Blessed Jerome
Hermosilla and Companions, OP MM (AC)
Died 1861; beatified in 1906 by Pope Pius X.
Little is known of
the early lives of Bishop Jerome Hermosilla or Bishop Valentine Berrio-Ochoa.
That they were chosen for the Oriental mission is evidence that they were
courageous and resourceful men, probably adept in language.
Jerome was a native
of La Calzada, in Old Castile (Spain), who after his profession in the
Dominican Order, was sent to Manila, where he was ordained priest and, in 1828,
appointed to the mission of East Tonkin. He succeeded Blessed Ignatius Delgado
as vicar-apostolic and was consecrated bishop in April 1841. Like the early
office of pontiff, this position was practically synonymous with martyrdom;
several of those appointed as bishop of Tonkin did not even live to be
consecrated.
Bishop Hermosilla
made it his first task to gather the relics of his two immediate predecessors.
Bishop Delgado had been thrown into the sea, but some of the relics were
recovered by a fisherman. These and the remains of other martyrs were carefully
preserved by Hermosilla, who also committed to paper their passios according to
the accounts of eye witnesses. This took real courage--to carefully record the
terrible tortures that he well knew were awaiting him.
The twenty years of
Bishop Hermosilla's life in Tonkin were comprised of constant heroism, flight,
and unswerving faith. He had to hold his flock together, while some of his
finest assistants fell at his side. His work had to be accomplished entirely in
secret. There was always the possibility that a recent convert or his pagan
family might betray the hiding place of the priest, perhaps under torture. It
was a weak Christian who finally betrayed Hermosilla and Valentine.
The two bishops had
been hidden on board a ship en route to a place where they were needed to give
the sacraments. The betrayer identified them to the ship's captain, who
summoned the soldiers. A group of Christians almost succeeded in rescuing them,
but they were betrayed a second time and placed in chains. Three hundred men
were sent to escort them to the capital.
When the arrived,
they saw that they would be required to step upon a crucifix laid in the road.
Heavily manacled and weak from torture, the two bishops fought so vigorously
against committing this sacrilege that the soldiers finally relented and
removed the cross. Shortly thereafter the bishops, two other Spanish
Dominicans, and a number of native Christians were led in triumphant procession
to the place of their execution, where they were put in cages. Christian
witnesses reported that the martyrs were so rapt in prayer that they seemed
unaware of the screaming crowds, trumpeting elephants, and other noisy animals
surrounding them. In turn, each of the martyrs was bound, tied to stakes in the
ground, and beheaded. Their remains were guarded for several days to prevent other
Christians from claiming their relics.
Peter Almató, OP,
was born at Sassera, diocese of Vich, Spain. He became a Dominican and was sent
to the Philippines then to Ximabara under Bishop Hermosilla with whom he was
beheaded.
Also beheaded with
the above beatae was Blessed Valentine, who was born in 1827 at Ellorio,
diocese of Vitoria, Spain. After his profession as a Dominican also went to the
Philippines then to Tonkin as a bishop titular and vicar-apostolic. Due to a
number of miracles attributed to Bishop Valentine Berrio-Ochoa, his cause has
been separated from the group. He was beatified in 1909, rather than 1906, and
since 1952 canonization has been sought for him (Benedictines, Dorcy).
SOURCE :
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1101.shtml
Saint Jerome Hermosilla
Saint Jerome Hermosilla
Also known as
- Jerónimo Hermosilla
- Jerónimo Hermosilla Aransáez
Profile
Dominican.
Missionary to Manila, Philippines. Priest. Missionary to Viet Nam in 1828. Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Tonkin, Viet Nam and titular bishop of Miletopolis on 2
August 1839. Bishop. Worked with Saint
Joseph Khang. Martyred with Saint
Valentin Faustino Berri Ochoa.
Born
- 30 September 1800 at Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Old Castile, Spain
- tortured and beheaded on 1 November 1861 Hai Duong, Vietnam
Blessed Jerome, Valentine, Francis, Hyacinth & Companions (Martyrs of Tonkin)
Between the arrival of the first Portuguese missionary in 1533, through the
Dominicans and then the Jesuit missions of the 17th century, the politically
inspired persecutions of the 19th century, and the Communist-led terrors of the
twentieth, there have been many thousands upon thousands murdered for their
faith in Vietnam. Some were priests, some nuns or brothers, some lay people;
some were foreign missionaries, but most were native Vietnamese killed by their
own government and people.
Jerome Hermosilla, a Dominican
missionary to Manila, Philippines, and a priest, he went as a missionary to
Vietnam in 1828 where he was the Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Tonking, Vietnam
and titular bishop of Miletopolis. H was martyred with Saint Valentin Faustino
Berri Ochoa.
Image vietnamienne représentant saint Valentin Berrio Ochoa,
en costume de dominicain et avec la palme du martyr.
Valentin Faustinao Berri Ochoa. Born in the Basque country,
and ordained on June 14, 1851, Valentin was a missionary to the Philippines and
then to Vietnam. He was appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic of Central Tonking,
(the modern diocese of Bùi Chu) Vietnam and titular bishop of Centuria on
December 25, 1857. He was martyred with Saint Jerome Hermosilla.
Francis Gil de Frederich was educated in Barcelona, Spain where he joined the Dominicans. He was a
missionary to the Philippines first and then a missionary to Vietnam in 1732.
He spent nine years in prison for his faith during which time he converted
fellow prisoners and supervised evangelists on the outside.
Hyacinth Castaneda was a Dominican Priest and missionary to China. He then was sent
as a missionary to Vietnam. He was beheaded for his faith in 1773 in Vietnam
Hyacinth Castañeda,
Vincent Liem & Comps., OP MM (AC)
Born at Sétavo (near Valencia), Spain; died 1773; beatified in 1906; canonized
in 1988 as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam. After his profession as a Dominican,
Saint Hyacinth was sent to the missions--first to the Philippines, where he was
ordained. An account of Blessed Hyacinth Castañeda's voyage to Asia tells of
the letters he wrote to his mother of the serious mouth infection and the
seasickness he suffered for 48 days en route across the Atlantic. He recounts
his march across Mexico to embark upon another ship and the turmoil of crossing
the Pacific. When they landed in Manila, they found the city in the hands of
the English. He and the other passengers were abandoned with their luggage by
the terrified ship captain and had to wander for months to locate their
Dominican brothers. After preaching there will a time, Father Hyacinth took
another 66-day sea voyage to reach Fukien, China, where the martyrdom of
Blessed Peter Sanz was still fresh in the memories of Christians. Here he again
engaged in evangelization until he was deported to Vietnam, where he was
imprisoned for three years. Eventually Father Hyacinth was tortured and
beheaded.
During his
imprisonment, Castañeda was joined by Saint Vincent Liem, the first
Indo-Chinese Dominican to be martyred. He had ministered to his countrymen for
14 years prior to his execution. Two criminals were present at his trial; one
cursed him and one begged for his prayers. A spectator yelled, "Why
doesn't the Lord of Heaven come to deliver them in order that we may believe?"
Sounds familiar, doesn't it? (Benedictines, Dorcy, Farmer).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1107.shtml
Santi Girolamo Hermosilla, Valentino Berrio Ochoa e Pietro Almato Ribeira Martiri
† Hai Duong, Vietnam, 1
novembre 1861
Emblema: Bastone pastorale, Palma
Martirologio Romano: Nella città di Hải Dương nel Tonchino, ora Viet
Nam, santi martiri Girolamo Hermosilla e Valentino Berrio Ochoa, vescovi, e
Pietro Almató Ribeira, sacerdote, dell’Ordine dei Predicatori, decapitati per
ordine dell’imperatore Tự Đức.
Girolamo
Hermosilla
Nato a S.
Domingo de la Calzada in Spagna, a quindici anni entrò nel convento domenicano
di Valenza. Nel 1828 salpò da Cadice per Manila e il 15 maggio dell'anno
successivo arrivò nel Vietnam. Iniziò subito il suo difficile apostolato che si
protrasse per più di 32 anni, in mezzo a stenti, fatiche e persecuzioni,
cambiando spesso nome e residenza per non essere scoperto. Nel 1832 iniziò una violenta persecuzione anticristiana che durò 30
anni. Nel 1841 fu consacrato vescovo del Vietnam Orientale. Il 20 ottobre 1861
fu catturato insieme con il giovane catechista e suo fedelissimo segretario
Giuseppe Khang. I mandarini cercarono inutilmente di fargli calpestare il
Crocifisso, posto a terra all'ingresso della città, e allora lo rinchiusero in
una piccola gabbia, dove era costretto a stare seduto o ricurvo. Il 1° novembre
1861 fu decapitato con i confratelli Valentino Berrio-Ochoa e Pietro Almatò.
Valentino Berrio Ochoa
Nato ad Ellorio, nella diocesi spagnola di Vitoria, entrato nell'Ordine
Domenicano, ben presto chiese di essere inviato in missione. Fu prima nelle
Filippine, e poi nel 1858 in Vietnam come vescovo e vicario apostolico del
Tonchino centrale. Venne
arrestato il 20 ottobre 1861 e il 1° novembre fu decapitato insieme al
confratello s. Girolamo Hermosilla. Il suo corpo è venerato nella sua città
natale. Canonizzato il 19 giugno 1988.
Fonte:
|
Convento
San Domenico, Bologna
|
