Of the many Vietnamese who were killed serving God.

Giuse Nguyen Duy Khang was born in 1832, in the Christian village of Cao Mai in the Thai Binh province of North Vietnam, into a family with a tradition of morality. His father died early on and his virtuous mother raised and taught him to become a calm, courageous, and devout person.

At the age of 13, he was accepted into the Lord’s House and was taught for nearly 10 years by Father Matthew Nang of the Dominican Order. Afterwards he requested to join the Dominican Order and was sent to study Latin at the Ke Mot Seminary for the priesthood and to prepare for missions.  Bishop Hermosilla chose him as his personal assistant and he was given many responsibilities.

On August 5, 1861, King Tu Duc issued a decree strictly prohibiting Catholicism. The Ke Mot Seminary was closed and later destroyed by royal order in an effort to scatter the Christians into other pagan villages.  A message came to him stating that the Bishop was targeted by the royal army.  Bishop Hermosilla left, and Gius had an opportunity to escape, but remained with the Bishop and the other seminarians who took refuge in a cave in Tho Ninh.  Nguyen was assigned to accompany and protect the Bishop.

Both traveled to a fishing boat in a village to gather food.  The merchant’s son began to quarrel with his parents, drawing the attention of the authorities.  The Bishop and Father Khang were discovered and arrested.  His fidelity and constancy were admirable since he could have escaped again but preferred to remain at the Bishop’s side.  He had stated, “If the Bishop dies for the faith, so will I.” They were taken to the capital of Hai Duong and the Bishop was executed.  

Father Khang was imprisoned for over a month and brutally tortured twice for refusing to reveal the hiding places of other missionary leaders.  On the 2nd occasion, he was whipped 120 times but yet still carried on a happy and peaceful demeanor, carrying himself with the utmost dignity.

In prison, he organized prayer services, did penance, and prepared himself spiritually for martyrdom.  He exhorted all with whom he came into contact with to love God and venerate Mary, to whom he had a special devotion.

On December 6, 1861, at the age of 29, Father Khang was decapitated at the Nam Mau courtyard in Hai Duong.  His body was buried at the execution site until 1867 when it was reinterred at the Ke Mot church.

His feast day is December 6.

For God’s Glory.