph*@hat !ill interest you most is sincere& #raternal sharing o#my experience 7 understanding God8s liberating po!er inmy day to day existence*

uring those thirteen years $ became a!are o# all my!ea+nesses& physical as !ell as mental* There !eremoments !hen $ could not concentrate at all& !hen $could not even pray* /esus then sent me light* .$ mustlive the testament o# Christ. 7 $n his testament& ust be#oredying& /esus le#t me his !ord& his body& his mother& hisChurch& his priesthood& his ne! commandment& hismission& the duty to ma+e all things one* ,everal times aday& $ repeated to mysel#& .$ must live the testament o#Christ. 7 $t8s simple& it8s inexhaustible* $ !ill try to explainho! $ received the strength o# God8s liberating po!er byciting 1 rules*

Ten rules o# li#e

1* $ !ill live the present moment to the #ullest*2* $ !ill discern bet!een God and God8s !or+s** $ !ill see in the %oly Eucharist my only po!er*

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A* $ !ill have only one !isdom- the science o# the Cross** $ !ill remain #aith#ul to my mission in the Church and

#or the Church as a !itness o# /esus Christ*D* $ !ill see+ the peace the !orld cannot give*

* $ !ill carry out a revolution by rene!al in the %oly,pirit*=* $ !ill spea+ one language and !ear one uni#orm-Charity*

1 * $ !ill have one very special love- The 6lessed Virgin)ary*Explanation o# the Ten (ules o# li#e

1* $ !ill live the present moment to the #ullest

4n "ugust 1Ath 1=DA& on the Feast o# the "ssumption o#4ur Lady& $ !as invited to the alace o# $ndependence&the resident8s alace in ,aigon& only to be arrested*The motive !as that ope aul V$ had trans#erred me#rom my diocese in Nhatrang !here $ had been bishop#or years& bet!een 1= D and 1=DA& to ,aigon& tobecome "rchbishop Coad utor* For the Communistgovernment this trans#er& made one !ee+ be#ore theirarrival in ,aigon& on "pril < & 1=DA& !as proo# o# aconspiracy bet!een the Vatican and the $mperialists*

From the very #irst moment o# my arrest& the !ords o#6ishop /ohn @alsh& !ho had been imprisoned #or 12years in Communist China& came to my mind*

4n the day o# his liberation 6ishop @alsh said& .$ havespent hal# my li#e !aiting.

$t is true* "ll prisoners& mysel# included& constantly !ait tobe let go*

$ decided then and there that my captivity !ould not bemerely a time o# resignation but a turning point in my li#e*

$ decided $ !ould not !ait* $ !ould live the presentmoment and #ill it !ith love* For i# $ !ait& the things $ !ait#or !ill never happen* The only thing that $ can be sure o#is that $ am going to die*

$ !as removed #ar #rom my diocese and !as ta+en to thevillage o# Cay7Vang& > +m #rom ,aigon* ay and night$ !as obsessed !ith the thought o# my people* %o! !as $going to stay in touch !ith my people? /ust at the time!hen they needed their pastor most* The separation !asheart7brea+ing*

4ne night& light came- .$t8s simple& imitate the example o#,aint aul !hen he !as in prison* %e !rote letters to thevarious communities* The very next morning& $ called toHuang& a little boy !ho !as coming home #rom )ass*.Go and tell your mother to buy some old calendars.*@hen evening came& Huang brought me the calendarsand every night during the months o# 4ctober andNovember 1=DA& $ !rote do!n my message #romcaptivity #or my people* Every morning the boy too+ thetorn7o## pages home and his brothers and sistersrecopied the message* That is ho! the boo+ .The (oado# %ope. came to be !ritten& and it has been publishedinto six languages- Vietnamese& English& French& $talian&German and ,panish* God8s liberating po!er gives

energy to !or+ to accomplish even in the most desperatemoments*

No& $ !ill not spend time !aiting* $ !ill live the presentmoment and #ill it !ith love* ." straight line consists o#millions o# little points.* Li+e!ise& a li#etime consists o#millions o# seconds and minutes oined together* $# everysingle point along the line is rightly set& the line !ill be

straight* $# every minute o# a li#e is good& that li#e !ill beholy* The (oad o# %ope is paved !ith small acts o# hopealong li#e8s !ay* " li#e o# hope is born o# every minute o#hope in that li#etime*. 0(%=D 3*

$n 1= & in obligatory residence in Giang xa8 village inNorth Vietnam& $ continued to !rite other boo+s al!aysduring the night and in secret- .The ilgrims on the (oado# %ope. and .The (oad o# %ope in the Light o# God8s@ord and the Vatican Council.**

2* $ !ill discern bet!een God and God8s !or+s

"lone in my prison cell& $ continued to be tormented bythe #act that $ !as #orty7eight years old& in the prime o# myli#e& that $ had !or+ed #or eight years as a bishop andgained so much pastoral experience and there $ !asisolated& inactive and #ar #rom my people*** 01D +m3

4ne night& #rom the depths o# my heart $ could hear avoice advising me-

.@hy torment yoursel#? :ou must discern bet!een Godand the !or+s o# God* Everything you have done anddesire to continue to do& pastoral visits& trainingseminarians& sisters and members o# religious orders&building schools& evangeli;ing non7Christians* "ll o# thatis excellent !or+& the !or+ o# God but it is not God9 $#God !ants you to give $ all up and put the !or+ into hishands& do it and trust him* God !ill do the !or+ in#initelybetter than youI he !ill entrust the !or+ to others !ho aremore able than you* :ou have only to choose God andnot the !or+s o# God9.

This light totally changed my !ay o# thin+ing* @hen theCommunist put me in the hold o# the boat& the %"$7

%4NG along !ith 1A other prisoners and moved usto the north& $ said to mysel#& .here is my cathedral& hereare the people God has given me to care #or& here is mymission- to ensure the presence o# God among these& mydespairing& miserable brothers* $t is God8s !ill that $ amhere* $ accept his !ill.* "nd #rom that minute on!ards& ane! peace #illed my heart and stayed !ith me #or thirteenyears*


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" story came to my mind& the story o# old /im* Every dayat t!elve o8cloc+& /im !ent into church and a#ter not morethan t!o minutes& he le#t* The sacristan !as intrigued*4ne day& he grabbed /im and as+ed& .@hat do you comein here #or every day?.

.$ come in say prayer.

.That8s impossible* @hat +ind o# a prayer can you say in2 minutes?.

.)e ignorant old manI pray to God my o!n pray*.

.6ut !hat do you say?.

.$ say& ./esus& here /im. and $ go out.

:ears go by* /im gro!s old becomes ill and enters thehospital& in the !ard #or poor people* "#ter a time& theysee that /im is going to die and the priest and a nurseare !ith him at his beside*

.Tell us& /im& !hy is it that since your arrival in the !ardeverything has changed #or the better? The men arehappier and #riendlier*.

. un no* @hen $ could !al+& $ !ent around and visiteverybody& say hello& tal+ a bit* @hen $8m laid up* $ call toeverybody #rom my bed& laugh a lot& ma+e everybodyhappy* /im al!ays happy*.

.6ut !hy are you al!ays happy?.

.@hen you get a visit every day& you happy& right?

.That8s right* 6ut !ho comes to see you? @e8ve neverseen anyone*.

./esus* %e come every day at t!elve o8cloc+*.

."nd !hat does he day to you?.

.%e says& /im& here /esus9.

"s /im !as dying& he gestured and smiled broadly andpointed to the chair beside his bed& inviting someone tosit do!n* "#ter a short time& he smiled again& closed hiseyes and died*

"t times& !hen my strength #ailed and $ could not evenrecite my prayers& $ repeated& ./esus& here Francis.*Consolation came and $ +ne! that /esus !as replying&.Francis& here /esus.*

raying is being !ith someone& !ith /esus*

:ou as+& .!hat prayers !ere you able say?.

$ prayed !ith the !ord o# God& the salms* $ said theprayers $ had recited in the #amily chapel every evening!hen $ !as a child* The liturgical songs came bac+ tome* $ o#ten sang the Veni Creator& the hymns o# themartyrs& the ,anctorum )eritis& the Credo*** To trulyappreciate those beauti#ul prayers& it is necessary to

have experienced the dar+ness o# incarceration&conscious o# the #act that your su##ering is o##ered #or#aith#ulness to the Church* $n particular $ call t!o prayersmy prayers o# liberation*

The Litany o# the ,aints-

From all evil& Lord save your people*

From every sin& Lord& save your people*

From everlasting death& Lord& save your people*

6y your death and rising to ne! li#e& Lord& save yourpeople*

6y your gi#t o# the %oly ,pirit& Lord& save your people*

The 6eatitudes

4n one hand& $ share the misery o# the poor& o# those!ho shed tears those !ho are persecuted #or ustice8sa+e* 4n the other& $ contemplate God8s mercy andstrength !hich #rees them* The Jingdom o# %eaven istheirs*

.@hy are there crises in the Church?.

.,imply because people do not ta+e prayer seriouslyanymore. 0(% 13

>* $ !ill see in the %oly Eucharist my only po!er

.@ere you able to say )ass in prison. 7 is a Kuestion $have been as+ed many& many times*

"nd !hen $ say .:es.& $ can #oretell the next Kuestion&.%o! did you get the bread and !ine?.

$ !as ta+en to prison empty7handed* Later on& $ !asallo!ed to reKuest the strict necessities li+e clothing&toothpaste& etc* *** $ !rote home saying .,end me some!ine as medication #or stomach pains.* 4n the outside&the #aith#ul understood !hat $ meant* They sent me a littlebottle o# )ass !ine& !ith a label reading .medication #orstomach pains.& as !ell as some hosts bro+en into smallpieces* The police as+ed me- . o you have pains in yourstomach?. .:es. .%ere is some medicine #or you9. $ !illnever be able to express the oy that !as mine- eachday& three drops o# !ine& a drop o# !ater in the palm o#my hand* $ celebrated my )ass*

The six Catholics in my group o# #i#ty prisoners tried tostay together* @e lined up the boards !e !ere given asbedsI they !ere about 2 inches !ide* @e slept closetogether in order to be able to pray during the night* "tnine7thirty every evening !hen lights out rang everyonehad to be lying do!n* $ bent over my !ooden board andcelebrated )ass& by heart o# course& and distributedCommunion to my neighbors under their mosKuito nets*@e made tiny bags #rom cigarette paper to protect the6lessed ,acrament*

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Communist cadres9 $t !as a !ay to dialogue in truth andlove instead o# debate and criticism*

$ did the same !ith my guards !ho as+ed me to teachthem #oreign languages* They brought me French boo+s*@hile teaching them French history& civili;ation& literatureand culture& $ !as able to explain the impact o# thegospel on France and on European history and its

culture*The role o# the apostle in our times is to be in the midst o#the !orld& not o# the !orld& but #or the !orld ma+ing useo# the #acilities o# the !orld 0(% 3*

D* $ !ill see+ the peace the !orld cannot give

@hen $ began to discern bet!een God and God8s !or+s&!hen $ chose God and his !ill and le#t everything else inhis hands !hen $ learned to love others& especially myenemies as /esus loved me& $ #elt great peace in myheart* eprived o# #reedom& o# absolutely everything andliving in extreme poverty in my dar+ cell& $ !as at peacebecause $ could say& .)y God and my all.*

The peace that the !orld cannot give brought me great oy* .%oliness consists in being continuously oy#ulbecause !e possess God. 0(% A 3* $n thelight o# these thoughts& $ laughed at mysel# and at the!orld* The things that seemed so important ten yearsago appeared #oolish* @hy did $ let those things disturbmy interior peace? They !ere all vain& in#antile&ambitious& anxious yearnings that separated me #romGod*

$ !ill say !ith )other Teresa- .)y message is smile. Theby7pass that can cure my heart is called .everythingpasses.* 4n my Episcopal ring& t!o !ords are inscribed-.Todo pasa.* ,aint Teresa o# "vila !rote that& .Todopasa& solo ios basta.*

* $ !ill carry out a revolution by rene!al in the %oly ,pirit

/esus Christ came into the !orld to bring #ire to burn all!aste& a s!ord to cut all the bonds that hold us inslavery* %e brought Truth because Truth alone can setus #ree*

%e died to #ree us #rom death* %e rose #rom the dead togive us li#e in abundance*

%o! do !e carry out this revolution? .:ou desire to carryout a revolution& namely the re#orm o# the !orld* :ou !illcarry out this precious and noble mission !hich God hasentrusted to you by the po!er o# the %oly ,pirit* Everyday& prepare a ne! entecost around you. 0(% =D=3*

$ have lived in a country !hich su##ered through > yearso# !ar& !hich experienced the #ailure o# Communist

ideology and the #rustrations o# consumerism* The lyricso# the song .Empty Chairs& Empty Tables. #rom Les)iserables echo in my mind& a#ter a #rustrated and #ailedrevolution-

.%ere they spo+e o# revolution&

%ere it !as they lit the #lame9

%ere they sang about tomorro!

"nd tomorro! never came9.

@here are !e going? 7 Church& Huo vadis?

@here do !e #ind a ne! !ay o# being the Church?

$n "sia? $n the 5,"?

ope aul V$ clearly expressed this challenge to #ollo!the ,pirit in his encyclical opulorum rogressio n*1


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4ne night& a thought came* .:ou are still very rich* :ouhave the love o# Christ in your heart* Love them as /esusloves you.* The next day $ set to !or+& #irst& by sho!inggladness and by smiling* $ began to tell stories about my

ourneys in countries !here people live in #reedom anden oy their culture and great technical progress* Thatstimulated their curiosity and they as+ed many& manyKuestions* ,lo!ly& very slo!ly& !e became #riends* They

!anted to learn #oreign languages* )y guards becamemy disciples9 The atmosphere o# the prison changedconsiderably* The Kuality o# our relationship changed #orthe better*

"t that time& in another part o# the area& a group o# t!entypeople !ere learning Latin to be able to read Churchdocuments* Their teachers !as a #ormer catechist* 4neo# my guards !as in the Latin class and one day heas+ed me i# $ could teach him songs in Latin*

.There are so many .& $ replied& ."nd they are all sobeauti#ul.*

.:ou sing and $8ll choose . he retorted*

"nd so $ sang ,alve (egina& ,alve )ater& Lauda ,ion&Veni Creator& "ve )aris ,tella 7 :ou8ll never guess thesong he chose* The Veni Creator9

$ can8t begin to tell you ho! moving it is to be in aCommunist prison and hear your guard& coming do!nthe stairs at D ") every morning on his !ay to thegymnastics yard #or physical exercises& singing the VeniCreator*

$ !ill spea+ one language- Charity*

@hile at prison in Vinh7Huang in the mountains o# NorthVietnam& $ !as sa!ing !ood one a#ternoon* $ as+ed myever7present guard& !ho had become my #riend& i# $ couldas+ him #or a #avor*

.@hat is it? $8ll help you.

.$ !ant to sa! o## a small piece o# !ood in the #orm o# across*.

. on8t you +no! that8s strictly #orbidden to have any signo# religion !hatsoever?.

.$ promise to +eep it hidden*.

.6ut it !ould be extremely dangerous #or the both o# us*.

.Close your eyes& $8ll do it right no! and $8ll be verycare#ul.

%e turned his bac+ and le#t me alone* $ sa!ed a smallcross !hich $ later hid in a piece o# melted do!n soap* $have +ept it al!ays and had it mounted in a piece o#metal and it has become my pectoral cross*

$n another prison in %anoi& $ became #riends !ith myguard and !as able to reKuest a piece o# metal !ire* %e!as terri#ied* .$ studied in the 5niversity o# olice that!hen someone !ants electric !ire he !ant is to +ill

himsel#9. he cried* $ explained the Christians& and most o#all priests& do not commit suicide*

."nd so !hat are you going to do !ith electric !ire?. heas+ed*.

.$ need a chain to !ear my cross*.

.6ut ho! can you ma+e a chain #rom !ire?.

.$# you bring me t!o little pincers& $8ll sho! you*.

.)uch too dangerous9.

.6ut !e8re #riends9.

%e hesitated and #inally said& .$t8s too hard to re#use*Tonight at D ) !e8ll do it* 6ut !e have to #inish be#ore11* $8ll have my companion ta+e the evening o##* $# he+ne!& he8d denounce the both o# us*

That evening& !ith the tools he brought& !e cut andshaped and !or+ed together to ma+e my chain and !e#inished it be#ore 11 )9

This cross and chain are not only my souvenir o#captivity& as precious as that may seem* They are aconstant reminder that only Christian charity can bringabout a change o# heart* Not arms& not threats& not themedia* $t !as very hard #or my guards to understand!hen $ spo+e about loving our enemies& reconciliationand #orgiveness*

. o you really love us?.

.:es& $ really love you*.

.Even !hen !e cause you pain? @hen you su##erbecause you8re in prison !ithout trial?.

.Loo+ at all the years !e8ve spent together* 4# course& $love you9. ."nd !hen you get out& !ill you tell yourpeople to #ind us and beat us and hurt our #amilies?.

.$8ll continue to love you even i# you !ish to +ill me. .6ut!hy?.

.6ecause /esus taught us to love al!aysI i# !e don8t& !eare no longer !orthy to be called Christians*.

There is not enough time to tell you all the other movingstories !hich are proo# o# the liberating po!er o# the loveo# /esus*

.:ou !ear one uni#orm and spea+ one language 7Charity* .Charity is the sign by !hich you !ill berecogni;ed as one o# our Lord8s disciples* 0/ohn 1 -1 3* $tis a badge !hich costs little but is most di##icult to #ind*Charity is the most important language* ,aint aulregarded it as #ar more important than being able .tospea+ the languages o# men and even o# angels. 01 Cor13*

1 * $ !ill have one special love- the 6lessed Virgin )ary

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The harsh years in prison pass very slo!ly* @hilesu##ering humiliation and abandonment& my only supportand hope !as the love o# )ary& 4ur 6lessed )other* The!onder#ul servants o# )ary& Grignon de )ont#ort& on6osco& )aximilien Jolbe !ere my companions on theroad o# hope* They inspired me and gave me un!averingtrust in the love o# )ary& the Hueen o# the "postles and

)artyrs*$ said this prayer to )ary* .)ary& my )other& i# you +no!that $ cannot be o# any more use to the Church& grant methe grace to die here in prison and consummate mysacri#ice* $# you +no! that $ can still be o# use to thechurch& grant me the grace o# #reedom on one o# your#east days* $n #act& on November 21& 1= & $ !as coo+ingmy meal !hen $ heard my guard being called to thephone*

$ had an idea it might be because o# me* " #e! minutesa#ter& the guard called to me* .)r* Thuan& have you#inished eating?. .No& not yet*..(ight a#ter your meal& go and see the chie#*** and goodluc+9.

$ !as ta+en to meet the )inister o# olice and a#ter abrie# conversation& he as+ed& . o you !ish to expressany reKuest?.

.:es& )r* )inister& $ !ish to be let #ree9.

.@hen?.

.Today9.

The )inister #eigned surprise but $ +ne! the day hadcome* $t !as the Feast o# the resentation o# )ary in theTemple and she !as ans!ering my prayer*

To counter the )inister8s surprise $ replied& .:ou see& )r*)inister& $ have been in prison #or three ponti#icates- aulV$& /ohn aul $& /ohn aul $$* $ have been here during theo##ices o# #our ,ecretary Generals o# the Communist

arty& 6hre;nev& "ndropov& Tchernen+o andGorbachev*.

%is eyes opened !ide* .:es. that8s right* "ll right* :ourreKuest is granted* :ou are #ree*

Cardinal's )essage)are Nostrum1* The (oad o# %ope& a message #or personal& #amily ansocial Christian li#e*

"ccording to Vietnamese custom& an invited visitoral!ays brings a gi#t to sho! his esteem& admiration and#riendship* $ am very poor and have only a small present#or you all but $ prepared it mysel#& !ith my heart* $ !ill beleaving you soon& but $ !ant to give the (oad o# %ope*Especially to you "mericans& you !ill #ind a specialmessage #or yourselves in the introduction*

2* The aci#ic 4cean& the )are Nostrum o# the Third)illennium*

$ !ant to tell you about a thought !hich $ o#ten had inprison* $ +ept thin+ing about the aci#ic 4cean and ho! it!as certainly not created to separate us& but rather tounite us*

$n ancient times& the )editerranean ,ea !as called.)are Nostrum.* That means .4ur ,ea.* "s you +no!&Gree+ and (oman Civili;ation gre! up all round that sea*

$n the third millennium& the aci#ic 4cean !ill surely becalled .4ur ,ea. because o# all the countries andpeoples that live around it- (ussia& /apan& Jorea& China&Tai!an& Vietnam& the hilippines& Thailand& )alaysia&,ingapore& $ndonesia& "ustralia& Ne! ealand& Canada&the 5nited ,tates and Latin "merica* $t is the mostinhabited area in all the !orld* $t is important to note that-technology is advancing rapidly in the aci#ic (imI atombombs #ell in the aci#icI all the great traditional religionsare present there*The problems o# evangeli;ation are tremendous*

Let us loo+ to!ard the aci#ic* "ll the #orthcomingchallenges are present there as !ell* %o!ever& themeaning o# the !ord aci#ic must be made clear andbecome !idespread* aci#ic 7 peace 7 Love 7 ,olidarity9

"nd !hat about the Ne! Evangeli;ation in the aci#ic "rea? There are billions o# people there !ho have neverheard the name o# /esus Christ* $ pray that be#ore theyear 2 & 4ur %oly Father !ill ma+e a prophetic voyagearound the aci#ic*


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To carry out our !or+ as religious educators& !e mustlearn to read the signs o# the times* "llo! me to cite thegreat challenges that are #acing us*

The #irst- Family* The true image o# the #amily has beenled do!n a slippery slope lately* The real meaning o#marriage has been blurred and other vaguely analogous

#orms o# cohabitation try to ta+e its place*The second- :outh* The problems they #ace areenormous- the lac+ o# ideals& the lac+ o# employment& thelac+ o# strong points o# re#erence*

The third challenge is the presence o# !idespreadviolence and !ar*

4ther challenges can be cited o# course- the ne!economic order& #undamentalism and the !ithdra!al o#things religious in both public and private institutions& therupture bet!een culture and the Church& the use o#mass7media and the advance o# seculari;ation*

ear #riends&

No!& may $ invite you all to praise God #or his liberatingpo!er& and to place ourselves in the hands o# )ary& 4ur6lessed Lady* $ have shared !ith you my oy and trust inaccomplishing the !ill o# God* $ made no planI it !as God!ho led me* $ tried to live the testament o# /esus Christ*.Love one another as $ have loved you*.

Los "ngeles& Cali#ornia

)arch 2>&1==

"rchbishop Francis Xavier ThuanCardinal Nguyen Van Thuan's rayersM (e#lections charismGL46"L EC4N4)$C C4N,T$T5T$4N

Full loving Father& the "lmightyis the source o# human oy hope

1* .4# the Father's son 0Lu+e 1A&


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ope /ohn aul $$ reminds us- . o you ta+e pride inma+ing people o# Vietnam*.

Each person must be convinced Vietnam is the capital o#the Land 7 @ater& i# not success#ul in ethical behavior&intellectual *** then !e do damage to the country*

$ have no right to critici;e& others reKuire& as $ mysel#

have not done anything #or the country*6ecause Vietnam is& $ need to +no! our mountains andrivers& to learn about the history o# my people& $ have tounderstand& spea+ and script Vietnam* $ have theresponsibility to communicate voice& Vietnam !riting #orchildren& #riends& my #ello! citi;ens*

$# $ do not protect the identity determination Vietnam& onlya #e! generations +no!n some people say Vietnam isincreasingly rare overseas& and overseas to visit thenation !ill need an interpreter*

@e met many young people are eager to +no! the land 7its !ater& but they regret& shame #or not spea+ing good!ith Vietnamese* @e loved that the young people& andparents& he must reconsider his herd on thisresponsibility*

Forums are Vietnam& $ have a duty to serve the peopleengaged& loyal and protective build my home in thehearts and souls& blood and bone me* $ also have thepride and hope to the people& my people o# Vietnam*

.$ hope the bloodstream patriotic blood boiling in themovement*.

1*1* $ am a Catholic

$ !as bapti;ed in the %oly ,pirit brought me into theChurch o# the living God& the Father o# the commonpeople through the redemption o# /esus Christ*

6ut $ am bapti;ed& in the name o# the boo+ is notnecessarily the proper education*

True Catholics must live as /esus lived according to theGospel*

7 o not leave the galaxy to build this !orld every day&but $ do not +no!& not discovery& not a!a+e& no handson* God has redeemed me and put me into the !orld inthis century& this decade& this environment* ut yourchild& not stones9 Very di##erent9 o not ma+e .Catholicpuppet. 0 %V* 213*

7 The divorce bet!een church li#e and religion in society&is the most devastating scandal in our time 0 %V* 223*

Thus& religious li#e to help me become a better citi;enVietnam- )y conviction is that people& people !ho $& allthe brothers and sisters o# a common Father& $ am a!areo# the responsibility to !ho served alongside #ello! $ buildpeace and prosperity #or the country*

1*


10/32

through education and experience every day*,ince each person more a!areo# the presence o# that imagethen our real li#e begins&the li#e o# a person !ith understanding himsel#understood*

"nd until that point& $ understood thatto capture a picture o# God

's uniKue !or+ is necessary to have a negative God*Negative !as my o!n*!as clear or translucent $mage & good or bad& dependingnegatives*

6ac+ to top

2* $ have to spend it& and ho! my talents?

$ must live in the present and ma+e it #ull o# love*

Through message X$$ $nternational youth& early in ope/ohn aul $$ sent a message to you-

.Can you see /esus& along the paths o# li#e each day9 ***This is a #undamental dimension o# this encounter- Notthe event you encounter an animal or something& but :ousee a man& !hich is the living God* .

7 hysical alive& ho! long lung respiration& heart stillbeats& li#e must continue& do not stop& stop dead* Can notsancti#y each distance* /esus said- .$ al!ays do thosethings that please the Father. means .#ully living everymoment to love. 7 /esus did not say ho! big or small!or+- /ust one thing- the Lord is !ell pleased Father-.Long (oad chasms %ope#ully& $ do not do. %oly interim.- three intense per#ormer& the paint !ill #ade and the !all!ill #igure out demons. 0 %V* >>3*

$n the gospel& the apostle !ants to choose the easiestpath& most health- .,end the people& that they may buy#ood. *** 6ut /esus !ants to act in the present moment-.The children let them eat a!ay. 0L+ =&13* 4n the Cross&!hen people steal to /esus& .Lord o# heaven !hen heremembered to as+ me*. /esus replied& .Today you !illbe !ith us in the +ingdom o# heaven. 0L+ 227>23* $nthe !ord .today. o# /esus& $ #eel all #orgiveness& all hislove*

Father )aximillian Jolbe's spirit alive !hen he advisedthe trainees in the line- ."ll& absolutely& unconditionally*.$'ve heard 6ishop %elder Camara said- .The school isloving li#e*. )other Teresa o# Calcutta once sent a letterto me& she !rote- .The important thing is not to havedone some !or+ but the extent o# the love !e have #oreach ob*. %o! to love in such high regard in eachpresent moment? $ thin+ $ have to live each day& eachhour& each minute as the #inal hours o# my li#e*Eliminating !hat is dependent centrali;ed soul #or !hat is+ey* Every !ord& every thought& every gesture& everyphone call& every decision is .best. o# my li#e* $ have #oreveryone my love& my smile- $ have lost the #ear everymoment in my li#e because li#e has no meaning ***

Father !rote in %ope ,treet-

.$ ust had a most beauti#ul moments- the moment 0c#* )t*& I /as* >& 1


11/32

.4ne day the +ing as+ed the demon devil adviser-7 %o! do people on earth and lost his depraved?advisers recommend deceiving people that !ithout God&there is no punishment or anything in li#e this and thenext li#e* demon +ing thoughts and opinions that are notprocessed e##ectively* then #or a long time& a little devilvoiced suggestion- . lease tell every demon +ing datethey are even broader& longer7term & ust relax and be

counted* .demon +ing to stand up& applaud or-7 :es& you said it right& there is only one !ay to ma+ene! people #eel secure that #ar and not #ear divinepunishment& then $ !ill !ear e!elry they instigated thediscretion o# our depraved .*

The ,aints used their time ho!?

The church also lived on this earth as children&the same time he is living !ith another person&!ho is also a 2>7hour day*holy day o# no longer than one minute*outlive the holy child&Francis Xavier > &t!o lines o# 2>7year7old Teresa&(osa e Line


12/32

Lepers reali;e their human dignity& and (aoul Follereauimplement a human li#e !orthy o# love* %uman motiveand +no! the value o# doing it is the po!er o# religious#aith*

Canal

Truth is not a doctrine&on !hichthe opposition critici;ed each other&or to protect the positiono# his privacy*

aths are living according to the gospelo# /esus #ully*This !orld there are people !ho do not +no!right #rom !rong & non7pro#it managementcan not do& ust love them*$# you do !ell& they said thatyou aim sel#ish-do not need anything& ust do it !ell*program you implement&you !ill meet many #riends #alseand true enemies-do not need anything& ust done*the integrity and honestyma+e you vulnerable to attac+-!hat can not& ust honestyand integrity*$ndustry building many years you!ill be destroyed in one day-@hat can not every building*persons you !ill betray your help-!hat can not& continue to helpbring you the most beauti#ul thingsin your li#e #or men&they !ill bring #oot ,tone chasing you-No matter !hat is&let's give people the best*T!o thousand years ago/esus did so*

0)other Teresa o# Calcutta3

6ac+ to top

A* %eight o# my li#e is !hat?

6eing #aith#ul to God& the church& the ancestors& to theFatherland

Loo+ing up& $ lived relationship !ith parents&grandparents& ancestors& and above all a supreme being7 God& the ancestors o# the group& the common Father o#man+ind*

@ith my loyalty to God-.:ou shall love the Lord your God !ith all your heart& allyour soul& all your mind and !ith all your strength. 0)+12& < 3*

$ honor the God !ho sent him to trans#er po!er to givemy li#e& let me be the person Catholics Vietnam today-

they are parents& grandparents& ancestors& and myChurch*

The religion o# my country& the national cultural traditionteaches me +no! $ honor your parents& grandparents&ancestors grate#ul remembrance& honor country&mountains and rivers& home to generations that his #ather6lood poured precedes bone to cultivate and protect* $t is

the common heritage& common #aith and culturaltraditions o# the people $ trained )r7)rs*

6ut $ .@hat did $ do to please my 6aptism?.This is a statement o# ope /ohn aul $$ had moved toFrance in Christians visit this country on the occasion o#his 1&A year anniversary celebration Jing Clovis !asbapti;ed* ,o got bapti;ed& $ !as in the name o# Christian&but my li#e is realistic images o# Christ& the !itness o#God's love !hich Christ had done& or that $ have broughtname !ithout real li#e& and as much as $ did living proo#traitors* )ahatma Gandhi once said honestly& .$ loveChrist& but Christians do not li+e*.

Christians are true& $ can not not +no! !ho Christ is& ordo not learn the gospel& apathetic and indi##erent to thechurch is the living body o# his9

"s #aith#ul Christians $ can not live a Christian li#e& meansto live as Christ lived& by !ord o# mouth& ob to preach the+ingdom o# God in the midst o# people*

"s Christians hearted& $ can not cold& not permeate theli#e o# God in Christ through the sacraments& and notacceptable as a dead cell& unmotivated& passive& notemotional side thousands o# living cells made o# GodChurch*

"s a child o# the Vietnam Fatherland& $ can not ust +no!to honor past ancestors in !ords& but also committed toserving the Vietnamese community li#e be#ore his eyes&his energy contribution along tectonic peace andprosperity #or the people in the homeland as !ell as#uture today*

4nly God

1 7 4nly God can give #aith&but you can be the !itness o# #aith

2 7 4nly God can give hope& but you can bring trust to others

< 7 4nly God can give to charity& but you can sho! others you +no! ho! to love*

> 7 4nly God can give peace& but you can plant the seeds o# unity

A 7 4nly God can give strength6ut you can on the side to support disappoint*

7 4nly God is the !ay& but you can only path that sibling

D 7 4nly God is light

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& but you can ma+e that light !hich shines in #ront o#others

7 4nly God is li#e& but you can trans#er to others the !ill to live*

= 7 4nly God can do !hat seems impossible&but you can ma+e things possibleI

1 7 4nly the uncreated God !ho%e !ants 6ut than+s to you

6ac+ to top

* @idth o# !hat my li#e is?

6eing mature #or #amily& community and society

6oo+ o# ancient sages !rote- .Friendship Childrencypress minno!s& minno!s as his o!n #ailure. 0roughlytranslated .have centenarians still a child& have the child!as seven years old adult.3*For the church and #or the Family& Fatherland& !hen !egro! up thin+ing to ta+e responsibility and action*

Those !ho lac+ adult disease .!aiting #or a miracle*.They do not !ant to put shoulder to shoulder& not mind7numbing thought out initiatives& as children do notcontribute& as+ others little& portable led& advised&encouraged #earing trouble* "s a community& a socialencounter such people& the luxuriant tangle lum& or isrotating propeller change decision as being the leaderstra! advantage*

Live adult !ho is responsible #or ma+ing others

"s a boy& $ need others to born and educated& protectedme* 6ut $ have gro!n to complete personality* "dult !hois a!are o# the presence and #reedom o# others& and aremore nurturing bear responsibility& education& protectiono# *** others* "dults do not al!ays passively !aiting #orothers to serve her& give her the bene#it& but a sense o#responsibility to actively ta+e on the commitment o# the#amily& community& nation and church*

Live adult +no!s considerations& considerations andcourageous decision*

@e al!ays need mentors in the !or+ personally orcollectively& but no one can decide #or us* $ndividualsneed courageous choices and decisions to mature&organi;ations need to decide oriented activitiesI countriesshould decide to sho! independence and its #reedom*

)ature Living is committed to implementing andpromoting public progress*

Gro!th is overcome irresponsible attitude& separatingitsel# #rom the responsibility o# the community to #orever+eep critical attitude& criticism& intrusive& clean hands*Family li#e& community& church or nation is pooling e##ortsthat engage each shouldering his share to build andconsolidate* Need !inning li#estyle passive& negative and

most obstinate open to almost embrace the truth o# thegospel o# love& or update the good& novelty !here thesigns o# the times to navigate steps o# themselves& topromote progress*

Epitome mature love is the love o# Christ& !ho loved tosacri#ice his li#e* Christ& the innocent& not come to udge&but human bear sin& social sin to salvation* ,o that loves

to be responsible& accountable to the people& !ithoutexception& even his enemies-

.:our Father& %e !ho d!ells in heaven& not !illing thatany o# these little ones should perish. 0)t 1 & 1>3*

o not leave the place& do not remove the responsibility

"t the location*stand&!hy leave combat positions?@hoever position?4#ten people evade too !ise& the mercenaries&the only commercial pro#it& shy people are a#raid& sel#ishpeople*

$t's di##icult& it's dangerous&but not leave a glass&not a step le#t&hold& ris+ their lives*determined enemy !e must step up*every Christian is a soldier&a pioneer*.6ehold & $ up to /erusalem& and people !ill be delivered .0)t* 2 & 1 3*.%e did not drin+ the cupthe Father to see? 0/ohn 1 & 113.To understand the !orld +no! you love meand $ love ear Father&let us stand up and go .0/ohn 1>&


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perdere causas et propter vitam vivendi3 Osatires& V$$$& P

The honor is not +no!n !ho pre#er to create anatmosphere o# suspicion& criticism& lies& no one to trustanyone& no one !as inspired to build a positive thing& thatstyle& that mode civili;ation !hich has resulted in distinctsocial relationships in the atmosphere leads band o#

#riends& #amily& neighborhood& organi;ations& countriesand even churches*

The honor is +no!ing !ho live #aith#ul to be their trusted#riends& the great soul level to be able to trust the otherperson* That li#estyle is the +ey to restore trust& rene!and create peace #or #amily activities& organi;ations&nations and churches*

The devout& honor& al!ays +eep a promise& #ul#ill theirduties& they can put their trust in them& as !ell as popularat the time thin+ing& successes and #ailures they al!aysbe !ith you #riends*

The devout& arms extended& to sha+e hands cordiallypeople& t!o parties are hand signals& the party isextended& extended around the !orld* No one ridden bypeople !illing to die #or you 7 to reach a hand signal to allover the !orld& the ne! social change is !hat !e live 7!here no one believed anyone& !here they spied oneach other& lie in !ait same curiosity& the sameaccusations*

The gospel o# Christ teaches me& the perennial culturaltraditions o# the nation& ancestry Vietnam reminds me-Let's as+ everyone& including my enemies& becausepeople are generally Father's children- #our tan+s arebrothers*

Great love that motivates me honest and #aith#ul to thosearound you*

%onor people based on honesty& because honestycreates trust #or #riendship*

Faith#ul in !ord& right straight in the heart& the liberality o#conduct& it is the personality o# the man o# honor*

" man not honorable& #aithless& lied to #riends andrelatives& !ill cause #amily& country brea+do!n& the socialatmosphere o# the dressing*

" #amily& a community& a regime o# truth and not get asignal to the standard& the routine !ill push put her on thepath o# hatred& deceit& lac+ o# honor& and the people !illlose direction *

$ remember #ishing #or precious ,ang inh 0Nguyen VanThich (ev* /)3 hanging in his room-

hung uc Tam God- believers& hope& charity&coal is the best- private& language& action*Church o# God three virtues- #aith& hope and love*city!ide eath- thin+ing& spea+ing& doing*

Credit to

%e is a creature o# nobleideals o# glory $ !as great*enlightened mind %e isthe heart God !ants you to love !ords*enlightens him lead the !ay&$ Love unyielding #ro;en resurrection*Jingdom by reasoning categorical

me rich s!eet tears shimmeringdeductive his persevering hero*drops "sia beauti#ul beauti#ul sentiments changehis heroic glory sothey remain silent sacri#ice ease legendary6ritish stately shrinesacred child is provided sacred mysteryhat bo!ed be#ore ta+ing+nees in the same earnest prayer*lo#ty %e o#ten thin+$ al!ays dreamed #ragrant #loralThin+ing you're so adeptyou sho! a dreamy halo5J !ide sea vastriver !ater in them is tenderpoint sites turKuoise oceanbree;e sunshine rivers poeticEnglish as the bird #le! a!ay$ !as singing canary singing midli#e6ay conKuering distant s+ies,inging his heart charm earthlyFinallysibling hori;onabout you& provided you !ait be#ore observatory*

0The experience o# ,t* Thomas "Kuinos3

6ac+ to top

* Lighting the orientation o# our li#e is !hat?

$n Tuesday millennium& !e #ollo! the light o# %ope

Light direction my li#e is hope* The prayer liturgy sings-ear %ope Cross is .our uniKue. 0o crux ave ,pes

5nica3* Cross brings hope because /esus !as cruci#iedon it to human salvation& the resurrection to bring bac+humanity to heaven*

6et!een the !orld #ull o# evil& in ustice& hunger today&/esus tells us to do?

7 Catholics bet!een dar+ light& is the salt o# li#e amongcorrupt& and hope bet!een a #rustrated humanity 0 %V*=A 3*

7 Love is love o# God on earth* God is drun+ motherdrun+ mother earth* %ope in God's earthly hope to besaved 0 %V* =A>3*

"nd /esus taught us to avoid-,t* aul's constant counseling people do not live li+epeople do not expect 0 %V* =A13*%is analysis also sho!ed us the di##erent class Catholics&and choose the right direction-

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(an+ed .Catholic !ait&. arms crossed hope to expect*

There are categories o# people .passive catholic.& .evadeor irresponsible*.

They ust said .loo+ up. to call #or help& but not +no!ing.loo+ to. to carry& .loo+ around. to share& shouldering*

%ope in the midst o# them& or they do not9 0 %V* = 3)a+ing a (evolution- o not ta+e li#e Catholics a!ay#rom the environment& to gather around the sacredthings* Catholicism teaches people hope theirenvironmental intrusion 0 %V* = 3*

7 Can not be a Christian concept #ascination not bring the!orld steeped hope 0 %V* =D23*

The light that shines !ill help us overcome thesechallenges&7 $ al!ays hope& do not be discouraged because o# theinternal di##iculties& even in the apostolate*

"s ,t* aul- .@ho shall proclaim Christ out o# love&because he +no!s that $ have been designated helper!orry Gospel* (evelations @ho is the Christ becauseenvy& does not intend to trans#er& this idea !ill !or+cause more su##ering #or my prison scene* should bespent9 "ny!ay& by the good or bad #aith& as long asChrist is preached& $ re oice and $ ust al!ays pleased9 .0 %V* =D 3*

"nd a!ay !e hope !ill be a li#etime7 This slo! serial dot there& a thousand thousand dotslong*minute serial other minute& a minute !ant a million lives*

"ttendance each dot to the right& the road !ill bebeauti#ul&Live every minute to the good& holy li#e !ill*curve by a dotted hope hopehope Li#e hopes so per minute 0 %V* =D 3

To!ards 2 & ope /ohn aul $$ sent the message #or@orld :outh- :outh as a !itness o# hope*

$ !ould summari;e the contents o# the !itnesses live&hope that through the #ollo!ing summary diagram& basedon the #irst #e! letters o# the Latin , E, 0Q hope3& and $shi#ted over by #our Vietnamese !or+ engagementbegins !ith the letter *

, 7 ,ervire- 7 ,erving 7 rogressione- 7 evelop E 7Evangelisatione- 7 gospel , 7 ,ancti#icatione o##icii- 7incumbent@hen choosing noun %ope#ully& $'ve thought about this >& because it is the program o# action& #or us today& doneright& it !ill come hope#ully*

@ant more clear thought and right action a soldier& inviteyou thoroughly research the astoral Constitution o# the,econd Vatican Council& called %y7#un7happy and hope&that $ have chosen slogan and programs !hen $ !aschosen as bishop 01= D3*

%ere $ explain the > 's-

R ,erved

The ,econd Vatican Council gave us the church today is.a serving church. 7 and #or good Conveniently earth as.leaven. as the .salt o# the sea. as .light.& so silence&people !ould not notice but indispensable to li#e is*

/esus said- .$ did not come to be !ho !e have served&but to serve.* "nd he continued to explain his serve-.Father to give his li#e #or others*.

.$# $& your Lord and Teacher& have !ashed the #eet o#you& then you also should !ash one another's #eet. 0/ohn13*

%ope#ully complete personality& hoping to becomeChristians #ollo! Christ's example& hoping to create a!ater Vietnam peace& happiness& a church gathering thechildren o# God *** !ill not rely on dreams enhanced& inhis conceit& their unions& do not use strength& #orce& doesnot reKuire her to be honored and privilege it yoursel#& #oryour community ***I but .!ash one another's #eet.& !hoserved as respect& love- it is the path o# hope& rene!eddaily personal lives& creating an atmosphere o# holiness#or the Church and society*

R evelopment

/esus said- .They do not need to go any!here& ta+e careo# yourselves they eat. 0)t 1>& 1 3*

/esus Christ& the ,on o# God made man carries thebody& a!a+ening us great value o# our human body* %o!can you per#orm the next love& !hen guys dress excessrice& money abundance& convenience o# holding all!ealth and po!er& besides the ma ority o# #orest sceneshungry brothers& !as to in ustice& stripped o# the right toli#e& liberty ***

.Let them eat.& eat the #lesh and spirit& in an e##ort tocontribute to the economic li#e& the development o#science to the service o# man& dig deep cultural valuesIstruggle !ith commitment #or ustice& peace to the+ingdom o# God is the brotherhood o# humanity everyday a clearly expressed than on earth*

The church served by developing the !hole person* $n years the !orld began to tal+ very much about. evelopment.& ope aul V$ announced )essages. eveloping nations. 7 in !hich he announced theestablishment o# the onti#ical Commission later became

onti#ical Council #or /ustice and eace* Church to care#or human li#e deserves dignity as children o# God*

evelopment here means not only economic 7 but isintegral human development& physical& intellectual&spiritual ***

4ne important thing here is to dispel erroneous thin+ing-church ust !orried soul only& not !orry the #lesh* Goa!ay thin+ing that true history bac+ thousands o# years&!here it organi;ed church school& orphanage& nursing&

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post leper camps& hospitals #rom +indergarten to collegehoc*vv**

7 . evelopment is the ne! title o# peace. 0 aul V$3*

"lthough happy to help you ho! much& i# their child to be.automatic machine.& $ do not really develop them 0 %V*A 3*

7 "ccept only those !ho +no! the lie& sit& trailing only!ant to #ollo!& !ant to be helped& to be saved& given&made to the image& is al!ays needed& actually incrediblyeasy9 6ut $ ta+e responsibility #or training people& people!ho !ant to stand& re!arding people !ho 0 %V* A=23*

$t's really hard9 6ut the determination to help others-

R Jno! the uprising*R Jno! re#lection*R Jno! the organi;ation*R Jno! battle*R Jno! bac+!ards against my !ill !hen needed* $'ll bereal happy #or you along !ith the promotion 0 %V* A=


17/32

7 %oly o# my duty* ,ancti#y others through my duty*,ancti#y ourselves in the duty 0 %V* 1=3

,ancti#ication o# human duty- $ am a ournalist&congressman& students& +itchen& sancti#y me my ob&rather than ust ma+ing money ob& do it !ell because $love the Lord 7 very di##erent*

,ancti#y others through human duty- through ne!spaper$ !rite a good& protective truths& brought oy to manypeople& $ do congressman& said courageous conscience&$ sancti#y others 7 @orld This is not pretty& the country isnot innovation 7 ,o ho! many o# ournalists& ho! many) s& intellectuals Catholic& rotestant& *** @here? @elive as very religious person* "nd !e did not sancti#yothers through duty*

,ancti#y themselves in duty- 4# course in doing so !emust sacri#ice& courage& !isdom and perseverance& and!e should be holy& do not need to be vegetarian& hitme *** that the people !ho do not stand around*

7 $# everyone is sancti#ied duty& the ne! spirit& ne! #amily&ne! !orld 0 %V* 2 3

7 " saint is a holy duty outside in the distance o#ten .!or+miracles. @rong place !rong time* 6y the close& thecon#using& di##icult living and be!ildered 0 %V* 213*

7 arishioners thought- %oly is the #ervent prayer& preach&alienated !orld- they turned out to clergy& mon+s inancient times* (eligious thought- %oly is committed tohelping the social& political activity& !hich compete !ithparishioners incarnate* @ildly cool 0 %V* 223*

7 The church should not holy because o# prophecy ormiracles* @here do they !onder9 They #ul#ill an obligation0 %V* 2A3*

$n the spirit o# hope and the po!er o# the (isen Christ&/oseph Folliet poet 01=


18/32

7 Charity is no border i# the border is not charity anymore0 %V* D D3*

7 Love one another not in !ords but in deed* Love oneanother !ith the le#t hand do not +no!*

.Love one another as $ have loved us. 0 %V* DAA3

Li#t up your hearts Christ !ith %is Father& to +no! there isonly love- Love all& love each person& love #amily& loveenemies& holy love& love the sinner* Love by sacri#icinghis o!n li#e #or the love guys*

ascal once said- .The heart has reasons that the mind+no!s not normal*.

Lee's heart seems cra;y- to sacri#ice his love& love yourenemies ***& but li#ting up my heart& no! in solidarity&uniting ne! and po!er#ul meaning*

Li#t up your hearts& to experience that could theoreticallydi##erent& but people al!ays have a chance to close andunderstand each other in li#e*

Li#t up your hearts& it !as sho!n that the party in po!er&the conversion can be stic+y on re#lection& change themechanism by !hich it !as thought that there !as nochance o# rescue*

7 Charity is the extension o# God's love #or humanity0 %V* D=23

7 $ honestly have to say that-.$ do not see !ho is my adversary& including people $hate the most& those !ho persecute me& s!earimplacable !ith me. 0 %V* D=


19/32

6ecause the greatest oy is being !ith Christ'sresurrection*

$# the !i#e +no!s her husband smiled&smiled at her husband&smiled $# your enemy is&the #un is #un guys *** $ do not li+e#amily& social& national !ill o# heaven be done !here

earth*$t's not an illusion& not +no!n to the su##ering heaped ineveryday li#e& but as ,t* "ugustine once said-

.Love does not control di##icultand arduous love& hardship and in ury* .

%appiness o# our times

1 7 6lessed !ho +no! that laughing at himbecause things !ill never cease to entertain*

2 7 6lessed are those !ho can distinguish bet!eendi##erent mountain stonesas !ill avoid many troubles*

< 7 6lessed are those !ho listen and silentbecause'll learn ho! ne! things*

> 7 6lessed are interested to +no!!hat others as+ tobe shared so ho! is play#ul*

A 7 6lessed are attentiveto the normaland calm be#ore importantbecause they !ill move #ar a!ay*

7 6lessed are appreciative smileand ignore the rude !ordsbecause o# their !ay to glorious light*

D 7 6lessed are those !ho +no! explainho! tolerant attitude o# othersas opposed to appearancebecause they !ill be considered a ne! release*

7 6lessed are thin+ingbe#ore actingand pray be#ore thin+ingso they can avoid a lot o# un#ocused*

= 7 6lessed especially #or anyone#ound God in allthe people !e met6ecause they met the light and true peaceCardinal Nguyen Van Thuan's 6oo+sThroughout his li#e Cardinal Thuan did not !rite manyboo+s or articles* %o!ever& !hile he !as imprisoned #orthirteen years& nine o# !hich !as solitary con#inement&the then7"rchbishop !rote a boo+ by the name .S Ung%y V ng. or .The (oad o# %ope. to encourage the#aith#ul in his diocese and all the eople o# God inVietnam* This boo+ has been translated to more than 1Alanguages*

$n 1=DA& Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan !as travelingto ,aigon& Vietnam& to become its ne! Coad utor 6ishop*4n the !ay& he !as arrested and imprisoned 77 anincarceration that lasted thirteen years* espitetremendous ris+& Van Thuan re#used to remain passive*

uring his nights in prison& he !rote encouragingmessages to the Vietnamese people* These brie#

re#lections& scribbled on scraps o# paper& !ere smuggledout o# prison& copied by hand and circulated !ithin thecommunity* 6ishop Van Thuan !as thus able to remainconnected to his people in a hidden yet po!er#ul !ay*The (oad o# %ope is the collection o# these 1& 1messages& a true .gospel #rom prison&. !ritten to consoleand strengthen a !eary people in !ar7torn land* Theyremain the heart#elt& personal !ords o# a #ather !hosustained and nourished his children's desire #or#reedom* Today& they spea+ to us 7 an invitation to beginour o!n ourney on the (oad o# %ope*

WW Clic+ here to buy

Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan says& .This little boo+ o#prayers !as !ritten in prison* Though $ !as alone andseemed to have nothing at all& $ had the love o# #aith#ul#riends !ho !ere praying #or me* "nd $ had the love o#Christ in my heart*

$n gratitude #or that love& $ !rote these prayer on scrapso# paper the prison guards gave me* They are aremembrance o# that time !hen $ seemed poor& but !hen$ !as actually very rich77#or love can do all things*.

No oneYthe Church or its membersYcan be satis#ied!ith possessing the #aith and !ithdra!ing behind a#ortress to en oy it !ith security* (ather& !e cannot stopmoving #or!ard in our search #or GodI and on the !ay/esus advances and dra!s closer to us*


Every year& ope /ohn aul $$ chooses someone topreach a course o# spiritual exercises #or himsel# and the(oman Curia at the Vatican* $n the /ubilee :ear 2 & heas+ed Vietnamese "rchbishop Nguyen van Thuan*

Testimony o# %ope is the complete text o# those ,piritualExercises* $n this moving !or+& the "rchbishopaddresses our need #or hope at the beginning o# theThird Christian )illennium* "s a prisoner in a communistconcentration camp #or 1< years& = o# them in solitarycon#inement& "rchbishop Nguyen van Thuan #aced !hathe describes as the .agoni;ing pain o# isolation andabandonment*.

(ecounting the details o# those long years& he revealsthe secret !hich allo!ed him to cling to hope in the midsto# despair* Nguyen van Thuan 's message to /ohn aul $$and to us is this- the same hope that he #ound inimprisonment is also the hope #or the !orld at thismomentous point in history* Faced !ith any dar+ness& !ehave reason #or con#idence- Christ& %ope o# the @orld*


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"l!ays reticent about spea+ing o# himsel#& Cardinal VanThuan slo!ly began to reali;e that his prison experienceo# su##ering and hope could help others in their ourney o##aith* The re#lections he prepared #or the 1==D @orld:outh ay in aris became the #rame!or+ #or FiveLoaves M T!o FishI the content is his personal)agni#icat #or the !onders God had !or+ed in and

through the small o##ering o# his li#e77li+e the #ish andloaves in the Gospel& !hich #ed thousands*

@ritings "bout Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan6y "ndre Van Chau

@ritten by a personal #riend o# Cardinal Van Thuan& thismoving biography chronicles the li#e o# the man ope/ohn aul $$ says !as .***mar+ed by a heroiccon#iguration !ith Christ on the cross*. From acommunist ail cell& to (ome as the leader o# the

onti#ical Council #or /ustice and eace& Francis XavierNguyen Van Thuan remained a man o# unsha+able #aithand undying hope*.Van Thuan survived a nightmare in human history andtrans#ormed it into a dream #or a #uture o# the Church ando# humanity* " story unbelievably complex& a messageincredibly simple- hope alive in one person can trans#ormthe !orld* " boo+ #or anyone !ho needs to +eep theircourage alive***.77,r* %elen re ean& "uthor& ead )an @al+ing

.$ have been deeply moved by the example and !ritingso# Cardinal Van Thuan* "ny reader !ith Christian values!ill #ind in his biography and !ritings a ne! insight intoChristian #aith& hope and charity* %aving met the Cardinalon the day o# his elevation to the cardinalate* $ +ne! $!as meeting someone very special* There !as a certaininner light that touched everyone !ho spo+e to him thatday* $ have only experienced this one time be#ore77!hen $met )other Teresa*.77(ev* 6enedict Groeschel& CF(

6iography o# CardinalFrancis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

6irth* "pril 1D& 1=2 & parish o# hu Cam& %uZ& ViZt Nam*Nephe! o# Ngo inh iem& president o# the #ormer(epublic o# ,outh ViZt Nam 013I and o# ierre )artin Ng[

\]nh Thuc& archbishop o# %ue* Numerous members o#his #amily su##ered martyrdom because o# their #aith* %isname is also listed as Nguye^n vaZn Thua_n& hanxico`Xavie`& in Vietnamese*

Education* @hen he !as very young& he entered the)inor ,eminary o# "n Ninh& %uZI later& he studied at the)a or ,eminary o# hu Xuan& %uZ 0philosophy andtheology3I a#ter his ordination& he !ent to (ome in 1=AAand studied spiritualityI and obtained a doctorate incanon la! in 1=A=*

riesthood* 4rdained& /une 11& 1=A


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Escrito por VietCatholic Ne!sViernes 1D de ,eptiembre de 2 > 11-


22/32

$n l==l he !as allo!ed to travel to (ome but !as notallo!ed to return Ever since that time he lived in exile&though his heart !as al!ays !ith the Church in Viet Namand his homeland* %e spared no e##orts to assist socialservices in Viet Nam& #or example leprosariums&Charitable organi;ations& research programs to promotethe culture o# Vietnam and o# the Catholic Church in VietNam& reconstruction o# churches& the training o#

seminarians as conditions allo!ed* $n spite o# thepersecutions imposed on the Church and on himsel#personally& he al!ays lived and preached #orgivenessand reconciliation*

4n November ll& l==> the %oly Father named him Viceresident o# the onti#ical Council o# /ustice and eace&

and subseKuently resident o# the same on /une 2>&l== replacing Cardinal :* (* Etchegaray& !ho hadretired* %e remains in this position until today*

,ince his release #rom prison& he had undergone Doperations& < o# !hich he su##ered in#ections and !ascritically ill* The seccond last operation !as on "pril lD&2 1 at the ,aint Elisabeth s )edical Center& 6oston&5,"& and the last operation !as on )ay &2 2 at theCentre o# (esearch #or Tumors in )ilan& $taly*%is condition !orsened at the beginning o# /une 2 2and received treatment at "gostino Gemelli %ospital& ateaching hospital attached to the Catholic ,acred %eart5niversity in (ome* %e !as later trans#erred to io X$hospital #or #urther treatment*

$n his li#e outside Vietnam !as o#ten invited to preachand lecture in many countries and to various audiencesor example at the Cathedral o# Notre ame de arisduring Lent& and at various universities in the !orld-in)exico& in )ay l== he preached to more than A &young people* 4n )ay ll& l== he received an %onorary

octorate at the /esuit 5niversity in Ne! 4rleans& 5*,*"*%e also received other honorary titles and pri;es as- =/une l=== 7 (oma-Commandeur de l 4rdre National du ) rite& Embassy o#France to the %oly ,eeI 12 ecember 2 7 (ome0Campidoglio3& $taly& ri;e Together #or eaceFoundationI 2 4ctober 2 1 7Turin& $taly& ri;e #or

eace 0,E()$G 7 "ssocia;ione )issionaria di giovani3I= ecember 2 1 7 istoia& $taly- ri;e o# eace 2 1&Center o# ,tudies G* onati*

The Congregation #or the Evangeli;ation o# the eoplesalso entrusted him !ith the responsibility o# visiting andoverseeing the ,eminaries in a number o# countries in

"#rica*

uring Lent 2 he received a special invitation #romope /ohn aul $$ to preach the Lenten (etreat to the

Curia& at the beginning o# the third millenium* @hen the%oly Father received him in private audience a#ter theretreat& giving him a chalice& Cardinal Thuan said- .2>years ago $ said )ass !ith < drops o# !ine and $ drop o#!ater in the palm o# my hand& $ never !ould have thoughtthat today the %oly Father !ould give me a gilt chalice*4ur Lord is great indeed and so is his love.* $n February2l& 2 1 he !as elevated to the College o# Cardinals bythe %oly Father& ope /ohn aul $$& !ho named him

Cardinal o# the Church o# ,anta )aria della ,cala* Thischurch is under the pastoral care o# the CarmeliteFathers*%e is died on ,eptember 1 & 2 2 in (ome*

(ome& 1 ,eptember 2 2*

Coordinating 4##ice o# the "postolate #or the Vietnamese

in the iasporaCardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen VanThuanresident o# the onti#ical Council o# /ustice and eace

Cardinal F*X Nguyen Van Thuan !as born at hu Cam inthe diocese o# %ue& rovince o# Thua Thien& Vietnam& on

"pril lD& l=2 * %e !as the eldest o# - < boys and A girls*%is #ather& )r Nguyen Van "m passed a!ay on /uly 1&l==< in ,ydney& "ustralia* %is )other& n e Ngo inh Thi%iep& daughter o# the late )r Ngo inh Jha& is no! lyears old and living in ,ydney& "ustralia !ith herdaughter "nne %am Tieu*

Cardinal Thuan !as born into a #amily !ith a longCatholic tradition& his relatives !ere among the martyrssince l = *

From early age Fr* Thuan !as brought up in a Catholicenvironment !ith deep #aith& o!ing much to hisexamplary holy mother Eli;abeth* Every evening she toldher son stories #rom the 6ible and those o# the martyrs o#Vietnam& especially o# his ancestors& introduced him tothe example o# ,t Theresa o# the $n#ant /esus& taught himto love and #orgive& and she also taught him to cherishhis homeland o# Vietnam*

Thuan entered the )inor ,eminary in early teen& and#ollo!ed his studies in philosophy and theology at the)a or ,eminary Jim Long at %ue* %e !as ordainedpriest on /une ll& l=A7l= D*

4n "pril l& l= D& thesolemnity o# ,t /ohn the 6aptist& at %ue by %*E* "ngelo

almas& "postolic elegate #or Vietnam& Laos& and

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Cambodia* %e too+ as his motto- /oy and %ope0Gaudium et ,pes3*

%is installation too+ place on /uly 1 & l= D* uring hiseight years in Nha Trang he spared no e##ort in thedevelopment o# the diocese be#ore the advent o# di##iculttimes* %e #ocussed on training the grassroot cadres&

increasing the number o# seminarians #rom >2 to 1>D&and o# minor seminarians #rom 2 to A in #our,eminaries& organi;ed $nservice Courses #or priests o# dioceses in Central Viet Nam* %e also organi;ed other#ormation courses& such as- development and training o#:outh associations& the laity& parish associations andparish councils !ith training courses #or the /ustice and

eace )ovement& Cursillos and Focolare& and #oundedthe Community o# %ope and the Lavang Community*

6ishop Thuan !rote six circular letters #or the #ormationo# his diocese-

"!a+e and ray 01= 32* ,trong in Faith& "dvance !ith ,erenity 01= =3* The )ission o# Christ is also our )issionA* (emembering < years 0l=D13

* %oly :ears o# (ene!al and (econciliation 01=D13*

Cardinal Thuan held various positions in the VietnameseEpiscopal Con#erence- %e !as Chairman o# the /usticeand eace Committee& ,ocial CommunicationCommittee and the evelopment o# Vietnam Committeein Charge o# Corev to assist in resttlement o# re#ugees#rom the !ar areas* %e !as one o# the #oundingmembers o# the Catholic (adio ,tation (adio Veritas "sia& )anila* %e #reKuently attended the "sian 6ishopsCon#erence o# "sia 0F*"*6*C*3* %e !as named "dvisor o#the onti#ical Council o# the Laity #rom l=D17l=DA* $t !asduring these meetings that he had the opportunity tomeet ope /ohn aul $$& then "rchbishop o# Craco!& andto learn #rom him o# pastoral experiences during the mostdi##icult period in oland under the communist regime* %e!as also appointed "dvisor& then member o# theCongregation #or the Evangeli;ation o# the eoples& andmember o# the Congregation #or ivine @orship and the

iscipline o# ,acraments*

4n "pril 2 the %oly Father named him Viceresident o# the onti#ical Council o# /ustice and eace&and subseKuently resident o# the same on /une 2>&l== replacing Cardinal :* (* Etchegaray& !ho hadretired* %e remains in this position until today*

,ince his release #rom prison& he had undergone Doperations& < o# !hich he su##ered in#ections and !ascritically ill* The seccond last operation !as on "pril 1D&2 1 at the ,aint Elisabeth s )edical Center& 6oston&5,"& and the last operation !as on )ay &2 2 at theCentre o# (esearch #or Tumors in )ilan& $taly*%is condition !orsened at the beginning o# /une 2 2and received treatment at "gostino Gemelli %ospital& ateaching hospital attached to the Catholic ,acred %eart5niversity in (ome* %e !as later trans#erred to io X$hospital #or #urther treatment*

$n his li#e outside Vietnam !as o#ten invited to preachand lecture in many countries and to various audiencesor example at the Cathedral o# Notre ame de arisduring Lent& and at various universities in the !orld-in)exico& in )ay l== he preached to more than A &young people* 4n )ay ll& l== he received an %onorary

octorate at the /esuit 5niversity in Ne! 4rleans& 5*,*"*%e also received other honorary titles and pri;es as- =/une l=== 7 (oma- .Commandeur de l 4rdre National du) rite.& Embassy o# France to the %oly ,eeI 12

ecember 2 7 (ome 0Campidoglio3& $taly& ri;e.Together #or eace Foundation.I 2 4ctober 2 17Turin& $taly& ri;e #or eace 0,E()$G 7 "ssocia;ione)issionaria di giovani3I = ecember 2 1 7 istoia& $taly-

ri;e o# eace 2 1& Center o# ,tudies G* onati*

The Congregation #or the Evangeli;ation o# the eoplesalso entrusted him !ith the responsibility o# visiting andoverseeing the ,eminaries in a number o# countries in

"#rica*

uring Lent 2 he received a special invitation #romope /ohn aul $$ to preach the Lenten (etreat to the

Curia& at the beginning o# the third millenium* @hen the%oly Father received him in private audience a#ter the

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retreat& giving him a chalice& Cardinal Thuan said- .2>years ago $ said )ass !ith < drops o# !ine and $ drop o#!ater in the palm o# my hand& $ never !ould have thoughtthat today the %oly Father !ould give me a gilt chalice*4ur Lord is great indeed and so is his love.* $n February2l& 2 1 he !as elevated to the College o# Cardinals bythe %oly Father& ope /ohn aul $$& !ho named himCardinal o# the Church o# ,anta )aria della ,cala* This

church is under the pastoral care o# the CarmeliteFathers*%e is died on ,eptember 1 & 2 2 in (ome*(ome& 1 ,eptember 2 2*

ope Francis remembers Cardinal Van Thuan 0#ull text322 2 1&1=DA* @ithin days o# his appointment& ,aigon #ell to thecommunist Viet Cong and a #e! months later& the ne!bishop o# ,aigon !as targeted #or his #aith as !ell as his#amily connection to Ngo inh iem& the assassinated,outh Vietnamese president* %e !as ailed by theCommunist government and spent 1< years in acommunist ''re7education'' camp& nine o# them in solitarycon#inement* %e !as never tried or sentenced* ,pea+ingagain o# his mother& Van Thuan said& @hen $ !as inprison& she !as my great com#ort* ,he said to all& B raythat my son !ill be #aith#ul to the Church and remain!here God !ants him*8.

uring that time in prison& the bishop sought to consolehis people by smuggling out messages to his people onscraps o# paper* These brie# re#lections& copied by handand circulated !ithin the Vietnamese community& havebeen printed in the boo+ The (oad o# %ope* "notherboo+& rayers o# %ope& contains his prayers !ritten inprison* The bishop #ashioned a tiny 6ible out o# scraps o#paper* ,ympathetic guards smuggled in a piece o# !oodand some !ire #rom !hich he cra#ted a small cruci#ix*

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suicide& they eventually bought him a length o# !ire andsome pincers* The prisoner and one o# the guards thenmade a chain in #our hours the length o# private timethey had available* They did this by cutting the !ire into>> pieces and t!isting them into lin+s* The chain no!bears his pectoral cross& the insignia o# his ne! o##ice*

" Than+sgiving )ass !as held at ,t )ary8s Cathedral

last @ednesday at !hich Cardinal Clancy !elcomedCardinal Van Thuan to "ustralia* %e has fsu##eredgrievously #or his #aith & said the cardinal* fVisiting

"ustralia& no! as a cardinal& he !ill surely be a source o#inspiration and hope #or us all*

Cardinal Van Thuan gave the homily at the )ass #irst inEnglish then in Vietnamese* %e also spea+s $talian&French& ,panish& Latin and even some (ussian* rison&he said& gives you time #or such intellectual pursuits*

$n his homily he told ho! f"ustralia is my secondhomeland as his parents are here* %is mother lives hereand his #ather is buried here* They came to "ustralia in1=DA& sponsored by the cardinal8s sister& "nne& arriving

ust #ive days be#ore ,aigon& the capital o# ,outhVietnam& !as ta+en by the Communist #orces*

$n Vietnamese culture& said Cardinal Van Thuan& !ebelieve that !here your parents are that is yourhomeland*

The cardinal also than+ed "ustralia #or its fstruggle #ormy #reedom * %is sister "nne lobbied intensely #or herbrother8s release* ,he and their parents !ere greatlyaided by the "ustralian bishops& as !ell as "mnesty$nternational and the $nternational ,ociety #or %uman(ights& !ho also helped campaign #or Cardinal VanThuan8s release*

Cardinal Van Thuan also told ho! he #irst visited "ustralia in 1= < and met many o# the clergy& includingCardinal Gilroy and Cardinal Freeman and r )annix*,ince he had gone to (ome& he said& he had made#riends !ith many "ustralian priests !ho had provedf#aith#ul #riends in good and bad times *

"ppointed 6ishop o# Nha Trang in 1= D& Cardinal VanThuan !as appointed 6ishop o# %o Chi )inh City0,aigon3 seven years later& but !as imprisoned a#ter acrac+do!n on the Catholic Church #or both his #aith andhis #amily connections* %e !as the nephe! o# resident

iem !ho !as assassinated in 1=


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Later he !as sent to study Canon La! at theonti#ical 5niversity 5rbaniana& the ropaganda Fide in

(ome #orm 1=A to 1=A=* %e !as a!arded octor o#Canon La! !ith %igh istinction maxima cum lauda #orhis thesis on )ilitary Chaplaincy in the @orld* @hilestudying in (ome& Father Thuan accompanied his uncle&6ishop eter )ary Ngo inh Thuc& to a private audience

!ith %is holiness ope ius X$$*5pon his return to Vietnam& he !as ro#essor

and #rom 1= 2 the irector o# the )inor ,eminary %oanThien& and at the same time Vicar General o# the

iocese o# %ue #rom 1= > to 1= D*

Consecrated 6ishop2> /une 1= D

4n 1< "pril 1= D ope aul V$ named him6ishop& the #irst Vietnamese 6ishop o# Nha Trang&replacing 6ishop (aymond aul iKuet& )*E* * 06ishopo# Nha Trang #rom 1=AD to 1= D3*

%e !as consecrated 6ishop on 2> /une 1= D& the,olemnity o# ,t* /ohn the 6aptist& at %ue by %* E* "ngelo

almas& "postolic elegate #or Vietnam& Laos& andCambodia* %e too+ as his motto- /oy and %ope0Gaudium et ,pes3*

%is installation too+ place on 1 /uly 1= D*uring his eight years in Nha Trang he spared no e##ort

in the development o# the diocese be#ore the advent o#di##icult times* %e #ocussed on training the grassrootcadres& increasing the number o# seminarians #rom >2 to1>D& and o# minor seminarians #rom 2 to A in #our,eminaries& organi;ed $nservice Coures #or priests o# dioceses in Central Viet Nam* %e also organi;ed other#ormation courses& such as development and training o#youth associations& the laity& parish associations andparish councils !ith training courses #or the /ustice and

eace )ovement& Crusillos and Focolare& and #oundedthe Community o# %ope and the Lavang Community*

6ishop Thuan !rote six circular letters #or the #ormationo# his dioceseI

1* "!a+e and ray 01= 3

2* ,trong in Faith& "dvance !ith ,erenity 01= =3

* The )ission o# Christ is also our )ission

A* (emembering < years 01=D13

* %oly :ears o# (ene!al and (econciliation 01=D13

6ishop Thuan held various positions in theVietnamese Episcopal Con#erence- %e !as Chairman o#the /ustice and eace committee& ,ocial CommunicationCommittee& and the evelopment o# the VietnamCommittee in Charge o# Corev to assist in resettlement o#re#ugees #rom the !ar areas* %e !as one o# the

#ounding members o# hte Catholic radio ,tation Veritas "sia& )anila* %e #reKuently attended the "sian 6ishopsCon#erence in "sia* %e !as named "dvisor o# the

onti#ical Council o# the Laity #rom 1=D1 to 1=DA*

$t !as during these meetings that he had theopportunity to meet !ith ope /ohn aul $$& then

"rchbishop o# Craco!& and to learn #rom him o# pastoral

experiences during the most di##icult period in olandunder the communist regime* %e !as appointed "dvisor&then member o# the Congregation #or the Evangeli;ationo# the eoples& and member o# the Congregation #or

ivine !orship and the iscipline o# ,acraments*

4n 2< "pril 1=DA ope aul V$ named him "rchbishop Coad utor !ith rights o# succession to the "rchbishop o# ,aigon& and at the same time named himtitular "rchbishop o# Vadesi* ,ix days later& ,aigon #ell tothe Communist North Vietnamese "rmy* TheCommunist regime did not approve o# his appointment&his #aith& and his #amily connection to Ngo inh iem*The government #orced him to return to Nha Trang*

risoner at Vinh Huant 0Vinh hu3 rison #or 1< :ears

4n the ,olemnity o# "ssumption on 1A "ugust1=DA he !as detained and escorted to Nha Trang !herehe !as held in house arrest at Cay Vong& but !as laterta+en to North Vietnam !here he !as imprisoned #ormore than thirteen years& nine o# !hich !ere spent insolitary con#inement at Vinh Huant 0Vinh hu3 prison&then in the prison run by the %anoi olice* $n prison& hesmuggled out messages to his people on scraps o#paper* These brie# re#lections& copied by hand andcirculated !ithin the Vietnamese community& have beenprinted in the boo+& The (oad o# %ope* Through anet!or+ o# in#luential overseas Vietnamese& includingdignitaries li+e his #ormer classmate )onsignor Tran Van%oai& The (oad o# %ope !as distributed !orld!ide*

"nother boo+& rayers o# %ope& contains his prayers!ritten in prison* The 6ishop #ashioned a tiny 6ible outo# scraps o# paper* ,ympathetic guards smuggled in apiece o# !ood and some !ire #rom !hich he cra#ted asmall cruci#ix& !hich he !ore proudly #or the remaindero# his li#e*

Con#ined to %ouse "rrest in "rchbishop's (esidence in%anoi

4n 21 November 1= & the Feast o# theresentation o# 4ur Lady& Thuan !as released #rom

detention by the communist government and !asrdered to live at the "rchbishop8s residence in %anoi*

%e !as #orbidden to per#orm any pastoral !or+* %e !asalso #orbidden travel outside the con#ines o# the

"rchbishop8s residence* $n )arch 1= = he !as allo!edto visit his aged parents in ,idney "ustralia and travel to(ome to meet the %oly Father !ith his promise to returnto %anoi*

$n 1==1 he !as allo!ed to travel to (ome but !asnot allo!ed to return* Ever since that time he lived in

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exile& though his heart !as al!ays !ith the Church inViet Nam and his homeland* %e spared no e##orts toassist social services #or Viet Nam& #or exampleleprosariums& Charitable organi;ations& researchprograms to promote the culture o# Vietnam and o# theCatholic Church in Viet Nam& reconstruction o# churches&the training o# seminarians as conditions allo!ed* $nspite o# the persecutions imposed on the Church and on

himsel# personally& he al!ays lived and preached#orgiveness and reconciliation*

4n 11 November 1==> the %oly Father namedhim Vice resident o# the onti#ical Council #or /usticeand eace& and subseKuently resident o# the same on2> /une 1== & replacing Cardinal :* (* Etchegaray& !hohad retired*

uring the time #ollo!ing his release #rom prisonhe under!ent seven surgical operations* Three o# thesesurgeries caused him to develop serious in#ections andcaused him to #all seriously ill* The second to lastoperation !as on 1D "pril 2 1 at the ,aint Eli;abeth)edical Center in 6oston& 5,"* %is last operation !ason )ay 2 2 at "gostino Gemelli %ospital& a teachinghospital attached to the Catholic ,acred %eart 5niversityin (ome* %e !as later trans#erred to io X$ hospital #or#urther treatment*

uring this time o# exile #rom his Vietnamhomeland& he !as o#ten invited to preach and lecture inmany countries and to various audiences* 4n 11 )ay1== he received an %onorary doctorate at the /esuit5niversity in Ne! 4rleans& Louisiana* %e also receivedother honorary pri;es and titles*

uring Lent 2 he received a special invitation#rom ope /ohn aul $$ to preach the Lenten (etreat tothe Curia& at the beginning o# the third millennium* @henthe %oly Father received him in private audience a#ter theretreat& giving him a chalice& Cardinal said- f2> yearsago $ said )ass !ith < drops o# !ine and 1 drop o# !aterin the palm o# my hand* $ never !ould have thought thattoday the %oly Father !ould give me a gilt chalice* 4urLord is grat indeed and so is his love*

Elevated to the College o# Cardinals21 February 2 1

4n 21 February 2 1 he !as elevated to the

College o# Cardinals by the %olyFather& ope /ohn aul$$& !ho named him Cardinal o# the Church o# ,anta )ariadella ,cala* This church is under the pastoral care o# theCarmelite Fathers*

Nguyen Van Thuan died o# cancer in a clinic in(ome& $taly on 1 ,eptember 2 2 at the age o# D>*

Ten (ules o# Li#e o# Nguykn V n Thu n

$ !ill live the present moment to the #ullest*

$ !ill discern bet!een God and God8s !or+s*

$ !ill hold #irmly to one secret- prayer*

$ !ill see in the %oly Eucharist my only po!er*

$ !ill have only one !isdom- the science o# the Cross*

$ !ill remain #aith#ul to my mission in the Church and#or the Church as a !itness o# /esus Christ*

$ !ill see+ the peace the !orld cannot give*

$ !ill spea+ one language and !ear one uni#orm-Charity*

$ !ill have one very special love- the 6lessed Virgin)ary*

6eati#ication rocess 6egins (oad to ,ainthood1 ,eptember 2 D

4n 1 ,eptember 2 D& the #i#th anniversary o#the Cardinal8s death& the (oman Catholic Church beganthe beati#ication process #or Nguyen Van Thuan*

ope 6enedict XV$ expressed fpro#ound oy atne!s o# the o##icial opening o# the beati#ication cause*

(oman Catholics in Vietnam also positivelyreceived the ne!s on beati#ication process opening #orthe Cardinal* $n the !ords o# a catechist #rom the (omanCatholic "rchdiocese o# %o Chi )inh City& fNguyen VanThuan is an example o# holiness #or VietnameseCatholics and #or the entire !orld*

$n his 2 D encyclical& ,pe ,alvi& 6enedict XV$re#erred to Thuan8s rayers o# %ope& saying- uringthirteen years in ail& in a situation o# seemingly utterhopelessness& the #act that he could listen and spea+ toGod became #or him an increasing po!er o# hope& !hichenabled him& a#ter his release& to become #or people allover the !orld a !itness to hope to that great hope!hich does not !ane even in the nights o# solitude*

rayer #or the 6eati#ication o# Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

rayer 4 mighty and eternal God& Father& son and %oly,pirit $ o##er than+s #or giving to the Church the heroictestimony o# Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan*

The su##erings he experienced in prison& !hich he united!ith the cruci#ied Christ and commended to the maternalprotection o# )ary& is #or the Church and the !orld ashining !itness o# unity and #orgiveness& and o# usticeand peace*

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%is loving person and his Episcopal ministry radiate thelight o# #aith& the enthusiasm o# hope and the !armth o#love*

No!& my Lord& through his intercession and according toyour !ill& grant me the grace $ am imploring in the hopethat he !ill soon be elevated to the honor o# sainthood*

e #ollo!ing are extracts #rom the late Cardinal FrancisXavier Nguyen Van Thuan's address 7 .ExperiencingGod's liberating po!er. 7 given at a religious educationcon#erence in Los "ngeles prior to his death in 2 2*

4n 1A "ugust 1=DA& on the Feast o# the "ssumption o#4ur Lady& $ !as invited to the alace o# $ndependence&the resident's alace in ,aigon& only to be arrested*The motive !as that ope aul V$ had trans#erred me#rom my diocese in Nha Trang !here $ had been bishop#or eight years& bet!een 1= D and 1=DA& to ,aigon& tobecome "rchbishop Coad utor*

For the Communist Government this trans#er& made one!ee+ be#ore their arrival in ,aigon& on < "pril 1=DA& !asproo# o# a conspiracy bet!een the Vatican and the.$mperialists.*

From the very #irst moment o# my arrest& the !ords o#6ishop /ohn @alsh& !ho had been imprisoned #or 12years in Communist China& came to my mind* 4n the dayo# his liberation 6ishop @alsh said& .$ have spent hal# myli#e !aiting*.

$t is true* "ll prisoners& mysel# included& constantly !ait tobe let go* $ decided then and there that my captivity!ould not be merely a time o# resignation but a turningpoint in my li#e* $ decided $ !ould not !ait* $ !ould live thepresent moment and #ill it !ith love* For i# $ !ait& thethings $ !ait #or !ill never happen* The only thing that $can be sure o# is that $ am going to die*

No& $ !ill not spend time !aiting* $ !ill live the presentmoment and #ill it !ith love*

" straight line consists o# millions o# little points*Li+e!ise& a li#etime c

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Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

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