Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan Cardinal's Testimony Experiencing 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#ter being let out o# prison- .No! $ +no! it is all true* The Lord really did send his angels and saved me #rom %erod and #rom all that the /e!ish people !ere expecting 0"cts 12-113* ,everal days have gone by *** 4n t!o di##erent occasions& the "merican Episcopal Con#erence invited a delegation o# three Vietnamese bishops to visit the Catholic Church in the 5nited ,tates- Cardinal /oseph Trinh van Can #rom %anoi& "rchbishop aul Nguyen van 6inh #rom ,aigon and mysel#* The visit& ho!ever& never too+ place and since then my t!o brother bishops Can and 6inh have passed a!ay* Today& $ can say& is an historic one #or me indeed& since it is $& the least #ortunate o# all three 7 and the sole survivor& !ho am here among you* $t is proo# o# God8s liberating po!er and a truly !onder#ul surprise to be !ith "rchbishop )ahony& no! a Cardinal o# the Catholic Church& in his o!n "rchdiocese o# Los "ngeles& as an o##icially invited guest to spea+ to you about that very sub'ect- .God8s Liberating o!er.* This time $ !as able to come !ithout permission as $ am a #ree man in (ome9 Than+ you so much& :our Eminence* "nd than+ you all #or your +indness and prayers* The gospel story o# the resurrection o# La;urus !ill serve as our meditation* $ have been as+ed to share !ith you my experience o# Christ8s liberating po!er during my 1< years o# imprisonment& = o# !hich $ spent in solitary con#inement* The verses o# this gospel passage acted li+e a light& illuminating the dar+ness o# those years* "llo! me to retell the story and highlight > points* They are rays o# the same light #or us all on our !ay to the Third )illennium* 1* /esus !eeping #or La;arus "re you not ama;ed at /esus8 humanity? %e is so human& so near to us* .4ur #riend La;arus is at rest* $ am going to !a+e him*. 0/ohn =-113 ./esus !as greatly distressed*** @here have you put him?*** /esus !ept and the /e!s said& .,ee ho! much he loved him9. 0/ohn =-<<& <>& <A3 Every time /esus sees our miseries& our sorro!s& he su##ers as i# they !ere his o!n* 2* /esus calls La;arus #orth .%e cried out in loud voice& BLa;arus come out&8 The dead man came out9. /esus is the ,avor& the )aster o# li#e*

.)any o# /e!s !ho had come to visit )ary& and had seen !hat he did& believed in him*. 0/ohn =- ><&>>&>A3 <* /esus brea+s the bonds that held La;arus captive .%is #eet and hands !ere bound !ith strips o# material and a cloth over his #ace*** /esus said to them& .5nbind him& let him go #ree*. 0/ohn 11&1>3* La;arus is no! raised #rom the dead but he is not yet #ree* %e is still bound* /esus #rees him& .Ta+e the stone a!ay&. but he as+s #or our help* .5nbind him*. @e are& !ith /esus& participants in the history o# evangeli;ation& ministers #or the !orld* >* /esus gives La;arus a mission .Let him go #ree. La;arus discovers that /esus is not only a #riend but above all& that he is the ,avior& the Liberator& trans#orming& li#e7giving* La;arus embraces a ne! li#e and /esus sends La;arus on a mission o# liberation* /esus raised La;arus #rom the dead but the miracle is only a symbol* La;arus !as to live #or a #e! more years and then die* The #reedom /esus granted him !as in#initely more precious 7 eternal li#e9 .@hosoever believes in me !ill never die*. 0/ohn =-2C3 $n 1=DD& #uneral masses !ere celebrated #or me all over the !orld* Than+s to all the graces received& $ am still alive and here among you today* Let us praise God8s liberating po!er9 /esus #reed La;arus a#ter #our days in the tomb* /esus #reed me a#ter thirteen 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 in my day to day existence* Euring those thirteen years $ became a!are o# all my !ea+nesses& physical as !ell as mental* There !ere moments !hen $ could not concentrate at all& !hen $ could not even pray* /esus then sent me light* .$ must live the testament o# Christ. 7 $n his testament& 'ust be#ore dying& /esus le#t me his !ord& his body& his mother& his Church& his priesthood& his ne! commandment& his mission& the duty to ma+e all things one* ,everal times a day& $ repeated to mysel#& .$ must live the testament o# Christ. 7 $t8s simple& it8s inexhaustible* $ !ill try to explain ho! $ received the strength o# God8s liberating po!er by citing 1F 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 hold #irmly to one secret- prayer* >* $ !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* C* $ !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* G* $ !ill carry out a revolution by rene!al in the %oly ,pirit* =* $ !ill spea+ one language and !ear one uni#ormCharity* 1F* $ !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 G years& bet!een 1=CD and 1=DA& to ,aigon& to become "rchbishop Coad'utor* For the Communist government this trans#er& made one !ee+ be#ore their arrival in ,aigon& on "pril <F& 1=DA& !as proo# o# a conspiracy bet!een the Vatican and the $mperialists* From the very #irst moment o# my arrest& the !ords o# 6ishop /ohn @alsh& !ho had been imprisoned #or 12 years in Communist China& came to my mind* 4n the day o# his liberation 6ishop @alsh said& .$ have spent hal# my li#e !aiting. $t is true* "ll prisoners& mysel# included& constantly !ait to be let go* $ decided then and there that my captivity !ould not be merely a time o# resignation but a turning point in my li#e* $ decided $ !ould not !ait* $ !ould live the present moment 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 the village o# Cay7Vang& >FF +m #rom ,aigon* Eay 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 !as heart7brea+ing* 4ne night& light came- .$t8s simple& imitate the example o# ,aint aul !hen he !as in prison* %e !rote letters to the various communities* The very next morning& $ called to Huang& 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 calendars and every night during the months o# 4ctober and November 1=DA& $ !rote do!n my message #rom captivity #or my people* Every morning the boy too+ the torn7o## pages home and his brothers and sisters recopied the message* That is ho! the boo+ .The (oad o# %ope. came to be !ritten& and it has been published into six languages- Vietnamese& English& French& $talian& German and ,panish* God8s liberating po!er gives

energy to !or+ to accomplish even in the most desperate moments* No& $ !ill not spend time !aiting* $ !ill live the present moment 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* $# every single point along the line is rightly set& the line !ill be straight* $# every minute o# a li#e is good& that li#e !ill be holy* The (oad o# %ope is paved !ith small acts o# hope along li#e8s !ay* " li#e o# hope is born o# every minute o# hope in that li#etime*. 0(%=DG3* $n 1=GF& in obligatory residence in Giang xa8 village in North Vietnam& $ continued to !rite other boo+s al!ays during the night and in secret- .The ilgrims on the (oad o# %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 by the #act that $ !as #orty7eight years old& in the prime o# my li#e& that $ had !or+ed #or eight years as a bishop and gained so much pastoral experience and there $ !as isolated& inactive and #ar #rom my people*** 01DFF+m3 4ne night& #rom the depths o# my heart $ could hear a voice advising me.@hy torment yoursel#? :ou must discern bet!een God and the !or+s o# God* Everything you have done and desire to continue to do& pastoral visits& training seminarians& sisters and members o# religious orders& building schools& evangeli;ing non7Christians* "ll o# that is excellent !or+& the !or+ o# God but it is not God9 $# God !ants you to give $ all up and put the !or+ into his hands& do it and trust him* God !ill do the !or+ in#initely better than youI he !ill entrust the !or+ to others !ho are more able than you* :ou have only to choose God and not the !or+s o# God9. This light totally changed my !ay o# thin+ing* @hen the Communist put me in the hold o# the boat& the %"$7 %4NG along !ith 1AFF other prisoners and moved us to the north& $ said to mysel#& .here is my cathedral& here are the people God has given me to care #or& here is my mission- to ensure the presence o# God among these& my despairing& miserable brothers* $t is God8s !ill that $ am here* $ accept his !ill.* "nd #rom that minute on!ards& a ne! peace #illed my heart and stayed !ith me #or thirteen years* <* $ !ill hold #irmly to one secret- prayer @hen $ !as let out o# prison& several people remar+ed that at least $ had had lot o# time to pray9 $t8s not as simple as you may thin+* God allo!ed me to see all my !ea+nesses& both physical and mental* Time passes so slo!ly in prison& particularly during solitary con#inement* " !ee+& a month& t!o months are exceedingly long but as they turn into years& it becomes an eternity9 There !ere days !hen $ !as not able to recite a single prayer*

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

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 prayers my prayers o# liberation* The Litany o# the ,aintsFrom all evil& Lord save your people*

.That8s impossible* @hat +ind o# a prayer can you say in 2 minutes?. .)e ignorant old manI pray to God my o!n pray*. .6ut !hat do you say?. .$ say& ./esus& here /im. and $ go out.

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

:ears go by* /im gro!s old becomes ill and enters the hospital& in the !ard #or poor people* "#ter a time& they see that /im is going to die and the priest and a nurse are !ith him at his beside* .Tell us& /im& !hy is it that since your arrival in the !ard everything has changed #or the better? The men are happier and #riendlier*. .Eun no* @hen $ could !al+& $ !ent around and visit everybody& say hello& tal+ a bit* @hen $8m laid up* $ call to everybody #rom my bed& laugh a lot& ma+e everybody happy* /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 never seen 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 and pointed to the chair beside his bed& inviting someone to sit do!n* "#ter a short time& he smiled again& closed his eyes and died* "t times& !hen my strength #ailed and $ could not even recite 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 the prayers $ had recited in the #amily chapel every evening !hen $ !as a child* The liturgical songs came bac+ to me* $ o#ten sang the Veni Creator& the hymns o# the martyrs& the ,anctorum )eritis& the Credo*** To truly appreciate those beauti#ul prayers& it is necessary to

The 6eatitudes 4n one hand& $ share the misery o# the poor& o# those !ho shed tears those !ho are persecuted #or 'ustice8 sa+e* 4n the other& $ contemplate God8s mercy and strength !hich #rees them* The Jingdom o# %eaven is theirs* .@hy are there crises in the Church?. .,imply because people do not ta+e prayer seriously anymore. 0(% 1<>3 >* $ !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& $ !as allo!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 little bottle o# )ass !ine& !ith a label reading .medication #or stomach pains.& as !ell as some hosts bro+en into small pieces* The police as+ed me- .Eo you have pains in your stomach?. .:es. .%ere is some medicine #or you9. $ !ill never be able to express the 'oy that !as mine- each day& 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 to stay together* @e lined up the boards !e !ere given as bedsI they !ere about 2F inches !ide* @e slept close together in order to be able to pray during the night* "t nine7thirty every evening !hen lights out rang everyone had to be lying do!n* $ bent over my !ooden board and celebrated )ass& by heart o# course& and distributed Communion to my neighbors under their mosKuito nets* @e made tiny bags #rom cigarette paper to protect the 6lessed ,acrament*

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Every !ee+ there !as an indoctrination session !hich all 2AF prisoners attended* "t the brea+ !e could smo+e a cigarette or chat* )y Catholic companions too+ advantage o# the brea+ to pass around the 6lessed ,acrament to other groups* /esus Christ !as at !or+& curing physical and mental su##ering* )any o# the others !ho had lost their #aith came bac+ during those days* "t night& he prisoners too+ turns and spent time in adoration* The 6lessed ,acrament helped tremendously* Even 6uddhists and other non7Christians !ere converted* The strength o# the love o# /esus is irresistible* The dar+ness o# the prison turned into light& the seed germinated silently in the storm* $ spent nine years in solitary con#inement and during that time $ said )ass every day at three o8cloc+& the hour o# /esus death on the cross* $ !as all alone and could sing and chant !hatever $ !ished& in Latin& in French and Vietnamese* $ al!ays carried !ith me the same tiny bag containing /esus in the 6lessed ,acrament& .:ou in me and me in you.* They !ere the most beauti#ul )asses o# my li#e* From = to 1F ) during the hour o# adoration& $ sang Lauda ,ion& )iserere& Te Eeum* $n spite o# the #act that the loudspea+ers continued to bar+ #rom A ") to 11-<F )& every single day& $ #elt a singular peace o# mind and heart and 'oy in the company o# /esus and )ary* $ sang the ,alve (egina and the ,alve )ater and became one !ith the universal Church* $ could see #rom my cell the entire Church& !ithout boundaries& and in the rage o# criticism and accusation against the Church& $ sang .Tu es etrus 7 :ou are eter and upon this roc+ $ shall build my Church. The presence o# /esus in the Eucharist consoles and unites us& vivi#ies and trans#orms us li+e the pilgrims on the road to Emmaus* :ou believe in one po!er- the 6lessed Eucharist& the 6ody and 6lood o# 4ur Lord !hich ma+e you live* .$ have come that they may have li#e& and have it more abundantly. 0/ohn 1F-1F3* "s the manna #ed the $sraelites on their !ay to the romised Land& so !ill the 6lessed Eucharist nourish you as you travel on the (oad o# %ope* A* $ !ill have only one !isdom- the science o# the Cross @hen $ loo+ bac+ on my past& it8s hard to understand the meandering o# the path $ traveled* $ !al+ed on nettles and roc+s& $ sang !ith 'oy as $ moved ahead& groping my !ay in the dar+ness* :et /esus !as there& !al+ing !ith me& guiding me& carrying me !hen $ could no longer move& !hen $ !as inches #rom death* $t !as at those moments that $ !ould turn my thoughts to /esus cruci#ied and abandoned* %e could no longer teach or cure the sic+ or raise his #riend #rom the dead* %e !as in absolute immobility* $n the eyes o# the !orld he had lost& he !as useless and #rustrated* 6ut in God8s eyes& /esus& on the Cross& had accomplished the greatest act o# allI he had shed his blood to save humanity* $ !as liberated by the thought o# /esus cruci#ied* @hen $ !as crushed by pain& disdain& un'ust accusations& ingratitude and incomprehension& $ prayed to unite mysel#

to /esus on the Cross and $ +ne! that this !as the most important act o# my li#e* $ o#ten sang .4 crux ave& spes unica mundi salus et gloria9. * /esus& save the @orld9 :ou have one !isdom- the science o# the Cross* 01 Cor 2-23* Loo+ to the Cross and there you !ill #ind the solution to all the problems !hich are !orrying you* $# the Cross is the standard by !hich you ma+e all your choices and decisions& your soul !ill be at peace 0(% =G=3* @hat is #oolishness in the eyes o# men is !isdom in the eyes o# God* 1 Cor <-1= and 1 Cor 1-2D 0(% 1FC3* The Church !as born on the Cross* The Church gro!s by continuing the passion o# /esus until the end o# time* $# you put your trust in money& in diplomacy& in po!er and in#luence& or in campaigns o# any +ind& you !ill be very sadly misled 0(% 2AG3* C* $ !ill remain #aith#ul to my mission in the Church and #or the Church as a !itness o# /esus Christ* $n his testament& /esus le#t me his Church but at the same time he entrusted me !ith a mission* .6e my !itness unto the ends o# the earth*. 0"ct 1-G3* $ cannot be #aith#ul to the testament o# /esus unless $ carry out my mission !ithin the Church and #or the Church- .Love the Church* 4bey the Church* 6e loyal to the Church* ray #or the Church 0(% 2A<3* There are various +inds o# Catholics& the Catholic !ho ma+es use o# the Church& the Catholic in name onlyI there is the opportunist and the honorary Catholic loo+ing #or status* 6ut 4ur Lord accepts only those !ho are one hundred percent Catholic& those !ho accept him unconditionally* .They le#t all and #ollo!ed him. 0L+* A-113* $ !as accused o# being involved in the conspiracy bet!een the Vatican and the $mperialist against the Communists merely because ope aul had trans#erred me to ,aigon one !ee+ be#ore the arrival o# the Communist troops* $ !as imprisoned !ithout trial& !ithout sentence* $ repeated o#ten& as did aul V$& .For the Church& #or the Church.* %o! can $ be a !itness o# Christ? 4ne day $ told a Communist cadre !ho !as critici;ing the Church- .@e have t!o di##erent meanings #or the same !ords* $# you sincerely !ish to understand the Church& to dialogue !ith Catholics& $ propose to !rite an index o# religious vocabulary in Latin& French& English& $talian& ,panish and Chinese !ith Vietnamese de#initions* $# you accept my o##er& please give me some paper and a pen* %e agreed and $ began& #rom ."bout to Li;ania.* @hen the cadre returned& $ explained a #e! !ords o# the index to him& the meanings& the history and development o# the Church& #or instance& 7 !hat is an abbot 7 an abbey 7 li#e in an abbey 7 silence& poverty& obedience& chastity& #asting& manual !or+& pastoral and intellectual !or+& etc*** %is curiosity !as aroused* Very slo!ly& $ continued to explain the index& a +ind o# intensive catechism #or

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Communist cadres9 $t !as a !ay to dialogue in truth and love instead o# debate and criticism* $ did the same !ith my guards !ho as+ed me to teach them #oreign languages* They brought me French boo+s* @hile teaching them French history& civili;ation& literature and culture& $ !as able to explain the impact o# the gospel 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 use o# the #acilities o# the !orld 0(% <>F3* D* $ !ill see+ the peace the !orld cannot give

ideology and the #rustrations o# consumerism* The lyrics o# the song .Empty Chairs& Empty Tables. #rom Les )iserables echo in my mind& a#ter a #rustrated and #ailed revolution.%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?

@hen $ began to discern bet!een God and God8s !or+s& !hen $ chose God and his !ill and le#t everything else in his hands !hen $ learned to love others& especially my enemies as /esus loved me& $ #elt great peace in my heart* Eeprived o# #reedom& o# absolutely everything and living in extreme poverty in my dar+ cell& $ !as at peace because $ could say& .)y God and my all.* The peace that the !orld cannot give brought me great 'oy* .%oliness consists in being continuously 'oy#ul because !e possess God. 0(% A<23* .@hy are you unhappy? $t must be that something disturbs your relations !ith God. 0(% A<>3* .:ou #orget that you have the gi#t o# happiness to present to others& the gi#t o# peace !hich this !orld cannot give& your treasure o# 'oy !hich +no!s no bounds. 0(% A>F3* $n the light o# these thoughts& $ laughed at mysel# and at the !orld* The things that seemed so important ten years ago appeared #oolish* @hy did $ let those things disturb my interior peace? They !ere all vain& in#antile& ambitious& anxious yearnings that separated me #rom God* $ !ill say !ith )other Teresa- .)y message is smile. The by7pass that can cure my heart is called .everything passes.* 4n my Episcopal ring& t!o !ords are inscribed.Todo pasa.* ,aint Teresa o# "vila !rote that& .Todo pasa& solo Eios basta.* G* $ !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 in slavery* %e brought Truth because Truth alone can set us #ree* %e died to #ree us #rom death* %e rose #rom the dead to give us li#e in abundance* %o! do !e carry out this revolution? .:ou desire to carry out a revolution& namely the re#orm o# the !orld* :ou !ill carry out this precious and noble mission !hich God has entrusted to you by the po!er o# the %oly ,pirit* Every day& prepare a ne! entecost around you. 0(% =D=3* $ have lived in a country !hich su##ered through >F years o# !ar& !hich experienced the #ailure o# Communist

$n "sia? $n the 5,"? ope aul V$ clearly expressed this challenge to #ollo! the ,pirit in his encyclical opulorum rogressio n*1<.***"s #ar as experience in human a##air is concerned& the Church& !ithout attempting in any !ay to inter#ere in the politics o# states*** see+s but a solitary goal- to carry #or!ard the !or+ o# Christ himsel# under the lead o# the be#riending ,pirit. 0G, n*<3* @hat is the ne! path sho!n to us by ope /ohn aul $$? $t is the idea o# Ne! Evangeli;ation* .Every day& re7evangeli;e your mind and heart !ith reading and meditationI immerse yoursel# in the everlasting @ord so that the gospel !ill gradually permeate and ta+e deep root in every cell and every #iber o# your body* That is rene!al- the most enduring revolution*. 0(%C>C3 .The most solid barrier is not a #ortressI it is not a #ence* $t is indi##erence. 0(% CA23* @hen /esus sa! the #ear o# the apostles and the trembling o# his disciples as they received the mission he entrusted to them& .6e my !itness unto the ends o# the earth.& /esus simply said& .Eo not be a#raid9 0)t 1D-D3 .:ou !ill receive the po!er o# the %oly ,pirit !hich !ill come on you and then& you !ill be my !itnesses. 0"ct 1-G3* =* $ !ill spea+ one language and !ear one uni#ormCharity risoners held captive #or very long periods& !ithout trial and in oppressive conditions retain bitter memories and sentiments o# hate and vengeance* That8s a normal reaction every!here* $ !as in prison #or 1< years& = o# !hich in solitary con#inement* T!o guards !atched me but never spo+e to meI 'ust yes and no* 6ut $ +ne! that a#ter all& they !ere my brothers and $ had to be +ind to them* $ had no gi#t to o##er as a prisoner $ had nothing at all& nothing to please them* @hat to do?
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4ne night& a thought came* .:ou are still very rich* :ou have the love o# Christ in your heart* Love them as /esus loves you.* The next day $ set to !or+& #irst& by sho!ing gladness and by smiling* $ began to tell stories about my 'ourneys in countries !here people live in #reedom and en'oy their culture and great technical progress* That stimulated their curiosity and they as+ed many& many Kuestions* ,lo!ly& very slo!ly& !e became #riends* They !anted to learn #oreign languages* )y guards became my disciples9 The atmosphere o# the prison changed considerably* The Kuality o# our relationship changed #or the better* "t that time& in another part o# the area& a group o# t!enty people !ere learning Latin to be able to read Church documents* Their teachers !as a #ormer catechist* 4ne o# my guards !as in the Latin class and one day he as+ed me i# $ could teach him songs in Latin* .There are so many .& $ replied& ."nd they are all so beauti#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 the song he chose* The Veni Creator9 $ can8t begin to tell you ho! moving it is to be in a Communist prison and hear your guard& coming do!n the stairs at D ") every morning on his !ay to the gymnastics yard #or physical exercises& singing the Veni Creator* $ !ill spea+ one language- Charity*

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?. he as+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#ore 11* $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 and shaped 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 a constant reminder that only Christian charity can bring about a change o# heart* Not arms& not threats& not the media* $t !as very hard #or my guards to understand !hen $ spo+e about loving our enemies& reconciliation and #orgiveness* .Eo you really love us?. .:es& $ really love you*.

@hile at prison in Vinh7Huang in the mountains o# North Vietnam& $ !as sa!ing !ood one a#ternoon* $ as+ed my ever7present guard& !ho had become my #riend& i# $ could as+ him #or a #avor* .@hat is it? $8ll help you. .$ !ant to sa! o## a small piece o# !ood in the #orm o# a cross*. .Eon8t you +no! that8s strictly #orbidden to have any sign o# 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 very care#ul. %e turned his bac+ and le#t me alone* $ sa!ed a small cross !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 my guard 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

.Even !hen !e cause you pain? @hen you su##er because 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 your people 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& !e are no longer !orthy to be called Christians*. There is not enough time to tell you all the other moving stories !hich are proo# o# the liberating po!er o# the love o# /esus* .:ou !ear one uni#orm and spea+ one language 7 Charity* .Charity is the sign by !hich you !ill be recogni;ed as one o# our Lord8s disciples* 0/ohn 1F-1F3* $t is a badge !hich costs little but is most di##icult to #ind* Charity is the most important language* ,aint aul regarded it as #ar more important than being able .to spea+ the languages o# men and even o# angels. 01 Cor 1<-13 0(% =G>3* 1F* $ !ill have one special love- the 6lessed Virgin )ary
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The harsh years in prison pass very slo!ly* @hile su##ering humiliation and abandonment& my only support and hope !as the love o# )ary& 4ur 6lessed )other* The !onder#ul servants o# )ary& Grignon de )ont#ort& Eon 6osco& )aximilien Jolbe !ere my companions on the road o# hope* They inspired me and gave me un!avering trust 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 me the grace to die here in prison and consummate my sacri#ice* $# you +no! that $ can still be o# use to the church& grant me the grace o# #reedom on one o# your #east days* $n #act& on November 21& 1=GG& $ !as coo+ing my meal !hen $ heard my guard being called to the phone* $ had an idea it might be because o# me* " #e! minutes a#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 good luc+9. $ !as ta+en to meet the )inister o# olice and a#ter a brie# conversation& he as+ed& .Eo you !ish to express any reKuest?. .:es& )r* )inister& $ !ish to be let #ree9. .@hen?. .Today9. The )inister #eigned surprise but $ +ne! the day had come* $t !as the Feast o# the resentation o# )ary in the Temple 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- aul V$& /ohn aul $& /ohn aul $$* $ have been here during the o##ices o# #our ,ecretary Generals o# the Communist arty& 6hre;nev& "ndropov& Tchernen+o and Gorbachev*. %is eyes opened !ide* .:es. that8s right* "ll right* :our reKuest is granted* :ou are #ree* Cardinal's )essage )are Nostrum 1* The (oad o# %ope& a message #or personal& #amily an social Christian li#e* "ccording to Vietnamese custom& an invited visitor al!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 be leaving you soon& but $ !ant to give the (oad o# %ope* Especially to you "mericans& you !ill #ind a special message #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 in prison* $ +ept thin+ing about the aci#ic 4cean and ho! it !as certainly not created to separate us& but rather to unite 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 be called .4ur ,ea. because o# all the countries and peoples that live around it- (ussia& /apan& Jorea& China& Tai!an& Vietnam& the hilippines& Thailand& )alaysia& ,ingapore& $ndonesia& "ustralia& Ne! Lealand& Canada& the 5nited ,tates and Latin "merica* $t is the most inhabited area in all the !orld* $t is important to note thattechnology is advancing rapidly in the aci#ic (imI atom bombs #ell in the aci#icI all the great traditional religions are present there* The problems o# evangeli;ation are tremendous* Let us loo+ to!ard the aci#ic* "ll the #orthcoming challenges are present there as !ell* %o!ever& the meaning o# the !ord aci#ic must be made clear and become !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 never heard the name o# /esus Christ* $ pray that be#ore the year 2FFF& 4ur %oly Father !ill ma+e a prophetic voyage around the aci#ic* <* @or+ing #or /ustice and eace %is Eminence Cardinal (oger )ahony and $ are members o# the onti#ical Counsel #or /ustice and eace* @e !ish to as+ you& the men and !omen in charge o# religious education& to solemnly commit yourselves to serve the cause o# /ustice and eace* eace in the !orld is a very #ragile thing& as you !ell +no!* ,ince the end o# the ,econd @orld @ar& there have been only CF days o# real peace in the !orld* 4n the other hand& there have been 2AF armed con#licts9 Let us mediate on the theme o# @orld eace Eay* Let us also ta+e a loo+ at the path ta+en by recent opes* The promotion o# %uman (ights& the (oad o# %ope* 1=D1* Every man is my brother* 1=D<* eace is possible* 1=GA* eace and youth go #or!ard together The #amily creates the peace i# the human #amily @oman& teachers o# peace 1==C* Let us give children a #uture o# peace* >* Eiscovering the signs o# the times )arvelous changes have occurred in our times* 6ut the signs o# the times are all very di##erent*
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@$T% T%E L$)$T"T$4N, 4F C%$LE To carry out our !or+ as religious educators& !e must learn to read the signs o# the times* "llo! me to cite the great challenges that are #acing us* The #irst- Family* The true image o# the #amily has been led 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 are enormous- the lac+ o# ideals& the lac+ o# employment& the lac+ o# strong points o# re#erence* The third challenge is the presence o# !idespread violence 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& the rupture bet!een culture and the Church& the use o# mass7media and the advance o# seculari;ation* Eear #riends& No!& may $ invite you all to praise God #or his liberating po!er& and to place ourselves in the hands o# )ary& 4ur 6lessed Lady* $ have shared !ith you my 'oy and trust in accomplishing 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 Ten Great ,uccess )arch 2>&1==C "rchbishop Francis Xavier Thuan Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan's rayers M (e#lections charism GL46"L EC4N4)$C C4N,T$T5T$4N Full loving Father& the "lmighty is the source o# human 'oy hope 1* .4# the Father's son 0Lu+e 1A& <*3 "s+ to be*. 0)t* D& D3 2* ."ll is grace.* :our Father +no!s !hat you need9 0)t* C*G3 <* .God help me do all the e##ort*. 0 hil* >& 1<3 .,o praise the Lord.* 0Eph* 1& C3 >* ./ust please honor the Father. 01Cr* 1F& <13& .)ay thy !ill. 0)t C& 1F3 A* ."ll #or the mission9 Everything #or the Church9. @ho am $? $ have to spend it& and ho! my talents? )y state o# mind li+e? $ have to #ind my li#e's energies !here? %eight o# my li#e is !hat? @idth o# !hat my li#e is? The length o# my li#e is !hat? Lighting the orientation o# our li#e is !hat? )otivation to change and help us advance our society are living? 4nce you have done the above aspirations& !hat should $ do? Ten Great ,uccess 1* @ho am $? $'m Vietnam Catholics living abroad* 1*1* "s Vietnam $ receive the blood o# the parents& grandparents& inherited cultural patrimony& the perennial moral values o# the ancestors o# Vietnam* "s in Vietnam& a country $ have Vietnam !ith Leopard build small river& glorious history& hard!or+ing people& magnanimous& $ love Vietnam homeland and ma+e people proud Vietnam* Extremely good Lord& God understands my heart& and my !ea+ness& the Lord did not leave me* extremely #air God& %e does not reKuire anything beyond the human* delighted !hen $ meditate God is extremely #air and $ entrust all& all in God's hands* Experiences #or sho!ing me& that my path at numerous di##iculties& dar+ night& challenging virtually no !ay out& God does not give you& because God is extremely #air* "t virtually the succumbed coming under the po!er o# evil& God has not #orsa+en me& %e is near me than ever* No! $ !ant disappointed& let do!n& "s in ho! many external obstacles encountered stormy& to misrepresent your good!ill& children's activities& God has not #orsa+en me* 'cu; o# that moment& the %oly ,pirit teaches coax me !hat to do& !hat to say* %oly ,pirit continues to pour hope into my heart is !ithering* ensure his son said& .God never abandoned me !ith my limited. 0L+ 12& 11& 123* 6ecause i# they do& God is not God anymore*

C* .$ desire to eat the assover !ith you. 0L+ 22& 1A3 7 .$t is #inished. 0/n 1=& <F3 NEVE( G$VE 5 @E"($NG T%E L4(E

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ope /ohn aul $$ reminds us- .Eo you ta+e pride in ma+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 and rivers& to learn about the history o# my people& $ have to understand& spea+ and script Vietnam* $ have the responsibility to communicate voice& Vietnam !riting #or children& #riends& my #ello! citi;ens* $# $ do not protect the identity determination Vietnam& only a #e! generations +no!n some people say Vietnam is increasingly rare overseas& and overseas to visit the nation !ill need an interpreter* @e met many young people are eager to +no! the land 7 its !ater& but they regret& shame #or not spea+ing good !ith Vietnamese* @e loved that the young people& and parents& he must reconsider his herd on this responsibility* Forums are Vietnam& $ have a duty to serve the people engaged& loyal and protective build my home in the hearts and souls& blood and bone me* $ also have the pride and hope to the people& my people o# Vietnam* .$ hope the bloodstream patriotic blood boiling in the movement*. 1*1* $ am a Catholic $ !as bapti;ed in the %oly ,pirit brought me into the Church o# the living God& the Father o# the common people through the redemption o# /esus Christ* 6ut $ am bapti;ed& in the name o# the boo+ is not necessarily the proper education* True Catholics must live as /esus lived according to the Gospel* 7 Eo not leave the galaxy to build this !orld every day& but $ do not +no!& not discovery& not a!a+e& no hands on* God has redeemed me and put me into the !orld in this century& this decade& this environment* ut your child& not stones9 Very di##erent9 Eo not ma+e .Catholic puppet. 0E%V* C213* 7 The divorce bet!een church li#e and religion in society& is the most devastating scandal in our time 0E%V* C223* Thus& religious li#e to help me become a better citi;en Vietnam- )y conviction is that people& people !ho $& all the brothers and sisters o# a common Father& $ am a!are o# the responsibility to !ho served alongside #ello! $ build peace and prosperity #or the country* 1*<* $ live in a country residing abroad

Vietnam Catholics !ho are living overseas& $ live every day !ith the cousins at my local country resettlement* Current time in today's !orld& social space& resettlement countries ***& the speci#ic elements that are completing the process o# human development and my personality* $ sense the Catholic identity o# my Vietnam to promote the noble values o# tradition my ancestors& to receive the truth o# salvation through Christ Church !here $ am* $ am convinced that the noble values o# ancestors and saving truth o# my religion in any environment !hatsoever al!ays #lexible* $ !as 'ust living !itnesses o# these values in the environment in !hich $ live& simultaneously receiving and creative ne! things& or& !here the immediate social good& their contribution to the overall momentum o# man+ind* "s Catholics Vietnam overseas& $ can not be content !ith closed #rame!or+& separate sel#& a !ay o# organi;ing the community o# the past& is no longer accessible #rom the heart o# modern man* $ have to integrate into the culture o# the place $ come to settle !ithout losing the identity o# Vietnam* 5nion Church is a pilgrim people& move #or!ard& the body o# Christ's birth* The Church does not .stand still.& not to stone& but al!ays developing& updating existing guidance on #uture !orld a!ay* $ have to learn and participate in activities o# the local Church& i# not my community a#ter many years is still .migration Church.* %o! to ta+e a picture o# God 4ne day a ne! boy $ !as #our years old& as+ed her mother.)ommy is three photographers& !hy not shoot three pictures o# a child o# God? . @e !ere surprised but thought thatit's 'ust a Kuestion o# ho! much o# a child* Then& #our years have passed& $ understood- my son said no reason* %aving God& so .!hy he !as not ta+ing pictures?. @ith my degree& $ understand the truth o# my child* $ see a light& a light that ma+es my heart #lutter "s light stri+es the #ilm* Gradually he !ill reveal light #or me to see that image trrong mysel#* "nd $ have discovered a miracle- my li#e has coincided !ith many technological point shooting* To print a beauti#ul picture& should have a pretty negativeI @ant a beauti#ul negatives& need to have a camera& a #ilm& and light have seen images that open and close the lens* then ready to print* God in %is image not #ound in our hearts* expressed in the image o# God our lives&
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through education and experience every day* ,ince each person more a!are o# the presence o# that image then our real li#e begins& the li#e o# a person !ith understanding himsel# understood* "nd until that point& $ understood that to 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& depending negatives* N 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- Not the event you encounter an animal or something& but :ou see a man& !hich is the living God* . 7 hysical alive& ho! long lung respiration& heart still beats& li#e must continue& do not stop& stop dead* Can not sancti#y each distance* /esus said- .$ al!ays do those things that please the Father. means .#ully living every moment 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. 0E%V* >>3* $n the gospel& the apostle !ants to choose the easiest path& 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 he remembered to as+ me*. /esus replied& .Today you !ill be !ith us in the +ingdom o# heaven. 0L+ 2<& >27>23* $n the !ord .today. o# /esus& $ #eel all #orgiveness& all his love* Father )aximillian Jolbe's spirit alive !hen he advised the trainees in the line- ."ll& absolutely& unconditionally*. $'ve heard 6ishop %elder Camara said- .The school is loving li#e*. )other Teresa o# Calcutta once sent a letter to me& she !rote- .The important thing is not to have done some !or+ but the extent o# the love !e have #or each 'ob*. %o! to love in such high regard in each present moment? $ thin+ $ have to live each day& each hour& 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& every phone call& every decision is .best. o# my li#e* $ have #or everyone my love& my smile- $ have lost the #ear every moment 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* C& <>I /as* >& 1<71A3* Lives in the #ullness o# God's love& my li#e !ill be beauti#ul i# crystalli;ed by the most beauti#ul moments ever million* Con that simple& not di##icult .0E%V* ==D3* Treasures at :our Fingertips 5se the time to thin+& because it is the source o# strength* lease use the time to play& because it is secret o# eternal youth* 5se the time to read boo+s& because that is the source +no!ledge o# the circuit* lease use the time to love and be loved& because it is the gi#t o# God* lease use your o!n time to choose& because it's !ay to happiness* lease use the time to smile& because it the music o# the soul* lease use donated time& because li#e is too brie# to live sel#ishly* lease use the time to bring the Gospel& because it is your noble mission* lease use the time to pray & because it is the most po!er#ul #orce on this earth* N 6ac+ to top <* )y state o# mind li+e? $ have to live today as the last day o# my li#e Every moment $ live is never repeated& and no one to replace me to live a private li#e and personality o# my one o# a +ind* $ completed my human values in the context o# this moment today !ith the condition currently& each present moment that $ put the lives o# God's %oly ,pirit in my current timeI each present moment $ turn every 'ob into my tiny act o# God* $ do not !ait in delusion& thin+ing that one tomorro! then $'ll really start living& start conversion& engaging *** The religious dedication to our motto.Live today as the last day o# his li#e.& to carry us bac+ to the !orld& rene!ed li#e* )other Teresa once said #ar.$ dedicate this ceremony as the #irst ceremony& as the last holiday celebration uniKue and as part o# my li#e*. $ndeed& i# !e are a!are o# every moment o# your li#e& every gesture& his speech is uniKue& in the end& they behaved themselves !ill +no! ho! much more nice9 Family li#e& #riends& !ill be #illed !ith love and happiness* The delusional disease& !aiting to be threats& threatening our personality* For static scenes ris+ o# disease .and !ill count tomorro!. this& people o#ten tell each other the #ollo!ing parable-

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.4ne day the +ing as+ed the demon devil adviser7 %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 the next li#e* demon +ing thoughts and opinions that are not processed e##ectively* then #or a long time& a little devil voiced suggestion- . lease tell every demon +ing date they are even broader& longer7term & 'ust relax and be counted* . demon +ing to stand up& applaud or7 :es& you said it right& there is only one !ay to ma+e ne! people #eel secure that #ar and not #ear divine punishment& then $ !ill !ear 'e!elry they instigated the discretion 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 >C& t!o lines o# 2>7year7old Teresa& (osa Ee Line <1* & but by the time the ,aints have a succinct& a special proportion& because it has eternal value& it is unending* could $ Compare a #armer& a !or+er& an hour o# their labor contracts !orth 1&FFF& 1&AFF contracts& <&FFF contracts *** 6ut an economic& technological& #inancial& sometimes a minute o# them& a decision million !orth o# silver& silver billion* act in the %oly ,pirit& the %oly ,pirit collaborate !ith* " God !or+ing hours is priceless9 holiness !as built in the present moment* ,t* No one should be bac+ to the past* Nor should anyone be able to advance to the %oly #uture* saint %ence the present use* every moment& do not miss any minute& in response to God's love !ith all my heart* ,aints live in the present in an in#inite ocean o# peace& #or he !as living in eternity* @hich ever is a current permanent N 6ac+ to top >* $ have to #ind my li#e's energies !here? $ have to #ind the ath ,ummer o# 1==D& over 1 million young people #rom around the !orld to aris& FranceI gathered inside ope /ohn aul $$* This event is recogni;ed as a great sign o# the times* The #igure o# 1 million youth participate beyond any predictions o# public opinion and o# the organi;ing committee* eople !onder- nearly GF years old man& pain& or !ea+ness& there are also !hat attracts young people to come near him? (eligious #aith !as inspirational #or young people& especially young people in the @est7European countries& the generation born and brought up in an atmosphere o# .!orldly goods.& so they

pulled together to aris expecting message a religious leader? "nd unexpected events o# summer 1==D in aris did startle people& are a!are that seal inscribed in human hearts& ie belie#s and desires truth& can not be an external #actor @hat are erased& !here anyone at any point o# time* 6elie#& and high levels o# religious belie#& motivation comes #rom this entice people to!ards Truth#ulness7Compassion 7 5*,** That motivation is a +ey #actor o# li#e* :oung people today as !ell as the dynamics o# belie#s that promotes human li+e ancestors o# the generations ahead* )ore than 2A centuries& regardless T;u once said. eople that do not believe& do not +no! !hat to do9. 0Children's unbelie#& regardless o# any possible #ield tri3 O"nalects $$& 22P* "nd !hen the disciples Ligong as+ed about !ater treatment& he said& should have enough #ood !ater& enough troops and belie#s o# the people* Ligong as+ed& i# reluctant to abandon one o# three things& they had to remove it #irst? Con#ucius replied immediately to abandon the troops* The student pressed again& i# #orced to give up one o# the remaining t!o stars? %is reply !as removed #ood& because people lose #aith i# it is not there 0see "nalects X$$& D3* "t next& there are times people as+ about saving lives& )encius replied- (escue people dro!ned in the river& the people need to s!allo! hoo+& but to save the galaxy #rom chaos& it is necessary to ath* @hen there is no belie# in God as Creator and Father o# us !ho are no longer a#raid& do not leave any +ind o# tric+s& any malicious #raud& no crime except one thing* @hen people no longer trust our brothers& sons o# God& the doctrine applies only .big #ish s!allo! the little #ish. 7 the exploitation o# people* ,pea+ing at the 5nited Nations 01F*FA*=A3 ope /ohn aul $$ said- .:ou !ant to !rite up a ne! page& good #or humanity& you use grammars that God has given us us- it is our conscience* . (eligious #aith promotes human commitment to a college degree to serve their #ello! human beings& complete primary obligation is to love* $n 1==D& to celebrate its 2F year anniversary (aoul Follereau Catholic !riter 01=F<71=DD3 at the 5niversity o# ,orbonne& aris& France& $ !as invited to spea+ about him* $nspired by religious belie#s& (aoul Follereau conviction that .no one has the right to happiness alone.& and together !ith her so Follereau (aoul& he hit the road to ta+e care o# those you serve !orld leprosy !orld& across continents* 4ne day at a leprosy camp& (aoul Follereau be#ore a sic+ girl and put their hands on& but girls !ho #ro;e again& no response* Eirector (aoul Follereau camp reminded that the rules do not allo! visitors embar+ patients* Follereau (aoul replied- .No handsha+e but have not banned +issing?.* /ust say& he has to +iss the girl* Everyone !as stunned& all the patients in the camp at the time he rushed to close& one o# them cho+ed up voice- .Today $ #eel !e are.*
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Lepers reali;e their human dignity& and (aoul Follereau implement a human li#e !orthy o# love* %uman motive and +no! the value o# doing it is the po!er o# religious #aith* Canal Truth is not a doctrine& on !hich the opposition critici;ed each other& or to protect the position o# his privacy* aths are living according to the gospel o# /esus #ully* This !orld there are people !ho do not +no! right #rom !rong & non7pro#it management can not do& 'ust love them* $# you do !ell& they said that you aim sel#ishdo not need anything& 'ust do it !ell* program you implement& you !ill meet many #riends #alse and true enemiesdo not need anything& 'ust done* the integrity and honesty ma+e you vulnerable to attac+!hat can not& 'ust honesty and 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 help bring you the most beauti#ul things in your li#e #or men& they !ill bring #oot ,tone chasing youNo matter !hat is& let's give people the best* T!o thousand years ago /esus did so* 0)other Teresa o# Calcutta3

they are parents& grandparents& ancestors& and my Church* The religion o# my country& the national cultural tradition teaches me +no! $ honor your parents& grandparents& ancestors grate#ul remembrance& honor country& mountains and rivers& home to generations that his #ather 6lood poured precedes bone to cultivate and protect* $t is the common heritage& common #aith and cultural traditions o# the people $ trained )r7)rs* 6ut $ .@hat did $ do to please my 6aptism?. This is a statement o# ope /ohn aul $$ had moved to France in Christians visit this country on the occasion o# his 1&AFF year anniversary celebration Jing Clovis !as bapti;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 brought name !ithout real li#e& and as much as $ did living proo# traitors* )ahatma Gandhi once said honestly& .$ love Christ& but Christians do not li+e*. Christians are true& $ can not not +no! !ho Christ is& or do not learn the gospel& apathetic and indi##erent to the church is the living body o# his9 "s #aith#ul Christians $ can not live a Christian li#e& means to 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 the li#e o# God in Christ through the sacraments& and not acceptable as a dead cell& unmotivated& passive& not emotional side thousands o# living cells made o# God Church* "s a child o# the Vietnam Fatherland& $ can not 'ust +no! to honor past ancestors in !ords& but also committed to serving the Vietnamese community li#e be#ore his eyes& his energy contribution along tectonic peace and prosperity #or the people in the homeland as !ell as #uture today* 4nly God

N 6ac+ to top A* %eight o# my li#e is !hat? 6eing #aith#ul to God& the church& the ancestors& to the Fatherland Loo+ing up& $ lived relationship !ith parents& grandparents& ancestors& and above all a supreme being 7 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& all your soul& all your mind and !ith all your strength. 0)+ 12& <F3* $ honor the God !ho sent him to trans#er po!er to give my li#e& let me be the person Catholics Vietnam today1 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 strength 6ut you can on the side to support disappoint* C 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 G 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 1F 7 4nly the uncreated God !ho %e !ants 6ut than+s to you N 6ac+ to top C* @idth o# !hat my li#e is? 6eing mature #or #amily& community and society 6oo+ o# ancient sages !rote- .Friendship Children cypress minno!s& minno!s as his o!n #ailure. 0roughly translated .have centenarians still a child& have the child !as seven years old adult.3* For the church and #or the Family& Fatherland& !hen !e gro! 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 mind7 numbing thought out initiatives& as children do not contribute& as+ others little& portable led& advised& encouraged #earing trouble* "s a community& a social encounter such people& the luxuriant tangle lum& or is rotating propeller change decision as being the leader stra! advantage* Live adult !ho is responsible #or ma+ing others "s a boy& $ need others to born and educated& protected me* 6ut $ have gro!n to complete personality* "dult !ho is a!are o# the presence and #reedom o# others& and are more nurturing bear responsibility& education& protection o# *** others* "dults do not al!ays passively !aiting #or others 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 and courageous decision* @e al!ays need mentors in the !or+ personally or collectively& but no one can decide #or us* $ndividuals need courageous choices and decisions to mature& organi;ations need to decide oriented activitiesI countries should decide to sho! independence and its #reedom* )ature Living is committed to implementing and promoting public progress* Gro!th is overcome irresponsible attitude& separating itsel# #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##orts that engage each shouldering his share to build and consolidate* Need !inning li#estyle passive& negative and

most obstinate open to almost embrace the truth o# the gospel o# love& or update the good& novelty !here the signs o# the times to navigate steps o# themselves& to promote progress* Epitome mature love is the love o# Christ& !ho loved to sacri#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& !ithout exception& even his enemies.:our Father& %e !ho d!ells in heaven& not !illing that any o# these little ones should perish. 0)t 1G& 1>3* Eo 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#ish people* $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* 2F& 1G3* .%e did not drin+ the cup the Father to see? 0/ohn 1G& 113 .To understand the !orld +no! you love me and $ love Eear Father& let us stand up and go .0/ohn 1>& <13 have not sought the position and easiness& despite other people have tribulation& shattered* )ay God deliver us #rom the !isdom that space& not in the seven gi#ts o# the %oly ,pirit* N 6ac+ to top D* The length o# my li#e is !hat? Tin is a #riendship !ith& !ith people " #amous general once said o# France- .They all lost& except honor. 0Tout est erdu sau# l'honneur3* $n li#e& not al!ays having s!ept un#ortunately& but my li#e !as !orth living !hen !e also honor* 6e#ore the crisis& the !orld today ta+es direction& the message o# Truth& %ao7ray 0,plendor3& ope /ohn aul $$ had been Kuoting verses o# the poet /uvenal to spea+ to the value o# the name pro'ect li#e.The crime is considered heinous than honor his li#e and because o# the desire to live that li#e loses meaning people . 0,ummu

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perdere causas et propter vitam vivendi3 Osatires& V$$$& G<7 G>P The honor is not +no!n !ho pre#er to create an atmosphere o# suspicion& criticism& lies& no one to trust anyone& no one !as inspired to build a positive thing& that style& that mode civili;ation !hich has resulted in distinct social relationships in the atmosphere leads band o# #riends& #amily& neighborhood& organi;ations& countries and 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 other person* 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 their duties& they can put their trust in them& as !ell as popular at the time thin+ing& successes and #ailures they al!ays be !ith you #riends* The devout& arms extended& to sha+e hands cordially people& t!o parties are hand signals& the party is extended& extended around the !orld* No one ridden by people !illing to die #or you 7 to reach a hand signal to all over the !orld& the ne! social change is !hat !e live 7 !here no one believed anyone& !here they spied on each other& lie in !ait same curiosity& the same accusations* The gospel o# Christ teaches me& the perennial cultural traditions o# the nation& ancestry Vietnam reminds meLet's as+ everyone& including my enemies& because people are generally Father's children- #our tan+s are brothers* Great love that motivates me honest and #aith#ul to those around you* %onor people based on honesty& because honesty creates 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 and relatives& !ill cause #amily& country brea+do!n& the social atmosphere o# the dressing* " #amily& a community& a regime o# truth and not get a signal to the standard& the routine !ill push put her on the path o# hatred& deceit& lac+ o# honor& and the people !ill lose direction * $ remember #ishing #or precious ,ang Einh 0Nguyen Van Thich (ev* /)3 hanging in his roomhung Euc Tam God- believers& hope& charity& coal is the best- private& language& action* Church o# God three virtues- #aith& hope and love* city!ide Eeath- thin+ing& spea+ing& doing* Credit to

%e is a creature o# noble ideals o# glory $ !as great* enlightened mind %e is the 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 shimmering deductive his persevering hero* drops "sia beauti#ul beauti#ul sentiments change his heroic glory so they remain silent sacri#ice ease legendary 6ritish stately shrine sacred child is provided sacred mystery hat bo!ed be#ore ta+ing +nees in the same earnest prayer* lo#ty %e o#ten thin+ $ al!ays dreamed #ragrant #loral Thin+ing you're so adept you sho! a dreamy halo 5J !ide sea vast river !ater in them is tender point sites turKuoise ocean bree;e sunshine rivers poetic English as the bird #le! a!ay $ !as singing canary singing midli#e 6ay conKuering distant s+ies ,inging his heart charm earthly Finally sibling hori;on about you& provided you !ait be#ore observatory* 0The experience o# ,t* Thomas "Kuinos3 N 6ac+ to top G* 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 singsEear %ope Cross is .our uniKue. 0o crux ave ,pes 5nica3* Cross brings hope because /esus !as cruci#ied on 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 among corrupt& and hope bet!een a #rustrated humanity 0E%V* =AF3* 7 Love is love o# God on earth* God is drun+ mother drun+ mother earth* %ope in God's earthly hope to be saved 0E%V* =A>3* "nd /esus taught us to avoid,t* aul's constant counseling people do not live li+e people do not expect 0E%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.& .evade or 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 0E%V* =CC3 )a+ing a (evolution- Eo not ta+e li#e Catholics a!ay #rom the environment& to gather around the sacred things* Catholicism teaches people hope their environmental intrusion 0E%V* =CC3* 7 Can not be a Christian concept #ascination not bring the !orld steeped hope 0E%V* =D23* The light that shines !ill help us overcome these challenges& 7 $ al!ays hope& do not be discouraged because o# the internal 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 because envy& does not intend to trans#er& this idea !ill !or+ cause more su##ering #or my prison scene* should be spent9 "ny!ay& by the good or bad #aith& as long as Christ is preached& $ re'oice and $ 'ust al!ays pleased9 . 0E%V* =DC3* "nd a!ay !e hope !ill be a li#etime 7 This slo! serial dot there& a thousand thousand dots long* minute serial other minute& a minute !ant a million lives* "ttendance each dot to the right& the road !ill be beauti#ul& Live every minute to the good& holy li#e !ill* curve by a dotted hope hope hope Li#e hopes so per minute 0E%V* =DG3 To!ards 2FFF& 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& based on the #irst #e! letters o# the Latin , E, 0Q hope3& and $ shi#ted over by #our Vietnamese !or+ engagement begins !ith the letter * , 7 ,ervire- 7 ,erving 7 rogressione- 7 Eevelop E 7 Evangelisatione- 7 gospel , 7 ,ancti#icatione o##icii- 7 incumbent @hen choosing noun %ope#ully& $'ve thought about this >& because it is the program o# action& #or us today& done right& it !ill come hope#ully* @ant more clear thought and right action a soldier& invite you thoroughly research the astoral Constitution o# the ,econd Vatican Council& called %y7#un7happy and hope& that $ have chosen slogan and programs !hen $ !as chosen as bishop 01=CD3*

%ere $ explain the > 'sR ,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/ohn 1<& 1>3* %ope#ully complete personality& hoping to become Christians #ollo! Christ's example& hoping to create a !ater Vietnam peace& happiness& a church gathering the children o# God *** !ill not rely on dreams enhanced& in his conceit& their unions& do not use strength& #orce& does not reKuire her to be honored and privilege it yoursel#& #or your community ***I but .!ash one another's #eet.& !ho served as respect& love- it is the path o# hope& rene!ed daily personal lives& creating an atmosphere o# holiness #or the Church and society* R Eevelopment /esus said- .They do not need to go any!here& ta+e care o# yourselves they eat. 0)t 1>& 1C3* /esus Christ& the ,on o# God made man carries the body& a!a+ening us great value o# our human body* %o! can you per#orm the next love& !hen guys dress excess rice& money abundance& convenience o# holding all !ealth and po!er& besides the ma'ority o# #orest scenes hungry brothers& !as to in'ustice& stripped o# the right to li#e& liberty *** .Let them eat.& eat the #lesh and spirit& in an e##ort to contribute to the economic li#e& the development o# science to the service o# man& dig deep cultural valuesI struggle !ith commitment #or 'ustice& peace to the +ingdom o# God is the brotherhood o# humanity every day a clearly expressed than on earth* The church served by developing the !hole person* $n CF years the !orld began to tal+ very much about .Eevelopment.& ope aul V$ announced )essages .Eeveloping nations. 7 in !hich he announced the establishment 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* Eevelopment here means not only economic 7 but is integral human development& physical& intellectual& spiritual *** 4ne important thing here is to dispel erroneous thin+ingchurch 'ust !orried soul only& not !orry the #lesh* Go a!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 college hoc*vv** 7 .Eevelopment 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 0E%V* AGC3* 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 incredibly easy9 6ut $ ta+e responsibility #or training people& people !ho !ant to stand& re!arding people !ho 0E%V* A=23* $t's really hard9 6ut the determination to help othersR 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 be real happy #or you along !ith the promotion 0E%V* A=<3* $n short& $ hope to promote our po!er to testi#y about e##orts to engage the !hole person development* R Gospel .,o you go and ma+e disciples o# all nations become. 0)t 2G& 1G3* 7 ,erve the church by themselves to evangeli;ation and evangeli;ation o# society* Not to entice people into religion& but to the value o# the gospel shines #or us to live better* @riter 6* ascal said- .@hen $ +no!& $ +no! God has his o!n understanding me*. @hy? 6ecause the God created me as %is child& topping !anted better part& and the other people around me as !ell as so lo#ty* The gospel o# grace is to bring the @ord& a !ord #rom God is /esus Christ* @ords& in obedience to the Father& to do a 'ob is to love people& and love to the point o# sacri#icing his li#e* @e Christians do not have any !ay to select the source to dra! the vitality& role model to imitate& ho! to achieve goals outside o# /esus Christ& !as handed do!n to us through the contents o# the 6lessed sound* /esus Christ is the !ord made #lesh& d!elt among us& not mere !ords but is a man& a li#e* reach the gospel to the essential obligations o# Christians and the Church& #irst spread the light radiating love& sacri#ice& serving brothers& including his enemies& as Christ did sho!* 7 The only one (ules- gospel* $t is the constitution above all constitutions* Constitution /esus le#t the apostles& not di##icult& complex& as the constitutional restraints*

Conversely #lexible& compassionate& inspired and my spirit* " saint is beyond the gospel .holy. 0E%V* =GC3* 7 The heart must be !ide enough to position the container and sha+e to the beats all evangeli;ation program o# the church 0E%V* <<13* @hen illuminated gospel around us is our apostolate* 7 ."postle o# sacri#ice and silence. as the buried grain& rot decay to other particles born thousands o# raising humanity* ."postles o# evidence.* )ere a##irmation should not trust these people& though s!eet to re#ine it* Exhibits more reliable* $mage capture& voice recording& the easier it is to touch people more* 6ut people living #lesh& i# all the activities& i# a class& a class #amily living an ideal& is evidence that there is a great persuasive po!er +ne! it !ould be9 0E%V* <<23* 7 The secret o# the apostle in our timeThe lay apostolate9 0E%V* <<A3* $ndeed& at (ome this right& in the past three years& each volunteer thousands o# parishioners .urban missionaries. visit& bearing gi#ts gospel to every #amily in the diocese* 7 The !ay o# our apostolic timesR $n the midst o# the earth by the earth R No R 6ut #or the !orld R @ith the !orld's media 0E%V* <>F3 R Eivision o# Each is a beloved child o# God in Christ* Noble dignity and uniKueness that comes !ith the obligation to #ul#ill its o!n duties& his o!n vocation* (ather than spend all that talent& and energy to snoop on critics o# the next 'ob& as a brother there are circumstances& abilities& his or her o!n service department& then #irst o# all !e each sincere& positive and #ul#illing responsibility #or its o!n destiny* )ission o# sancti#ication that !ant to bridge to the next& it should permeate the %oly spirit o# God is /esus Christ* %is mission o# love& death and served until death on the Cross* The church served by the secular duties* This is a ne! spirituality* 4#ten people have the notion that the saints to do the moral& 'oin the organi;ation *** but #orget that .holiness is the #ul#illment o# his duties.& )r* /oseph sancti#ied by good carpenter& sancti#ied by 4ur Lady homema+er good- do everything #or /esus* The principle more clearly

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7 %oly o# my duty* ,ancti#y others through my duty* ,ancti#y ourselves in the duty 0E%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 many people& $ do congressman& said courageous conscience& $ sancti#y others 7 @orld This is not pretty& the country is not innovation 7 ,o ho! many o# 'ournalists& ho! many ) s& intellectuals Catholic& rotestant& *** @here? @e live as very religious person* "nd !e did not sancti#y others through duty* ,ancti#y themselves in duty- 4# course in doing so !e must sacri#ice& courage& !isdom and perseverance& and !e should be holy& do not need to be vegetarian& hit me *** that the people !ho do not stand around* 7 $# everyone is sancti#ied duty& the ne! spirit& ne! #amily& ne! !orld 0E%V* 2F3 7 " saint is a holy duty outside in the distance o#ten .!or+ miracles. @rong place !rong time* 6y the close& the con#using& di##icult living and be!ildered 0E%V* 213* 7 arishioners thought- %oly is the #ervent prayer& preach& alienated !orld- they turned out to clergy& mon+s in ancient times* (eligious thought- %oly is committed to helping the social& political activity& !hich compete !ith parishioners incarnate* @ildly cool 0E%V* 223* 7 The church should not holy because o# prophecy or miracles* @here do they !onder9 They #ul#ill an obligation 0E%V* 2A3* $n the spirit o# hope and the po!er o# the (isen Christ& /oseph Folliet poet 01=F<71=D23 !rote(e'oice and %ope ."t the end o# the road you travel is no longer the road& but the destination point o# travel* late slope you climb& not steep& but the great heights* late night dar+ness& no longer night& but the radiant da!n * late !inter& there is no !inter& but spring is !arm* late hour you die& there is no death& but eternal li#e* disappointed Last minute& !as not disappointed& but hope #ull* Finally humanity& no longer a man& but as God made man in our midst* . $t is he excited and hope our N 6ac+ to top

,olidarity union ierre Teilhard de Thin+er Chardin has said that- .,ocial Value.* @hat !ill rise to meet* 4nly !hen Li#t up your hearts& put do!n behind the stubborn& coc+y little 'ealous& the eye is capable o# loo+ing in one direction& capable hands clenched together to go* "t the end o# the 2Fth century& !e loo+ bac+ to the history o# humanity& and history o# our people to see that& not exhorting people !ere not united brotherhood ***& but the trauma& disruption human right by the doctrines o# this movement are derived #rom giving a point- The doctrine that has not seen the man's height and the #ishermen Christ has #or us Christians a secret about solidarity and unity$ imagine /esus as the sun in the middle o# the light emitted around the circle& the center a!ay& the rays that& there #urther distance apart* 6ut i# !e go against the increasingly to the center& the closer together& until the meet at a center point o# the ,acred %eart o# /esus* "ll o# unity& solidarity *** are #ar a!ay& because even secretive& !hile protecting the interests o# the ego& and strategies *** The distinction holy love using Gree+ Eros or hilia& "gape !ith charity& the love o# the Triune God* /ohn and aul used the !ord agape only !hen it comes to God."s the Father has loved me& so $ have loved you. 0/ohn 1A& =3* .$ give you a ne! commandment& that ye love one anotherI brothers love one another as $ have loved you. 0/ohn 1<& <>3* The love that ma+es our unity as the Lord /esus prayed& .Father& give us a li+e Father& are in me and $ in you. 0/ohn 1D& 217223* )ust have vision o# /esus #or all people* The identity o# the Catholic charity* 7 God only arrested the apostles carry a uni#orm that di##icult to #ind cheap. eople !ill get to +no! the signs that this is the discipleThe children love each other 0E%V* D>G3* 6ut ho! to love here? 7 $s there a noisy charity- Charity canoni;ation* 7 $t +ind o# charity !or+ including- Charity ban+* 7 $t +ind o# adopted charity- Charity ;oo* 7 There despise the +ind o# charity- Charity %ome personnel* 7 There are types according to their o!n charity- Charity dictator* Charity brands& #a+e charity 0E%V*DAC3*

=* )otivation to change and help us advance our society are living?

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7 Charity is no border i# the border is not charity anymore 0E%V* DGD3* 7 Love one another not in !ords but in deed* Love one another !ith the le#t hand do not +no!* .Love one another as $ have loved us. 0E%V* DAA3 Li#t up your hearts Christ !ith %is Father& to +no! there is only love- Love all& love each person& love #amily& love enemies& holy love& love the sinner* Love by sacri#icing his 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 your enemies ***& 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 theoretically di##erent& but people al!ays have a chance to close and understand 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 the mechanism by !hich it !as thought that there !as no chance o# rescue* 7 Charity is the extension o# God's love #or humanity 0E%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!ear implacable !ith me. 0E%V* D=<3* 5nity& solidarity a reality !ant to dra! the sublime po!er o# charity* ,olidarity union .$# the note said/ust a note ho! the music is & ho! can the medley* sure i# !ords/ust a !ord o# ho! the pages they have never tomes* sure i# the stone4nly a ho! the stone !alls o# the house ever* $# a drop o# !ater protection/ust ho! a drop o# !ater into rivers and la+es & the ocean ever* 5nless a grain o# protection/ust ho! can a grain o# rice #ields they never had rice* $# people say& 'ust a gesture o# love & ho! to save all o# humanity and 'ustice never have peace happiness and 'oy on earth* medley as you need to each note as needed tomes every !ord

should come home "s each stone as needed every drop o# ocean !ater as needed to each bread grain "s !orld to every human need God and you need to you& any!here& anytime& you are the only one& God be in that moment and there#ore no one to replace N 6ac+ to top 1F* 4nce you have done the above aspirations& !hat should $ do? @e must loo+ to God& loo+ at yoursel#& loo+ at people and smiling $t had once as+ed her mother Teresa #ar- )ay she leave us a message? 7 "#ter some thought& )other Teresa& #ar short ans!er.Jeep smiling*. "s )other Teresa said to smile& $ !ant to say to smile deeply meaning#ul& happy to be !ith his God& a 'oy no one can snatch* 7 $nstead o# .smile diplomacy. o# the child !ith .smile sincere Christians. 0E%V* DD<3* 7 .$ do not do charity !or+ because $ have no money9. 4nly ne! charity money !hy? 7 Charity smile& handsha+e charity& charity o# sympathy& visit charity& charity pray 0E%V* D1>3* )other Teresa smiling a!ay and advised us smiling because she is convinced God in his li#e& !here the soul o# the people around her* %er smile insured #or the happiness o# man by God at his side& satis#actory completion o# their li#e& that is the image o# God in our brothers and sisters #ace* $ loo+ed up and smiled God& because God is merci#ul Father& !ho made us& #orgive every mista+e and !e loo+ #or!ard to the Father everlasting happiness* Loo+ing bac+ at our o!n little& ho! is he loves in#inite li#e !e go #rom surprise to surprise the other& ho! do $ choose the Lord God? $ 'ust smile and sing happy .immense grace o# God& $ !ill #orever praise his grace*. $ loo+ up to people that laugh& because $ +no! they are all my brothers and sisters& a #ather to my children& and support one another& to stand in place o# the .no more tears.& not coal cry& because everything he has gone* $ remember childhood singing verse- .6ehold& this brother laughed& laughed pretty happy dream o# #resh youth& #ull o# thousand laughs #uture !armest !elcome& happy smile blessed glory in heaven*. 6elgian Cardinal Eaneels said- .The biggest challenge o# our times is hope. there are many !ealthy& !ise& o# po!er& but su##ers #rom not +no!ing a#ter this li#e they !ill go? They !ill miss them all9 @e +no! !e go to eternal happiness& the smiles !e share the 'oy !ith everyone and !ants everyone to be happy and the !orld !ill sing "lleluia*

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6ecause the greatest 'oy is being !ith Christ's resurrection* $# 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 in everyday li#e& but as ,t* "ugustine once said.Love does not control di##icult and arduous love& hardship and in'ury* . %appiness o# our times 1 7 6lessed !ho +no! that laughing at him because things !ill never cease to entertain* 2 7 6lessed are those !ho can distinguish bet!een di##erent mountain stones as !ill avoid many troubles* < 7 6lessed are those !ho listen and silent because'll learn ho! ne! things* > 7 6lessed are interested to +no! !hat others as+ to be shared so ho! is play#ul* A 7 6lessed are attentive to the normal and calm be#ore important because they !ill move #ar a!ay* C 7 6lessed are appreciative smile and ignore the rude !ords because o# their !ay to glorious light* D 7 6lessed are those !ho +no! explain ho! tolerant attitude o# others as opposed to appearance because they !ill be considered a ne! release* G 7 6lessed are thin+ing be#ore acting and pray be#ore thin+ing so they can avoid a lot o# un#ocused* = 7 6lessed especially #or anyone #ound God in all the people !e met 6ecause they met the light and true peace Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan's 6oo+s Throughout his li#e Cardinal Thuan did not !rite many boo+s or articles* %o!ever& !hile he !as imprisoned #or thirteen years& nine o# !hich !as solitary con#inement& the then7"rchbishop !rote a boo+ by the name .STUng %y VVng. or .The (oad o# %ope. to encourage the #aith#ul in his diocese and all the eople o# God in Vietnam* This boo+ has been translated to more than 1A languages*

$n 1=DA& Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan !as traveling to ,aigon& Vietnam& to become its ne! Coad'utor 6ishop* 4n the !ay& he !as arrested and imprisoned 77 an incarceration that lasted thirteen years* Eespite tremendous ris+& Van Thuan re#used to remain passive* Euring his nights in prison& he !rote encouraging messages to the Vietnamese people* These brie# re#lections& scribbled on scraps o# paper& !ere smuggled out o# prison& copied by hand and circulated !ithin the community* 6ishop Van Thuan !as thus able to remain connected to his people in a hidden yet po!er#ul !ay* The (oad o# %ope is the collection o# these 1&FF1 messages& a true .gospel #rom prison&. !ritten to console and strengthen a !eary people in !ar7torn land* They remain the heart#elt& personal !ords o# a #ather !ho sustained and nourished his children's desire #or #reedom* Today& they spea+ to us 7 an invitation to begin our o!n 'ourney on the (oad o# %ope* WW Clic+ here to buy XX Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan says& .This little boo+ o# prayers !as !ritten in prison* Though $ !as alone and seemed 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 scraps o# paper the prison guards gave me* They are a remembrance 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 stop moving #or!ard in our search #or GodI and on the !ay /esus advances and dra!s closer to us* WW Clic+ here to buy XX Every year& ope /ohn aul $$ chooses someone to preach a course o# spiritual exercises #or himsel# and the (oman Curia at the Vatican* $n the /ubilee :ear 2FFF& he as+ed Vietnamese "rchbishop Nguyen van Thuan* Testimony o# %ope is the complete text o# those ,piritual Exercises* $n this moving !or+& the "rchbishop addresses our need #or hope at the beginning o# the Third Christian )illennium* "s a prisoner in a communist concentration camp #or 1< years& = o# them in solitary con#inement& "rchbishop Nguyen van Thuan #aced !hat he describes as the .agoni;ing pain o# isolation and abandonment*. (ecounting the details o# those long years& he reveals the secret !hich allo!ed him to cling to hope in the midst o# despair* Nguyen van Thuan 's message to /ohn aul $$ and to us is this- the same hope that he #ound in imprisonment is also the hope #or the !orld at this momentous point in history* Faced !ith any dar+ness& !e have reason #or con#idence- Christ& %ope o# the @orld* WW Clic+ here to buy XX
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"l!ays reticent about spea+ing o# himsel#& Cardinal Van Thuan slo!ly began to reali;e that his prison experience o# su##ering and hope could help others in their 'ourney o# #aith* The re#lections he prepared #or the 1==D @orld :outh Eay in aris became the #rame!or+ #or Five Loaves 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 and loaves in the Gospel& !hich #ed thousands* @ritings "bout Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan 6y "ndre Van Chau @ritten by a personal #riend o# Cardinal Van Thuan& this moving biography chronicles the li#e o# the man ope /ohn aul $$ says !as .***mar+ed by a heroic con#iguration !ith Christ on the cross*. From a communist 'ail cell& to (ome as the leader o# the onti#ical Council #or /ustice and eace& Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan remained a man o# unsha+able #aith and undying hope* .Van Thuan survived a nightmare in human history and trans#ormed it into a dream #or a #uture o# the Church and o# humanity* " story unbelievably complex& a message incredibly simple- hope alive in one person can trans#orm the !orld* " boo+ #or anyone !ho needs to +eep their courage alive***. 77,r* %elen re'ean& "uthor& Eead )an @al+ing .$ have been deeply moved by the example and !ritings o# Cardinal Van Thuan* "ny reader !ith Christian values !ill #ind in his biography and !ritings a ne! insight into Christian #aith& hope and charity* %aving met the Cardinal on the day o# his elevation to the cardinalate* $ +ne! $ !as meeting someone very special* There !as a certain inner light that touched everyone !ho spo+e to him that day* $ have only experienced this one time be#ore77!hen $ met )other Teresa*. 77(ev* 6enedict Groeschel& CF( 6iography o# Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan 6irth* "pril 1D& 1=2G& parish o# hu Cam& %uZ& ViZt Nam* Nephe! o# Ngo Einh Eiem& 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* %is name 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 and theology3I a#ter his ordination& he !ent to (ome in 1=AA and studied spiritualityI and obtained a doctorate in canon la! in 1=A=* riesthood* 4rdained& /une 11& 1=A<& %uZ* astoral !or+& 1=A<71=AA* Further studies& (ome& 1=AA71=A=* $n the archdiocese o# %uZ& successively& 1=A=71=CD&

charged !ith the #ormation o# priestsI #aculty member and rector o# its seminary* Episcopate* Elected bishop o# Nha Trang& "pril 1<& 1=CD* Consecrated& /une >& 1=CD& %ua& by "ngelo almas& titular archbishop o# Vibiana& apostolic delegate in ViZt Nam& assisted by hilippe Nguyen Jim Eien& o# the etit Frbres de /asus& titular archbishop o# ario& apostolic administrator& sede plena& o# %ua& and by /ean76aptiste 5rrutia& )*E* *& titular archbishop o# Carpato* romoted to titular archbishop o# Vadesi and appointed coad'utor o# Thcnh7 h[ Chi )inh& %[chiminh Ville 0,aigon3& "pril 2>& 1=DA* /ailed by the Communist government& 1=DA71=GG& spent = years in isolationI !as never tried or sentencedI #reed November 21& 1=GG and obligated to reside in the archbishop's house in %`noi& impeded to return to his see& %[7Chi7)inh7Ville 0ex7,aigon3* Eeclared persona non grata by the government o# ViZt Nam during a visit to (ome in 1==1& !here he remained* )ember o# the $nternational Catholic Commission #or $mmigration& Geneva& ,!it;erland& 1==2* (esigned the coad'utorship& November 2>& 1==>* Vice7president o# the onti#ical Council $ustitia et ax& November 2>& 1==>I president& /une 2>& 1==G* "ttended the ,pecial "ssembly #or "sia o# the @orld ,ynod o# 6ishops& Vatican City& "pril 1= to )ay 1>& 1==GI by papal appointment* "ttended the ,pecial "ssembly #or 4ceania o# the @orld ,ynod o# 6ishops& Vatican City& November 22 to Eecember 12& 1==G* "ttended the $$ ,pecial "ssembly #or Europe o# the @orld ,ynod o# 6ishops& Vatican City& 4ctober 1 to 2<& 1===* reached the Lent ,piritual Exercises #or the pope and the (oman Curia& )arch 12 to 1G& 2FFF* Cardinalate* Created cardinal deacon in the consistory o# February 21& 2FF1I received the red biretta and the deaconry o# ,* )aria della ,cala& February 21& 2FF1* ViZt Nam's Foreign )inistry eased restrictions and the cardinal !ould #ace only routine immigration procedures !hen entering the country and !ould be a##orded all the privileges normally given to overseas citi;ens& February 2D& 2FF1* "ttended the X 4rdinary "ssembly o# the @orld ,ynod o# 6ishops& Vatican City& ,eptember <F to 4ctober 2D& 2FF1* The pectoral cross that he !ore until his death !as one that he made !ith t!o small pieces o# !ood !hen he !as in 'ailI he protected the cross hiding it in a piece o# soap so that his 'ailers !ould not con#iscate itI !hen he !as #reed& he covered the !ooden cross !ith a coat o# metal* Eeath* ,eptember 1C& 2FF2& o# cancer& in a (oman clinic* 6uried in the chapel o# the canons o# the chapter o# ,t* eter's 6asilica& Campo Verano cemetery& (ome* "t a later day& the body !ill be buried in the church o# ,* )aria della ,cala& his diaconate* 6eati#ication* The cause o# his beati#ication !as introduced on ,eptember 1C& 2FFD* ,ilvia )onica Correale !as named postulator o# the cause o# beati#ication* Five years a#ter death is the shortest period o# time allo!ed to initiate the process o# beati#ication* 6iography o# the Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan EF $mprimir Correo electrdnico
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Escrito por VietCatholic Ne!s Viernes 1D de ,eptiembre de 2FF> 11-<1 "ddThis ,ocial 6oo+mar+ 6utton Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan resident o# the onti#ical Council o# /ustice and eace Cardinal F*X Nguyen Van Thuan !as born at hu Cam in the diocese o# %ue& rovince o# Thua Thien& Vietnam& on "pril lD& l=2G* %e !as the eldest o# G- < boys and A girls* %is #ather& )r Nguyen Van "m passed a!ay on /uly 1& l==< in ,ydney& "ustralia* %is )other& nae Ngo Einh Thi %iep& daughter o# the late )r Ngo Einh Jha& is no! lFF years old and living in ,ydney& "ustralia !ith her daughter "nne %am Tieu* Cardinal Thuan !as born into a #amily !ith a long Catholic tradition& his relatives !ere among the martyrs since lC=G* From early age Fr* Thuan !as brought up in a Catholic environment !ith deep #aith& o!ing much to his examplary holy mother Eli;abeth* Every evening she told her son stories #rom the 6ible and those o# the martyrs o# Vietnam& especially o# his ancestors& introduced him to the example o# ,t Theresa o# the $n#ant /esus& taught him to love and #orgive& and she also taught him to cherish his 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 ordained priest on /une ll& l=A<* $n addition to his parish !or+ at the Francis Xavier arish& he also !as chaplain to the %ue rison and to the ellerin 06inh )inh3 school o# the Ee La ,alle 6rothers& !here he himsel# had been educated* Later he !as sent to study Canon La! at the onti#ical 5niversity 5rbaniana& the ropaganda Fide in (ome #rom l=AC7A=* %e !as a!arded Eoctor o# Canon La! !ith %igh Eistinction maxima cum laudae #or his thesis on )ilitary Chaplaincy in the @orlde* @hile studying in (ome Fr Thuan accompanied his uncle 6ishop eter )ary Ngo Einh Thuc to the audience !ith %is %oliness ope ius X$$* 5pon his return to Vietnam& he !as ro#essor and #rom later 1=C2 Eirector o# the )inor ,eminary %oan Thien& and at the same time Vicar General o# the Eiocese o# %ue #rom l=C>7l=CD* 4n "pril l<& l=CD ope aul V$ named him 6ishop& the #irst Vietnamese 6ishop o# Nha Trang& replacing 6ishop (aymond aul iKuet& )*E* * 06ishop o# Nha Trang #rom l=AD7l=CD3* %e !as consecrated 6ishop on /une 2>& l=CD& the solemnity o# ,t /ohn the 6aptist& at %ue by %*E* "ngelo almas& "postolic Eelegate #or Vietnam& Laos& and Cambodia* %e too+ as his motto- /oy and %ope 0Gaudium et ,pes3* %is installation too+ place on /uly 1F& l=CD* Euring 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 grassroot cadres& increasing the number o# seminarians #rom >2 to 1>D& and o# minor seminarians #rom 2FF to AFF in #our ,eminaries& organi;ed $nservice Courses #or priests o# C dioceses in Central Viet Nam* %e also organi;ed other #ormation courses& such as- development and training o# :outh associations& the laity& parish associations and parish councils !ith training courses #or the /ustice and eace )ovement& Cursillos and Focolare& and #ounded the Community o# %ope and the Lavang Community* 6ishop Thuan !rote six circular letters #or the #ormation o# his diocese"!a+e and ray 01=CG3 2* ,trong in Faith& "dvance !ith ,erenity 01=C=3 <* /ustice and eace 0l=DF3 >* The )ission o# Christ is also our )ission A* (emembering <FF years 0l=D13 C* %oly :ears o# (ene!al and (econciliation 01=D13* Cardinal Thuan held various positions in the Vietnamese Episcopal Con#erence- %e !as Chairman o# the /ustice and eace Committee& ,ocial Communication Committee and the Eevelopment o# Vietnam Committee in Charge o# Corev to assist in resttlement o# re#ugees #rom the !ar areas* %e !as one o# the #ounding members o# the Catholic (adio ,tation (adio Veritas "sia& )anila* %e #reKuently attended the "sian 6ishops Con#erence o# "sia 0F*"*6*C*3* %e !as named "dvisor o# the onti#ical Council o# the Laity #rom l=D17l=DA* $t !as during these meetings that he had the opportunity to meet ope /ohn aul $$& then "rchbishop o# Craco!& and to learn #rom him o# pastoral experiences during the most di##icult period in oland under the communist regime* %e !as also appointed "dvisor& then member o# the Congregation #or the Evangeli;ation o# the eoples& and member o# the Congregation #or Eivine @orship and the Eiscipline o# ,acraments* 4n "pril 2<& l=DA ope aul V$ named him "rchbishop Coad'utor !ith rights o# succession to the "rchbishop o# ,aigon& and at the same time named him titular "rchbishop o# Vadesi* %o!ever the Communist regime did not approve this nomination and #orced him to return to Nha Trang* 4n the solemnity o# "ssumption& lA*G*DA he !as detained and escorted to Nha Trang !here he !as held in house arrest at Cay Vong& but !as later ta+en to North Viet Nam !here he !as imprisoned #or more than 1< years& = o# !hich !ere spent in solitary con#inement at Vinh Huang 0Vinh hu3 prison& then in the prison run by the %anoi olice* Later& he !as again held under house arrest at Giang7Xa* Euring his years o# imprisonment he !rote The (oad o# %opee& the ,piritual Testimony 0@ill3 to all the Catholic Vietnamese in Viet Nam and abroad* 4n November 21& l=GG& Feast o# the resentation o# 4ur Lady& he !as released #rom detention and !as ordered to live at the "rchbishop %ouse in %anoi& !ithout permission to per#orm any pastoral !or+* $n )arch l=== he !as allo!ed to visit his aged parents in ,ydney& "ustralia& and travel to (ome to meet the %oly Father and return to %anoi*

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$n l==l he !as allo!ed to travel to (ome but !as not allo!ed to return Ever since that time he lived in exile& though his heart !as al!ays !ith the Church in Viet Nam and his homeland* %e spared no e##orts to assist social services in Viet Nam& #or example leprosariums& Charitable organi;ations& research programs to promote the culture o# Vietnam and o# the Catholic Church in Viet Nam& reconstruction o# churches& the training o# seminarians as conditions allo!ed* $n spite o# the persecutions imposed on the Church and on himsel# personally& he al!ays lived and preached #orgiveness and reconciliation* 4n November ll& l==> the %oly Father named him Vice resident o# the onti#ical Council o# /ustice and eace& and subseKuently resident o# the same on /une 2>& l==G replacing Cardinal :* (* Etchegaray& !ho had retired* %e remains in this position until today* ,ince his release #rom prison& he had undergone D operations& < o# !hich he su##ered in#ections and !as critically ill* The seccond last operation !as on "pril lD& 2FF1 at the ,aint Elisabethes )edical Center& 6oston& 5,"& and the last operation !as on )ay G&2FF2 at the Centre o# (esearch #or Tumors in )ilan& $taly* %is condition !orsened at the beginning o# /une 2FF2 and received treatment at "gostino Gemelli %ospital& a teaching hospital attached to the Catholic ,acred %eart 5niversity in (ome* %e !as later trans#erred to io X$ hospital #or #urther treatment* $n his li#e outside Vietnam !as o#ten invited to preach and lecture in many countries and to various audiences& #or example at the Cathedral o# Notre Eame de aris during Lent& and at various universities in the !orld-in )exico& in )ay l==G he preached to more than AF&FFF young people* 4n )ay ll& l==C he received an %onorary Eoctorate at the /esuit 5niversity in Ne! 4rleans& 5*,*"* %e also received other honorary titles and pri;es as- = /une l=== 7 (omaCommandeur de le4rdre National du )arite& Embassy o# France to the %oly ,eeI 12 Eecember 2FFF 7 (ome 0Campidoglio3& $taly& ri;e Together #or eace FoundationI 2F 4ctober 2FF1 7Turin& $taly& ri;e #or eace 0,E()$G 7 "ssocia;ione )issionaria di giovani3I = Eecember 2FF1 7 istoia& $taly- ri;e o# eace 2FF1& Center o# ,tudies G* Eonati* The Congregation #or the Evangeli;ation o# the eoples also entrusted him !ith the responsibility o# visiting and overseeing the ,eminaries in a number o# countries in "#rica* Euring Lent 2FFF he received a special invitation #rom ope /ohn aul $$ to preach the Lenten (etreat to the Curia& at the beginning o# the third millenium* @hen the %oly Father received him in private audience a#ter the retreat& giving him a chalice& Cardinal Thuan said- .2> years ago $ said )ass !ith < drops o# !ine and $ drop o# !ater in the palm o# my hand& $ never !ould have thought that today the %oly Father !ould give me a gilt chalice* 4ur Lord is great indeed and so is his love.* $n February 2l& 2FF1 he !as elevated to the College o# Cardinals by the %oly Father& ope /ohn aul $$& !ho named him

Cardinal o# the Church o# ,anta )aria della ,cala* This church is under the pastoral care o# the Carmelite Fathers* %e is died on ,eptember 1C& 2FF2 in (ome* (ome& 1C ,eptember 2FF2* Coordinating 4##ice o# the "postolate #or the Vietnamese in the EiasporaCardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan resident o# the onti#ical Council o# /ustice and eace Cardinal F*X Nguyen Van Thuan !as born at hu Cam in the diocese o# %ue& rovince o# Thua Thien& Vietnam& on "pril lD& l=2G* %e !as the eldest o# G- < boys and A girls* %is #ather& )r Nguyen Van "m passed a!ay on /uly 1& l==< in ,ydney& "ustralia* %is )other& nae Ngo Einh Thi %iep& daughter o# the late )r Ngo Einh Jha& is no! lFF years old and living in ,ydney& "ustralia !ith her daughter "nne %am Tieu* Cardinal Thuan !as born into a #amily !ith a long Catholic tradition& his relatives !ere among the martyrs since lC=G* From early age Fr* Thuan !as brought up in a Catholic environment !ith deep #aith& o!ing much to his examplary holy mother Eli;abeth* Every evening she told her son stories #rom the 6ible and those o# the martyrs o# Vietnam& especially o# his ancestors& introduced him to the example o# ,t Theresa o# the $n#ant /esus& taught him to love and #orgive& and she also taught him to cherish his 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 ordained priest on /une ll& l=A<* $n addition to his parish !or+ at the Francis Xavier arish& he also !as chaplain to the %ue rison and to the ellerin 06inh )inh3 school o# the Ee La ,alle 6rothers& !here he himsel# had been educated* Later he !as sent to study Canon La! at the onti#ical 5niversity 5rbaniana& the ropaganda Fide in (ome #rom l=AC7A=* %e !as a!arded Eoctor o# Canon La! !ith %igh Eistinction maxima cum laudae #or his thesis on )ilitary Chaplaincy in the @orlde* @hile studying in (ome Fr Thuan accompanied his uncle 6ishop eter )ary Ngo Einh Thuc to the audience !ith %is %oliness ope ius X$$* 5pon his return to Vietnam& he !as ro#essor and #rom later 1=C2 Eirector o# the )inor ,eminary %oan Thien& and at the same time Vicar General o# the Eiocese o# %ue #rom l=C>7l=CD* 4n "pril l<& l=CD ope aul V$ named him 6ishop& the #irst Vietnamese 6ishop o# Nha Trang& replacing 6ishop (aymond aul iKuet& )*E* * 06ishop o# Nha Trang #rom l=AD7l=CD3* %e !as consecrated 6ishop on /une 2>& l=CD& the solemnity o# ,t /ohn the 6aptist& at %ue by %*E* "ngelo almas& "postolic Eelegate #or Vietnam& Laos& and
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Cambodia* %e too+ as his motto- /oy and %ope 0Gaudium et ,pes3* %is installation too+ place on /uly 1F& l=CD* Euring 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 grassroot cadres& increasing the number o# seminarians #rom >2 to 1>D& and o# minor seminarians #rom 2FF to AFF in #our ,eminaries& organi;ed $nservice Courses #or priests o# C dioceses in Central Viet Nam* %e also organi;ed other #ormation courses& such as- development and training o# :outh associations& the laity& parish associations and parish councils !ith training courses #or the /ustice and eace )ovement& Cursillos and Focolare& and #ounded the Community o# %ope and the Lavang Community* 6ishop Thuan !rote six circular letters #or the #ormation o# his diocese"!a+e and ray 01=CG3 2* ,trong in Faith& "dvance !ith ,erenity 01=C=3 <* /ustice and eace 0l=DF3 >* The )ission o# Christ is also our )ission A* (emembering <FF years 0l=D13 C* %oly :ears o# (ene!al and (econciliation 01=D13* Cardinal Thuan held various positions in the Vietnamese Episcopal Con#erence- %e !as Chairman o# the /ustice and eace Committee& ,ocial Communication Committee and the Eevelopment o# Vietnam Committee in Charge o# Corev to assist in resttlement o# re#ugees #rom the !ar areas* %e !as one o# the #ounding members o# the Catholic (adio ,tation (adio Veritas "sia& )anila* %e #reKuently attended the "sian 6ishops Con#erence o# "sia 0F*"*6*C*3* %e !as named "dvisor o# the onti#ical Council o# the Laity #rom l=D17l=DA* $t !as during these meetings that he had the opportunity to meet ope /ohn aul $$& then "rchbishop o# Craco!& and to learn #rom him o# pastoral experiences during the most di##icult period in oland under the communist regime* %e !as also appointed "dvisor& then member o# the Congregation #or the Evangeli;ation o# the eoples& and member o# the Congregation #or Eivine @orship and the Eiscipline o# ,acraments* 4n "pril 2<& l=DA ope aul V$ named him "rchbishop Coad'utor !ith rights o# succession to the "rchbishop o# ,aigon& and at the same time named him titular "rchbishop o# Vadesi* %o!ever the Communist regime did not approve this nomination and #orced him to return to Nha Trang* 4n the solemnity o# "ssumption& lA*G*DA he !as detained and escorted to Nha Trang !here he !as held in house arrest at Cay Vong& but !as later ta+en to North Viet Nam !here he !as imprisoned #or more than 1< years& = o# !hich !ere spent in solitary con#inement at Vinh Huang 0Vinh hu3 prison& then in the prison run by the %anoi olice* Later& he !as again held under house arrest at Giang7Xa* Euring his years o# imprisonment he !rote The (oad o# %opee& the ,piritual Testimony 0@ill3 to all the Catholic Vietnamese in Viet Nam and abroad*

4n November 21& l=GG& Feast o# the resentation o# 4ur Lady& he !as released #rom detention and !as ordered to live at the "rchbishop %ouse in %anoi& !ithout permission to per#orm any pastoral !or+* $n )arch l=== he !as allo!ed to visit his aged parents in ,ydney& "ustralia& and travel to (ome to meet the %oly Father and return to %anoi* $n l==l he !as allo!ed to travel to (ome but !as not allo!ed to return Ever since that time he lived in exile& though his heart !as al!ays !ith the Church in Viet Nam and his homeland* %e spared no e##orts to assist social services in Viet Nam& #or example leprosariums& Charitable organi;ations& research programs to promote the culture o# Vietnam and o# the Catholic Church in Viet Nam& reconstruction o# churches& the training o# seminarians as conditions allo!ed* $n spite o# the persecutions imposed on the Church and on himsel# personally& he al!ays lived and preached #orgiveness and reconciliation* 4n November ll& l==> the %oly Father named him Vice resident o# the onti#ical Council o# /ustice and eace& and subseKuently resident o# the same on /une 2>& l==G replacing Cardinal :* (* Etchegaray& !ho had retired* %e remains in this position until today* ,ince his release #rom prison& he had undergone D operations& < o# !hich he su##ered in#ections and !as critically ill* The seccond last operation !as on "pril 1D& 2FF1 at the ,aint Elisabethes )edical Center& 6oston& 5,"& and the last operation !as on )ay G&2FF2 at the Centre o# (esearch #or Tumors in )ilan& $taly* %is condition !orsened at the beginning o# /une 2FF2 and received treatment at "gostino Gemelli %ospital& a teaching hospital attached to the Catholic ,acred %eart 5niversity in (ome* %e !as later trans#erred to io X$ hospital #or #urther treatment* $n his li#e outside Vietnam !as o#ten invited to preach and lecture in many countries and to various audiences& #or example at the Cathedral o# Notre Eame de aris during Lent& and at various universities in the !orld-in )exico& in )ay l==G he preached to more than AF&FFF young people* 4n )ay ll& l==C he received an %onorary Eoctorate at the /esuit 5niversity in Ne! 4rleans& 5*,*"* %e also received other honorary titles and pri;es as- = /une l=== 7 (oma- .Commandeur de le4rdre National du )arite.& Embassy o# France to the %oly ,eeI 12 Eecember 2FFF 7 (ome 0Campidoglio3& $taly& ri;e .Together #or eace Foundation.I 2F 4ctober 2FF1 7Turin& $taly& ri;e #or eace 0,E()$G 7 "ssocia;ione )issionaria di giovani3I = Eecember 2FF1 7 istoia& $talyri;e o# eace 2FF1& Center o# ,tudies G* Eonati* The Congregation #or the Evangeli;ation o# the eoples also entrusted him !ith the responsibility o# visiting and overseeing the ,eminaries in a number o# countries in "#rica* Euring Lent 2FFF he received a special invitation #rom ope /ohn aul $$ to preach the Lenten (etreat to the Curia& at the beginning o# the third millenium* @hen the %oly Father received him in private audience a#ter the
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retreat& giving him a chalice& Cardinal Thuan said- .2> years ago $ said )ass !ith < drops o# !ine and $ drop o# !ater in the palm o# my hand& $ never !ould have thought that today the %oly Father !ould give me a gilt chalice* 4ur Lord is great indeed and so is his love.* $n February 2l& 2FF1 he !as elevated to the College o# Cardinals by the %oly Father& ope /ohn aul $$& !ho named him Cardinal o# the Church o# ,anta )aria della ,cala* This church is under the pastoral care o# the Carmelite Fathers* %e is died on ,eptember 1C& 2FF2 in (ome* (ome& 1C ,eptember 2FF2* ope Francis remembers Cardinal Van Thuan 0#ull text3 22 2F1<7FD7FC Vatican (adio 0Vatican (adio3 ope Francis received a delegation o# o##icials& #amily and #riends o# the ,ervant o# God& Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan& the heroic Vietnamese cardinal !ho spent thirteen years in prison in his beloved native land be#ore coming to (ome to head the onti#ical Council #or /ustice and eace* The delegation is visiting (ome in the context o# the o##icial closure o# the diocesan phase o# Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan8s cause #or beati#ication* The %oly Father remembered the Cardinal as a f!itness to hopeg !hose humility and priestly spirit touched countless lives* 6elo!& please #ind Vatican (adio8s translation o# ope Francis8 remar+s* ListenRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Venerable 6rothers& Eear 6rothers and ,isters& $'m glad to meet you and give you my cordial !elcome* $ greet !ith a##ection Cardinal eter Tur+son& and than+ him #or his !ords* $ greet all o# you& !ho have come #rom many parts o# the !orld on the occasion o# the closing o# the diocesan phase o# the cause o# the ,ervant o# God Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan* Eear #riends& your 'oy is my 'oy9 Than+s be to God9 @e also than+ all those !ho have engaged in this service !hich is #or the glory o# God and %is Jingdom- the rocurator o# the cause& Er* @aldery %ilgeman and his co7!or+ers& the Eiocesan Tribunal and the competent 4##ice o# the Vicariate& the %istorical Commission & and the same onti#ical Council #or /ustice and eace& !here the memory o# Cardinal Van Thuan& !itness to hope& is still alive& and h more than a memory h is a spiritual presence that continues to bring his blessing* $n e##ect& there are many people !ho can attest that they !ere edi#ied by their encounter !ith the ,ervant o# God Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan& at di##erent moments o# his li#e* Experience sho!s that his reputation #or holiness has spread precisely through the testimony o# so many people !ho met him and O!hoP preserve in their heart Othe memory o#P his gentle smile and the greatness o# his soul* )any came to +no! him through his !ritings& simple and pro#ound& !hich reveal his priestly spirit& closely united to the 4ne !ho had called him to be a minister o# %is mercy and %is love* ,o many people have !ritten to tell o# graces OreceivedP and signs attributed to the intercession o# the ,ervant o# God Cardinal Van Thuan* @e than+ the Lord #or this

venerable brother& son o# the East& !ho ended his earthly 'ourney in the service o# the ,uccessor o# ,t* eter* @e entrust the continuation o# this cause to the intercession o# the Virgin )ary& along !ith all other OcausesP currently in progress* )ay 4ur Lady help us to live more and more in our lives the beauty and 'oy o# communion !ith Christ* To all o# you and to your loved ones $ cordially impart my 6lessing* Cardinal Franiois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan Van Thuan !as born on "pril 1D& 1=2G at %ue& Viet Nam* Van Thuan came #rom a #amily o# martyrs* From 1GGA to 1GGG& tens o# thousands o# Catholics !ere +illed by the van than militia& and among them !ere Van Thuan8s relatives #rom the village o# hu Cam* @arned o# an imminent attatc+& the Catholics o# the village #led to their church to pray* Van than surrounded the church and set it abla;e and almost the entire community o# Catholics died that night& including the #amily o# Thuan's grand#ather* "mong the survivors !ere Thuan's great7 grandmother& grand#ather& !ho !ere not in hu Cam that night& and one great aunt !ho escaped the in#erno* Cardinal Van Thuan8s mother& !ho is still alive& played an important role in his #ormation* %e says o# her& .,he taught me stories #rom the 6ible every night& she told me the stories o# our martyrs& especially o# our ancestorsI she taught me love #or my country* ,he !as the strong !oman !ho buried her brothers massacred by traitors& !hom she sincerely pardoned*. $n 1=>1& Thuan 'oined "n Ninh )inor ,eminary and !as ordained on /une 11& 1=A<* "#ter six years o# #urther studies in (ome& he !as successively #aculty member and rector o# the ,eminary o# Nha Trang bet!een the years 1=A=71=CD* %e !as appointed deputy archbishop o# ,aigon "pril 2>& 1=DA* @ithin days o# his appointment& ,aigon #ell to the communist 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 Einh Eiem& the assassinated ,outh Vietnamese president* %e !as 'ailed by the Communist government and spent 1< years in a communist ''re7education'' camp& nine o# them in solitary con#inement* %e !as never tried or sentenced* ,pea+ing again o# his mother& Van Thuan said& @hen $ !as in prison& she !as my great com#ort* ,he said to all& B ray that my son !ill be #aith#ul to the Church and remain !here God !ants him*8. Euring that time in prison& the bishop sought to console his people by smuggling out messages to his people on scraps o# paper* These brie# re#lections& copied by hand and circulated !ithin the Vietnamese community& have been printed in the boo+ The (oad o# %ope* "nother boo+& rayers o# %ope& contains his prayers !ritten in prison* The bishop #ashioned a tiny 6ible out o# scraps o# paper* ,ympathetic guards smuggled in a piece o# !ood and some !ire #rom !hich he cra#ted a small cruci#ix*

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%o! he survived the horror o# that time is described in a little boo+ Five Loaves and T!o Fish& made up o# tal+s he gave to young people* %e not only survived& but emerged as a man o# transparent integrity& calm serenity and 'oy#ul hope* $n his boo+ The @ay o# %ope& Thoughts o# Light #rom a rison Cell& Thuan !rote- ''$n our country there is a saying- B" day in prison is !orth a thousand autumns o# #reedom*' $ mysel# experienced this* @hile in prison& everyone !aits #or #reedom& every day& every minute* @e must live each day& each minute o# our li#e as though it is the last*'' Van Thuan !as #reed on November 21& 1=GG and #orced into exile* %e !as received by /ohn aul $$ into the Vatican& and ran the onti#ical Council o# /ustice and eace& handling issues such as Third @orld debt* Euring the /ubilee :ear 2FFF& the /ohn aul $$ invited him to preach the annual retreat #or the ope and the members o# the (oman Curia bet!een )arch 12 and 1G& 2FFF* %e as+ed "rchbishop van Thuan to spea+ o# his experience as one !ho could !ell be called a living martyr& a !itness to the Faith* The retreat tal+s !ere part o# the daily e7mail dispatches o# Lenit& an international ne!s agency* Through this retreat& the !orld began to +no! Van Thuan and to hunger #or his message o# hope* %is tal+s !ere later published under the title o# Testimony o# %ope* The title is appropriate& #or his tal+s all spea+ o# 'oy and hope& even in su##ering and beyond the #ear o# death* Van Thuan !as created a cardinal deacon on February 21& 2FF1 and received the red biretta and deaconry o# ,* )aria della ,cala* @ithin a !ee+& ViZt Nam's Foreign )inistry eased restrictions and the Cardinal could enter his native country !ith only routine immigration procedures and !as a##orded all the privileges normally given to overseas citi;ens* Nguyen Van Thuan died o# cancer on ,eptember 1C& 2FF2 in a clinic in (ome* %e !as D>* "lthough he !as made a cardinal only last year& Thuan had already appeared on lists o# possible successors to ope /ohn aul $$& particularly by those believing the next ponti## could come #rom a poor& non7European country* Vietnam has the largest (oman Catholic community in "sia a#ter the hilippines* The #uneral too+ place on ,eptember 2F& 2FF2& at A-<F p*m*& in the altar o# the Con#ession o# the Vatican basilica* ope /ohn aul $$ presided and preached the homily& the 5ltima Commendatio and the Valedictio* Cardinal "ngelo ,odano& secretary o# ,tate& concelebrated the mass together !ith other cardinals* The )iracle o# %opeLi#e o# Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan olitical risoner& rophet o# eace 6y "ndre Nguyen Van Chau

@ritten by a personal #riend o# Cardianl Thuan& this moving biography chronicles the li#e o# the man ope /ohn aul $$ says !as& fj*mar+ed by a heroic con#iguration !ith Christ on the cross*g From a communist 'ail cell& to (ome as the leader o# the onti#ical Council #or /ustice and eace& Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan remained a man o# unsha+able #aith and undying hope* )y captors& my #riends- Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan Cardinal van Thuan& !ho spent nine years in solitary con#inement& visiting at his sister "nne8s home in ,ydney last !ee+ hoto- Ean )c"loon $# $ !as serious about Christianity& $ +ne! $ had to love my captors& said Vietnam8s Cardinal Van Thuan& !ho !as in ,ydney visiting #amily last !ee+* (eport by /ohanna 6ennett and )arita Fran+lin* They changed his olish guards every t!o !ee+s but eventually gave up as he steadily converted all those sent to guard him and his captors came to #ear i# he carried on he !ould convert them all* 4ne o# the >> ne! cardinals appointed by ope /ohn aul $$ in February& Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan !as in ,ydney last !ee+ on a private visit to see his #amily* %is mother& aged =G& and his t!o sisters live here* 4ne o# them& "nne& !ho came to "ustralia in 1=C1& spent many years campaigning #or the release o# her brother a#ter he !as 'ailed by the Communist Government in 1=DA* %e !as to spend the next 1< years in prison h nine o# them in solitary con#inement* ,pea+ing in ,ydney last !ee+& Cardinal Van Thuan said he had recognised the possibility o# going mad and told ho! his #aith saved him& strengthened him and led to conversion o# many o# those !ho guarded him* No! D<& and still the "rchbishop o# %o Chi )inh City 0,aigon3& the ne! cardinal told ho! he +ept himsel# sane by exercising every day and by be#riending his guards& telling himsel# that i# he !as serious about Christianity he had to love these people* The #riendships that gre! bet!een himsel# and his guards eventually gre! so strong that they began smuggling pieces o# paper into him so he could !rite* 4n these he !rote his boo+& The (oad to %ope& his little boo+ o# re#lections on hope that +ept his mind active and helped preserve his sanity* %e also as+ed his guards i# they !ould bring him a small piece o# timber so he might ma+e himsel# a cross* (eligious arti#acts !ere not allo!ed so !hen he #inished his cross he had to hide it in a piece o# soap* @hen he !as eventually released #rom 'ail he had his prison cross covered in metal !ith decorative holes cut in the metal so the original !ood o# the cross !ould sho! through* %is guards also helped him #ashion a chain #rom electric !ire they brought him* $nitially reluctant to give him the !ire& because they thought he intended to commit
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suicide& they eventually bought him a length o# !ire and some pincers* The prisoner and one o# the guards then made a chain in #our hours h the length o# private time they 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 !elcomed Cardinal Van Thuan to "ustralia* %e has fsu##ered grievously #or his #aithg& said the cardinal* fVisiting "ustralia& no! as a cardinal& he !ill surely be a source o# inspiration and hope #or us all*g Cardinal Van Thuan gave the homily at the )ass h #irst in English 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 second homelandg as his parents are here* %is mother lives here and his #ather is buried here* They came to "ustralia in 1=DA& sponsored by the cardinal8s sister& "nne& arriving 'ust #ive days be#ore ,aigon& the capital o# ,outh Vietnam& !as ta+en by the Communist #orces* $n Vietnamese culture& said Cardinal Van Thuan& !e believe that !here your parents are that is your homeland* The cardinal also than+ed "ustralia #or its fstruggle #or my #reedomg* %is sister "nne lobbied intensely #or her brother8s release* ,he and their parents !ere greatly aided by the "ustralian bishops& as !ell as "mnesty $nternational and the $nternational ,ociety #or %uman (ights& !ho also helped campaign #or Cardinal Van Thuan8s release* Cardinal Van Thuan also told ho! he #irst visited "ustralia in 1=C< and met many o# the clergy& including Cardinal Gilroy and Cardinal Freeman and Er )annix* ,ince he had gone to (ome& he said& he had made #riends !ith many "ustralian priests !ho had proved f#aith#ul #riends in good and bad timesg* "ppointed 6ishop o# Nha Trang in 1=CD& Cardinal Van Thuan !as appointed 6ishop o# %o Chi )inh City 0,aigon3 seven years later& but !as imprisoned a#ter a crac+do!n on the Catholic Church #or both his #aith and his #amily connections* %e !as the nephe! o# resident Eiem !ho !as assassinated in 1=C<* %e !as released #rom prison in 1=GG and exiled #rom Vietnam in 1==1 and has never been bac+* %e says he has not been as+ed and needs to pic+ the time and circumstances #or a visit& although he said recently that since being made a cardinal there had been fgood signs o# opennessg to!ards the Catholic Church in his homeland* There are seven million Catholics in Vietnam h eight per cent o# the population* The cardinal said that no!adays they are allo!ed to practise their religion but there are no Catholic schools or hospitals* 6ut other recent reports

say that leaders and members o# all religious groups in Vietnam are still strictly controlled by the state& and people continue to be harassed #or their religious belie#s* The cardinal remains the "rchbishop o# ,aigon* f"#ter $ !as released $ !as allo!ed to go to (ome to meet the ope&g he said* fThe ope said $ had su##ered enough and the Church !ould not punish me anymore*g %e !as to be allo!ed to return to Vietnam* 6ut the Vietnamese Government !ould not allo! this so& instead& he !as named vice7president o# the onti#ical Council #or /ustice and eace& o# !hich he became president in 1==G* ,ince then he has spent his time travelling the !orld promoting 'ustice and peace& o# !hich he himsel# is a living example* " man o# such peace and good!ill& he #orgave even his captors and made such good #riendships !ith them that he converted them by the example o# his o!n most Christian conduct* 6ut even these days he doesn8t #eel totally blessed* "s+ed i# he could be the #irst "sian ope& he says fGod only +no!sg* 6ut he does #eel that& li+e the much7loved but rather ugly ope /ohn XX$$$& i# this !ere to come about he should have blessed !ith a more photogenic #ace* Franiois7Xavier Nguykn Vln Thumn 1D "pril 1=2G h 1C ,eptember 2FF2 %ue& rovince o# Thua Thien& Vietnam 6orn 1D "pril 1=2G Franiois7Xavier Nguykn Vln Thumn& ,ervant o# God& !as a Cardinal in the (oman Catholic Church* Cardinal Thuan !as born into a #amily !ith a long Catholic tradition* %is relatives !ere among the martyrs since 1C=G* %e !as born at hu Cam in the diocese o# %ue& rovince o# Thua Thien& Vietnam and !as the eldest o# G children* From an early age he !as raised in a Catholic environment !ith deep #aith& o!ning much to his exemplary holy mother& Eli;abeth* Every evening she told her son stories #rom the 6ible and those o# the martyrs o# Vietnam& especially o# his ancestors* ,he introduced him to the example o# ,t* Theresa o# the $n#ant /esus& taught him to love and #orgive& and to cherish his homeland o# Vietnam* 4rdained to riesthood 11 /une 1=A< Thuan entered the )inor ,eminary in his early teens& and #ollo!ed his studies in philosophy and theology at the )a'or ,eminary Jim Long at %ue* %e !as ordained priest on 11 /une 1=A<* $n addition to his parish !or+ at the Francis Xavier arish& he also !as Chaplain to the %ue rison and to the ellerin 06inh )inh3 school o# the Ee La ,alle 6rothers& !here he himsel# had been educated*
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Later he !as sent to study Canon La! at the onti#ical 5niversity 5rbaniana& the ropaganda Fide in (ome #orm 1=AC to 1=A=* %e !as a!arded Eoctor o# Canon La! !ith %igh Eistinction maxima cum lauda #or his thesis on )ilitary Chaplaincy in the @orld* @hile studying in (ome& Father Thuan accompanied his uncle& 6ishop eter )ary Ngo Einh Thuc& to a private audience !ith %is holiness ope ius X$$* 5pon his return to Vietnam& he !as ro#essor and #rom 1=C2 the Eirector o# the )inor ,eminary %oan Thien& and at the same time Vicar General o# the Eiocese o# %ue #rom 1=C> to 1=CD* Consecrated 6ishop 2> /une 1=CD 4n 1< "pril 1=CD ope aul V$ named him 6ishop& the #irst Vietnamese 6ishop o# Nha Trang& replacing 6ishop (aymond aul iKuet& )*E* * 06ishop o# Nha Trang #rom 1=AD to 1=CD3* %e !as consecrated 6ishop on 2> /une 1=CD& the ,olemnity o# ,t* /ohn the 6aptist& at %ue by %* E* "ngelo almas& "postolic Eelegate #or Vietnam& Laos& and Cambodia* %e too+ as his motto- /oy and %ope 0Gaudium et ,pes3* %is installation too+ place on 1F /uly 1=CD* Euring 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 grassroot cadres& increasing the number o# seminarians #rom >2 to 1>D& and o# minor seminarians #rom 2FF to AFF in #our ,eminaries& organi;ed $nservice Coures #or priests o# C dioceses in Central Viet Nam* %e also organi;ed other #ormation courses& such as development and training o# youth associations& the laity& parish associations and parish councils !ith training courses #or the /ustice and eace )ovement& Crusillos and Focolare& and #ounded the Community o# %ope and the Lavang Community* 6ishop Thuan !rote six circular letters #or the #ormation o# his dioceseI 1* 2* <* >* A* C* "!a+e and ray 01=CG3 ,trong in Faith& "dvance !ith ,erenity 01=C=3 /ustice and eace 01=DF3 The )ission o# Christ is also our )ission (emembering <FF years 01=D13 %oly :ears o# (ene!al and (econciliation 01=D13

#ounding members o# hte Catholic radio ,tation Veritas "sia& )anila* %e #reKuently attended the "sian 6ishops Con#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 the opportunity 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 oland under the communist regime* %e !as appointed "dvisor& then member o# the Congregation #or the Evangeli;ation o# the eoples& and member o# the Congregation #or Eivine !orship and the Eiscipline 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 him titular "rchbishop o# Vadesi* ,ix days later& ,aigon #ell to the Communist North Vietnamese "rmy* The Communist regime did not approve o# his appointment& his #aith& and his #amily connection to Ngo Einh Eiem* 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 "ugust 1=DA he !as detained and escorted to Nha Trang !here he !as held in house arrest at Cay Vong& but !as later ta+en to North Vietnam !here he !as imprisoned #or more than thirteen years& nine o# !hich !ere spent in solitary con#inement at Vinh Huant 0Vinh hu3 prison& then in the prison run by the %anoi olice* $n prison& he smuggled out messages to his people on scraps o# paper* These brie# re#lections& copied by hand and circulated !ithin the Vietnamese community& have been printed in the boo+& The (oad o# %ope* Through a net!or+ o# in#luential overseas Vietnamese& including dignitaries 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 out o# scraps o# paper* ,ympathetic guards smuggled in a piece o# !ood and some !ire #rom !hich he cra#ted a small cruci#ix& !hich he !ore proudly #or the remainder o# his li#e*

Con#ined to %ouse "rrest in "rchbishop's (esidence in %anoi 4n 21 November 1=GG& the Feast o# the resentation o# 4ur Lady& Thuan !as released #rom detention by the communist government and !as Frdered to live at the "rchbishop8s residence in %anoi* %e !as #orbidden to per#orm any pastoral !or+* %e !as also #orbidden travel outside the con#ines o# the "rchbishop8s residence* $n )arch 1=G= he !as allo!ed to visit his aged parents in ,idney "ustralia and travel to (ome to meet the %oly Father !ith his promise to return to %anoi* $n 1==1 he !as allo!ed to travel to (ome but !as not allo!ed to return* Ever since that time he lived in
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6ishop Thuan held various positions in the Vietnamese Episcopal Con#erence- %e !as Chairman o# the /ustice and eace committee& ,ocial Communication Committee& and the Eevelopment o# the Vietnam Committee in Charge o# Corev to assist in resettlement o# re#ugees #rom the !ar areas* %e !as one o# the

exile& though his heart !as al!ays !ith the Church in Viet Nam and his homeland* %e spared no e##orts to assist social services #or Viet Nam& #or example leprosariums& Charitable organi;ations& research programs to promote the culture o# Vietnam and o# the Catholic Church in Viet Nam& reconstruction o# churches& the training o# seminarians as conditions allo!ed* $n spite o# the persecutions imposed on the Church and on himsel# personally& he al!ays lived and preached #orgiveness and reconciliation* 4n 11 November 1==> the %oly Father named him Vice resident o# the onti#ical Council #or /ustice and eace& and subseKuently resident o# the same on 2> /une 1==G& replacing Cardinal :* (* Etchegaray& !ho had retired* Euring the time #ollo!ing his release #rom prison he under!ent seven surgical operations* Three o# these surgeries caused him to develop serious in#ections and caused him to #all seriously ill* The second to last operation !as on 1D "pril 2FF1 at the ,aint Eli;abeth )edical Center in 6oston& 5,"* %is last operation !as on G )ay 2FF2 at "gostino Gemelli %ospital& a teaching hospital attached to the Catholic ,acred %eart 5niversity in (ome* %e !as later trans#erred to io X$ hospital #or #urther treatment* Euring this time o# exile #rom his Vietnam homeland& he !as o#ten invited to preach and lecture in many countries and to various audiences* 4n 11 )ay 1==G he received an %onorary doctorate at the /esuit 5niversity in Ne! 4rleans& Louisiana* %e also received other honorary pri;es and titles* Euring Lent 2FFF he received a special invitation #rom ope /ohn aul $$ to preach the Lenten (etreat to the Curia& at the beginning o# the third millennium* @hen the %oly Father received him in private audience a#ter the retreat& giving him a chalice& Cardinal said- f2> years ago $ said )ass !ith < drops o# !ine and 1 drop o# !ater in the palm o# my hand* $ never !ould have thought that today the %oly Father !ould give me a gilt chalice* 4ur Lord is grat indeed and so is his love*g Elevated to the College o# Cardinals 21 February 2FF1

n $ !ill discern bet!een God and God8s !or+s* n $ !ill hold #irmly to one secret- prayer* n $ !ill see in the %oly Eucharist my only po!er* n $ !ill have only one !isdom- the science o# the Cross* n $ !ill remain #aith#ul to my mission in the Church and #or the Church as a !itness o# /esus Christ* n $ !ill see+ the peace the !orld cannot give* n $ !ill spea+ one language and !ear one uni#ormCharity* n $ !ill have one very special love- the 6lessed Virgin )ary* 6eati#ication rocess 6egins (oad to ,ainthood 1C ,eptember 2FFD

4n 1C ,eptember 2FFD& the #i#th anniversary o# the Cardinal8s death& the (oman Catholic Church began the beati#ication process #or Nguyen Van Thuan* ope 6enedict XV$ expressed fpro#ound 'oyg at ne!s o# the o##icial opening o# the beati#ication cause* (oman Catholics in Vietnam also positively received the ne!s on beati#ication process opening #or the Cardinal* $n the !ords o# a catechist #rom the (oman Catholic "rchdiocese o# %o Chi )inh City& fNguyen Van Thuan is an example o# holiness #or Vietnamese Catholics and #or the entire !orld*g $n his 2FFD encyclical& ,pe ,alvi& 6enedict XV$ re#erred to Thuan8s rayers o# %ope& saying- Euring thirteen years in 'ail& in a situation o# seemingly utter hopelessness& the #act that he could listen and spea+ to God became #or him an increasing po!er o# hope& !hich enabled him& a#ter his release& to become #or people all over the !orld a !itness to hope h to that great hope !hich does not !ane even in the nights o# solitude*g 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 heroic testimony 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 maternal protection o# )ary& is #or the Church and the !orld a shining !itness o# unity and #orgiveness& and o# 'ustice and peace*

4n 21 February 2FF1 he !as elevated to the College o# Cardinals by the %olyFather& ope /ohn aul $$& !ho named him Cardinal o# the Church o# ,anta )aria della ,cala* This church is under the pastoral care o# the Carmelite Fathers* Nguyen Van Thuan died o# cancer in a clinic in (ome& $taly on 1C ,eptember 2FF2 at the age o# D>*

Ten (ules o# Li#e o# Nguykn Vln Thumn n $ !ill live the present moment to the #ullest*
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%is loving person and his Episcopal ministry radiate the light o# #aith& the enthusiasm o# hope and the !armth o# love* No!& my Lord& through his intercession and according to your !ill& grant me the grace $ am imploring in the hope that he !ill soon be elevated to the honor o# sainthood* e #ollo!ing are extracts #rom the late Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan's address 7 .Experiencing God's liberating po!er. 7 given at a religious education con#erence in Los "ngeles prior to his death in 2FF2* 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=CD and 1=DA& to ,aigon& to become "rchbishop Coad'utor* For the Communist Government this trans#er& made one !ee+ be#ore their arrival in ,aigon& on <F "pril 1=DA& !as proo# o# a conspiracy bet!een the Vatican and the .$mperialists.* From the very #irst moment o# my arrest& the !ords o# 6ishop /ohn @alsh& !ho had been imprisoned #or 12 years in Communist China& came to my mind* 4n the day o# his liberation 6ishop @alsh said& .$ have spent hal# my li#e !aiting*. $t is true* "ll prisoners& mysel# included& constantly !ait to be let go* $ decided then and there that my captivity !ould not be merely a time o# resignation but a turning point in my li#e* $ decided $ !ould not !ait* $ !ould live the present moment 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* No& $ !ill not spend time !aiting* $ !ill live the present moment 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* $# every single point along the line is rightly set& the line !ill be straight* $# every minute o# a li#e is good& that li#e !ill be holy* "lone in my prison cell& $ continued to be tormented by the #act that $ !as #orty7eight years old& in the prime o# my li#e& that $ had !or+ed #or eight years as a bishop and gained so much pastoral experience and there $ !as isolated& inactive and #ar #rom my people* 4ne night& #rom the depths o# my heart $ could hear a voice advising me- .@hy torment yoursel#? :ou must discern bet!een God and the !or+s o# God 7 everything you have done and desire to continue to do& pastoral visits& training seminarians& sisters and members o# religious orders& building schools& evangelising non7 Christians* "ll o# that is excellent !or+& the !or+ o# God but it is not God9 $# God !ants you to give it all up and put

the !or+ into his hands& do it and trust him* God !ill do the !or+ in#initely better than youI he !ill entrust the !or+ to others !ho are more able than you* :ou have only to choose God and not the !or+s o# God9. )ission This light totally changed my !ay o# thin+ing* @hen the Communists put me in the hold o# the boat& the %ai7 hong& along !ith 1AFF other prisoners and moved us to the North& $ said to mysel#& .%ere is my cathedral& here are the people God has given me to care #or& here is my mission- to ensure the presence o# God among these& my despairing& miserable brothers* $t is God's !ill that $ am here* $ accept his !ill.* "nd #rom that minute on!ards& a ne! peace #illed my heart and stayed !ith me #or thirteen years* .@ere you able to say )ass in prison?. 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& $ !as allo!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 little bottle o# )ass !ine& !ith a label reading .medication #or stomach pains.& as !ell as some hosts bro+en into small pieces* The police as+ed me- .Eo you have pains in your stomach?. .:es*. .%ere is some medicine #or you9. $ !ill never be able to express the 'oy that !as mineeach day& !ith three drops o# !ine& a drop o# !ater in the palm o# my hand& $ celebrated my )ass* The six Catholics in my group o# AF prisoners tried to stay together* @e lined up the boards !e !ere given as bedsI they !ere about 2F inches !ide* @e slept close together in order to be able to pray during the night* "t =*<F every evening !hen lights out rang everyone had to be lying do!n* $ bent over my !ooden board and celebrated )ass& by heart o# course& and distributed Communion to my neighbours under their mosKuito nets* @e made tiny bags #rom cigarette paper to protect the 6lessed ,acrament* "t night& the prisoners too+ turns and spent time in adoration* The 6lessed ,acrament helped tremendously* Even 6uddhists and other non7Christians !ere converted* The strength o# the love o# /esus is irresistible* The dar+ness o# the prison turned into light& the seed germinated silently in the storm* 4ne day $ told a Communist cadre !ho !as criticising the Church- .@e have t!o di##erent meanings #or the same !ords* $# you sincerely !ish to understand the Church& to dialogue !ith Catholics& $ propose to !rite an index o#
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religious vocabulary in Latin& French& English& $talian& ,panish and Chinese !ith Vietnamese de#initions* $# you accept my o##er& please give me some paper and a pen* %e agreed and $ began* @hen the cadre returned& $ explained a #e! !ords o# the index to him& the meanings& the history and development o# the Church& #or instance& !hat is an abbot or !hat does monastical li#e involve& e*g*& silence& poverty& obedience& chastity& #asting& manual !or+& pastoral and intellectual !or+& etc* %is curiosity !as aroused* Very slo!ly& $ continued to explain the index& a +ind o# intensive catechism #or Communist cadres9 $t !as a !ay to dialogue in truth and love instead o# debate and criticism* $ did the same !ith my guards !ho as+ed me to teach them #oreign languages* They brought me French boo+s* @hile teaching them French history& civilisation& literature and culture& $ !as able to explain the impact o# the gospel on France and on European history and its culture* @hen $ began to discern bet!een God and God's !or+s& !hen $ chose God and %is !ill and le#t everything else in %is hands& and !hen $ learned to love others& especially my enemies as /esus loved me& $ #elt great peace in my heart* Eeprived o# #reedom& o# absolutely everything and living in extreme poverty in my dar+ cell& $ !as at peace because $ could say& .)y God and my all.* The peace that the !orld cannot give brought me great 'oy* risoners held captive #or very long periods& !ithout trial and in oppressive conditions& retain bitter memories and sentiments o# hate and vengeance* That's a normal reaction* $ !as in prison #or 1< years& nine o# !hich !ere in solitary con#inement* T!o guards !atched me but never spo+e to meI 'ust yes and no* 6ut $ +ne! that a#ter all& they !ere my brothers and $ had to be +ind to them* $ had no gi#t to o##er as a prisoner $ had nothing at all& nothing to please them* @hat to do? 4ne night& a thought came* .:ou are still very rich* :ou have the love o# Christ in your heart* Love them as /esus loves you.* The next day $ set to !or+& #irst& by sho!ing gladness and by smiling* $ began to tell stories about my 'ourneys in countries !here people live in #reedom and en'oy their culture and great technical progress* That stimulated their curiosity and they as+ed many& many Kuestions* ,lo!ly& very slo!ly& !e became #riends* They !anted to learn #oreign languages* )y guards became my disciples9 The atmosphere o# the prison changed considerably* "t that time& in another part o# the area& a group o# t!enty people !ere learning Latin to be able to read Church documents* Their teacher !as a #ormer catechist* 4ne o# my guards !as in the Latin class and one day he as+ed me i# $ could teach him songs in Latin* .There are so many .& $ replied& .and they are all so beauti#ul.* .:ou sing and $'ll choose&. he retorted*

"nd so $ sang ,alve (egina& ,alve )ater& Lauda ,ion& Veni Creator& "ve )aris ,tella* :ou'll never guess the song he chose* The Veni Creator9 $ can't begin to tell you ho! moving it is to be in a Communist prison and hear your guard& coming do!n the stairs at seven every morning on his !ay to the gymnastics yard #or physical exercises& singing the Veni Creator* @hile at prison in Vinh7Huang in the mountains o# North Vietnam& $ !as sa!ing !ood one a#ternoon* $ as+ed my ever7present guard& !ho had become my #riend& i# $ could as+ him #or a #avour* .@hat is it? $'ll help you*. .$ !ant to sa! o## a small piece o# !ood in the #orm o# a cross*. .Eon't you +no! that's strictly #orbidden to have any sign o# religion !hatsoever?. .$ promise to +eep it hidden*. .6ut it !ould be extremely dangerous #or the both o# us*. .Close your eyes& $'ll do it right no! and $'ll be very care#ul*. %e turned his bac+ and le#t me alone* $ sa!ed a small cross !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 my guard 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 that Christians& and most o# all priests& do not commit suicide* ."nd so !hat are you going to do !ith electric !ire?.& he as+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& $'ll sho! you*. .)uch too dangerous9. .6ut !e're #riends9. %e hesitated and #inally said& .$t's too hard to re#use* Tonight at Dpm !e'll do it* 6ut !e have to #inish be#ore 11* $'ll have my companion ta+e the evening o##* $# he +ne!& he'd denounce the both o# us.* That evening& !ith the tools he brought& !e cut and shaped and !or+ed together to ma+e my chain and !e #inished it be#ore 11pm9 This cross and chain are not only my souvenir o# captivity& as precious as that may seem* They are a constant reminder that only Christian charity can bring about a change o# heart* Not arms& not threats& not the media* $t !as very hard #or my guards to understand !hen $ spo+e about loving our enemies& reconciliation and #orgiveness* .Eo you really love us?. .:es& $ really love you*. .Even !hen !e cause you pain? @hen you su##er because you're in prison !ithout trial?. .Loo+ at all the years !e've spent together* 4# course& $ love you9. ."nd !hen you get out& !ill you tell your people to #ind us and beat us and hurt our #amilies?. .$'ll continue to love you even i# you
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!ish to +ill me*. .6ut !hy?. .6ecause /esus taught us to love al!aysI i# !e don't& !e are no longer !orthy to be called Christians*. There is not enough time to tell you all the other moving stories !hich are proo# o# the liberating po!er o# the love o# /esus* The harsh years in prison pass very slo!ly* @hile su##ering humiliation and abandonment& my only support and hope !as the love o# )ary& 4ur 6lessed )other* The !onder#ul servants o# )ary 7 ,t Louis de )ont#ort& Eon 6osco& )aximilian Jolbe 7 !ere my companions on the road o# hope* They inspired me and gave me un!avering trust in the love o# )ary& the Hueen o# the "postles and )artyrs* Freedom $ said this prayer to )ary- .)ary& my )other& i# you +no! that $ cannot be o# any more use to the Church& grant me the grace to die here in prison and consummate my sacri#ice* $# you +no! that $ can still be o# use to the Church& grant me the grace o# #reedom on one o# your #east days.* $n #act& on 21 November 1=GG& $ !as coo+ing my meal !hen $ heard my guard being called to the phone* $ had an idea it might be because o# me* " #e! minutes a#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# 7 and good luc+9. $ !as ta+en to meet the )inister o# olice and a#ter a brie# conversation& he as+ed& .Eo you !ish to express any reKuest?. .:es& )r )inister& $ !ish to be let #ree9. .@hen?. .Today9. The )inister #eigned surprise& but $ +ne! the day had come* $t !as the Feast o# the resentation o# )ary in the Temple and she !as ans!ering my prayer* To counter the )inister's surprise $ replied& .:ou see& )r )inister& $ have been in prison #or three ponti#icates- aul V$& /ohn aul $& /ohn aul $$* $ have been here during the o##ices o# #our ,ecretary Generals o# the Communist arty& 6re;hnev& "ndropov& Chernen+o and Gorbachev*. %is eyes opened !ide* .:es.& that's right* "ll right* :our reKuest is granted* :ou are #ree*. ope /ohn aul $$ said o# Cardinal Thuan& !hom he chose to present the spiritual exercises #or Lent 2FFFI see Testimony o# %ope- the spiritual exercises o# /ohn aul $$ 06oston- auline 6oo+s& 2FFF3 Euring the course o# this /ubilee& $ !anted to give a particular place to the !itness o# people !ho have su##ered #or their #aith& paying !ith their blood #or their #idelity to Christ and to the Church& or courageously #acing interminable years o# imprisonment and privations o# every +ind. 0$ncarnationis )ysterium& n 1<3* $t is 'ust such a !itness that you have shared !ith !armth and emotion& sho!ing that in the !hole li#e o# man& the merci#ul love o# God& !hich transcends every human logic& is !ithout measure& especially in moments o# greatest anguish* :ou have brought us into contact !ith

all o# those !ho& in di##erent places in the !orld& continue to pay dearly #or their #ace in Christ* $n meditation A& Cardinal Thuan shares the deep lesson he learned during nine long and tortuous years o# solitary con#inement in star+ and degrading conditions 7 The 4ne Thing Necessary 7 God and not the !or+s o# God* .To rely on God alone& to choose God alone* This !as the great experience o# the patriarchs& the prophets& and o# the #irst Christians* * * * to choose God and not the !or+s o# God* This is the #oundation o# the Christian li#e in every age* "t the same time& it is the truest response to the !orld o# today* Through it& God's plans #or us& #or the Church& ad #or humanity in our time are reali;ed*. .)ary chose God* ,he abandoned her pro'ects !ithout #ully understanding the mystery that !as being accomplished in her body and in her destiny*. $t too+ nine years o# su##ering #or him to reali;e this truthI later !hen bac+ to !or+ as a pastor he !ould be tempted again to choose the !or+ o# God over God 77 he !as tempted to re#use to leave an assignment or desire a ne! one& thin+ing it !as all about his !or+ #or God 77 and not God& God !or+ing in him and throughout the Church and the !orld* ,ee also the biography The )iracle o# %ope- olitical risoner& rophet o# eace by "ndre Nguyen Van Chau 0 auline 6oo+s& 2FF<3& chap 21& especially p* 2FD& #or the details o# his ordeal* "#ter solitary con#inement& torture& starvation& and other indignities& .Thuan had #inally grasped the truth that God !as sho!ing him* $n all the years he had toiled in the Lord's vineyard& he believed he !as doing God's !or+* 6ut it !as God !ho !as doing the !or+& and Thuan !as his instrument* Thuan had complained about not being able to do God's !or+ !hen he should have been leaving the !or+ in God's hands* Thuan had only to devote himsel# to loving God& not God's !or+* * * * No! his prison cell seem trans#ormedthere& in that damp& #ilthy hole !here had been almost completely bro+en& he sa! another aspect o# the #ace o# Christ* * * * Thuan could envision love& and hope #or !hatever !ould be in the #uture even !hen he could not do God's !or+& or spread the #aith& or distribute goods to the poo and needy* Thuan grasped this ne! +no!ledge li+e a treasure to his heart*. "nd that treasure he !ould share !ith /ohn aul $$ almost 2A years laterI here is a succinct #ormulation o# the treasure #rom his little boo+ o# prayers and meditations& Five Loaves& T!o Fishes& in the chapter The ,econd Loa#& pp* 1A72>* %e said that a#ter his arrest by the communist the "rchbishop heard /esus say in his heart:ou must learn to distinguish bet!een God and the !or+s o# God* * * "ll o# these excellent !or+s& they are God8s !or+ but not God9 $# God !ants you to leave all o# these !or+s& place them in God8s hands immediately and have con#idence in him* ,o he as+ed himsel# fhas the Lord as+ed me to #ollo! him& or to #ollo! this pro'ect or that person*g Choose God and not God8s !or+s*
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Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan& !ho died on )onday aged D>& spent 1< years in Vietnamese prisons& emulating ,t aul by smuggling secret messages to his #loc+* Every night he ripped a page #rom his calendar& and pencilled a thought in $talian on the bac+* Children playing nearby !ould pass on the notes to local (oman Catholics* $n return& Thuan !ould be sent #ood pac+ages& !rapped in the pages o# the Vatican ne!spaper& L'4sservatore (omano& !hich had been declared illegal by the Communist regime* @hen Thuan made a coded reKuest #or .medicine #or my stomach.& the smuggled bread and !ine enabled him to celebrate )ass* 5sing his hand as a chalice and storing surplus hosts in cigarette !rappers& Thuan managed to say )ass every day o# his imprisonment& including during his nine years o# solitary con#inement* The Communists noted Thuan's habit o# evangelising his gaolers& and at #irst changed his guards every 1A daysI but this became too expensive* %e taught his !arders pidgin French and English& and persuaded them to give him a strip o# electric !ire and piece o# !ood& !hich he #ashioned into a pectoral cross and chain that he concealed in a sliver o# soap* 4n his release Thuan !ore it openly& proclaiming the cross a sign o# .the love o# /esus.* Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan !as born on "pril 1D 1=2G at the village o# hu Cam in %ue Vietnam* The eldest child& and only boy& in a #amily that claimed to have been (oman Catholic #or 1> generations& he !as the nephe! o# Ngo Einh Eiem& the #irst president o# ,outh Vietnam* $n 1=A< Thuan !as ordained priest& and obtained a doctorate in Canon La! #rom the Gregorian 5niversity in (ome* 4n his return home he became a teacher at& and later rector o#& the ma'or seminary in Nha Trang& central VietnamI in 1=CD he !as appointed 6ishop o# that diocese* Eays be#ore the Communist ta+eover o# ,aigon in 1=DA& ope aul V$ named Thuan coad'utor "rchbishop o# ,aigon* $t !as a dangerous move #or Thuan* %is uncle& !ho had been murdered in 1=C<& had been a protege o# Cardinal ,pellman o# Ne! :or+& an active supporter o# "merica's involvement in Vietnam& and had met him in "merica* Naturally& the Communists concluded that Thuan's elevation !as a .Vatican7imperialist plot.* Three months a#ter being appointed "rchbishop& Thuan !as arrested and driven >FF miles to prison at Cay Vong* En route he meditated on the !ords o# )gr /ohn @alsh& the last missionary bishop in China& !ho on being liberated #rom a 127year captivity& had said- .$ have spent my li#e !aiting.* Thuan decided he !ould not .!ait out. his prison sentence& choosing instead to .#ocus on the present moment& #illing it !ith love.* "t #irst& he !ondered ho! he could set about achieving thisI the Communists had closed Catholic schools& ransac+ed Church libraries and sent nuns and priests to !or+ in the rice #ields* Then& late one night& as he later recorded in his biography Five Loaves and T!o Fishes& Thuan heard the voice o# God saying- .Francis& it is very simple* $mitate !hat ,t aul did !hen he !as in prison 7 !rite letters to the church communities*.

This became his mission #or the next 1< years& !hile Thuan !as moved bet!een prisons and re7education camps* %e clandestinely ordained priests& distributed Communion to Catholic prisoners& and converted 6uddhists and atheists !ho had been curious to +no! !hy he !as so cheer#ul* $n 1=GG Thuan !as released& and lived under house arrest #or three years at the archdiocesan o##ices at %anoi* The government then exiled him& handing him an exit visa and a one7!ay tic+et to "ustralia& !here his mother and three sisters lived* Thuan then !ent to (ome& at #irst hoping to return to ,aigonI but& in 1==>& the %oly ,ee !ithdre! him as coad'utor "rchbishop o# %o Chi )inh City* The same year he !as appointed vice7president o# the onti#ical Commission #or /ustice and eace* 4n becoming president #our years later& Thuan initiated meetings !ith the )icroso#t billionaire 6ill Gates to discuss ho! to .puri#y. and regulate globalisation* $n 2FFF& Thuan compiled a compendium o# the teachings o# the Church on social 'ustice* The same year he delivered the annual Lenten tal+s to the apal household& using his prison experiences to meditate on the theme o# hope* Thuan had been a young bishop !hen he #irst met ope /ohn aul $$& !hen they both attended the ,econd Vatican CouncilI bet!een conciliar sessions& Thuan and "rchbishop @o'tyla !ould discuss the best !ay #or the Church to cope in Communist oland and Vietnam* @o'tyla said the !ay #or!ard !as a uni#ied Church& and unity& li+e hope& became a !atch!ord #or Thuan* @hen he !as appointed Cardinal in February 2FF1& Thuan !as immediately hailed as a potential successor to /ohn aul $$& thus 'oining the gro!ing list o# papabile #rom the Third @orld* @hen bishops in Vietnam celebrated the event !ith a public )ass& the Vietnamese government announced that Thuan could return home 7 but they !ould treat him no di##erently #rom any other Vietnamese visitor #rom abroad* ,ome Vietnamese& mean!hile& #elt Thuan !as too so#t on the CommunistsI but he maintained that& as a Christian& he !as obliged to #orgive them* %e maintained discreet lin+s !ith the Church in Vietnam& !hich continues to have an uneasy relationship !ith the Vietnamese government- !hile #reedom o# !orship is permitted& the government insists on meeting a Vatican delegation annually to discuss episcopal nominations& and vets every potential priest be#ore his ordination* 5ntil the end& Thuan's in#luence continued to bear #ruitthis year a group o# priests& nuns and lay Catholics in )exico #ounded the )ater 5nitatis Community than+s to his inspiration*

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