Paul Tong Viet Buong

Paul Tong Buong (Vietnamese: Phaolô Tống Viết Bường) (1782-1833) was a native of Phu Cam, he served in the bodyguard corps of Emperor Minh Mang. A Christian convert, he gave his assistance to the Paris Foreign Missions and so helped to advance the Catholic cause in the country.

Since his youth, he was known for his quick thinking and smart quirks. While organizing and defending several villages against invading maurauders, his brave deeds were made known to the Emperor. Emperor Minh Mang recruited him into his Imperial Guards corp and soon made him the Praetor of Imperial Guards. Being close to the Emperor, he was often questioned by the Emperor if he had visited the local pagodas. At first, he adeptly avoided the questions by saying without his Majesty's commands, he did not visited the pagodas. After being pressed several times, he confessed that his Christian belief did not allow him to visit pagodas or worship other gods.

Emperor Minh Mang was furious and ordered his chief guard lashed and imprisoned. To humiliate him further, Ming Mang ordered Paul Buong to serve in the other Imperial guardsmen household. His family paid these guardsmen and Paul Buong was released to his family.

At home, he was again arrested after a year during the Emperor's inspection of his Imperial Guards. This time, Paul Buong was savagely tortured. He welcomed the suffering, even tauntingly encouraged for more. He would tell his visitors that God would deliver him once he martyred.

Finally, Emperor Minh Mang decreed him to be beheaded with his head was to be displayed in pubic at Tho Duc parish as warning to Catholics who defied royal decrees. His feast day is October 10, 1833.

Pope Leo XIII beatified him on May 27, 1900 and Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1988 along with the other 116 Vietnamese Martyrs.

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