St. Vincent Liem
St. Vincent Liem was a Vietnamese Dominican friar and martyr who gave his life for the faith during the persecutions in Vietnam.
Life and Martyrdom
Vincent Liem (also known as Vincent Thông or Vincenzo Thông) was born in Vietnam and became a Dominican friar. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Vietnam experienced severe persecution of Catholics under various rulers. Vincent was arrested for his faith and his work as a priest, and he was executed by beheading in 1773 during the reign of Emperor Tây Sơn.
Canonization
Vincent Liem was canonized as a saint on June 19, 1988, by Pope John Paul II, together with 116 other Vietnamese martyrs. This group—known as the Vietnamese Martyrs—represents the heroic witness of Catholics in Vietnam who chose death rather than apostasy.
Feast Day
St. Vincent Liem is commemorated on November 24th in the universal calendar, the shared feast day of the Vietnamese Martyrs.
His martyrdom testifies to the power of grace: even facing torture and death, he remained faithful to Christ and His Church, becoming an intercessor for the Vietnamese people and an example of courage for all believers.