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The Vietnamese bones include those of Andrew, Pro-Martyr of Vietnam. Andrew, or Phy-yen, was born in 1625 in Fan-ran province in South Vietnam. He became a Catholic at 15 and was martyred at 19 when he refused to adjure his religion. His head was taken to Rome where it can be seen today. His bones are in Macau, together with other Vietnamese and Japanese.
The bones are neatly packed in polished wooden boxes. Father Acquistapace laughs as he recalls the occasion when the relics were inspected by scientists: "One seized a bone and said: 'But this bone is from a woman!'” The priest's comments: "As if only men can die for Jesus!" There are, in fact, bones from 15 female martyrs in the church.
He breaks off, pressing a few pamphlets and souvenirs into the hands of the visitor. "Stay as long as you wish", he says. "The children are coming." And so they are, for into the cool, airy church come tumbling a horde of laughing Chinese children chasing each other and finding places on the wooden pews. Father Acquistapace moves his attention from the relics of the dead to the enthusiasms of the living. He strides up and down the short aisle as the youngsters roar out a cheerful hymn in Chinese, cajoling, quietening, and then swelling the youthful sounds with great arm movements. Outside, the day is hot and humid, and across the flat patch of muddy water in front of the small village that can be seen in China, a few dilapidated junks lie at anchor.
From the church comes the sound of singing. The first modern missionary to the Far East, Xavier, and the martyrs from Japan and from Vietnam, must heartily approve.
207
The Vietnamese bones include those of Andrew, Pro-Martyr of Vietnam. Andrew, or Phy-yen, was born in 1625 in Fan-ran province in South Vietnam. He became a Catholic at 15 and was martyred at 19 when he refused to adjure his religion. His head was taken to Rome where it can be seen today. His bones are in Macau, together with other Vietnamese and Japanese.
The bones are neatly packed in polished wooden boxes. Father Acquistapace laughs as he recalls the occasion when the relics were inspected by scientists: "One seized a bone and said: 'But this bone is from a woman!” The priests comments: "As if only men can die for Jesus!" There are, in fact, bones from 15 female martyrs in the church.
He breaks off, pressing a few pamphlets and souvenirs into the hands of the visitor. "Stay as long as you wish", he says. "The children are coming." And so they are, for into the cool airy church come tumbling a hoarde of laughing Chinese children chasing each other and finding places on the wooden pews. Father Acquistapace moves his attention from the relics of the dead to the enthusiasms of the living. He strides up and down the short aisle as the youngsters roar out a cheerful hymn in Chinese, cajoling, quictening and then swelling the youthful sounds with great arm movements. Outside the day is hot and humid and across the flat patch of muddy water in front of the small village that can be seen in China a few dilapidated junks lie at anchor.
From the church comes the sound of singing. The first modern missionary to the Far East, Xavier, and the martyrs from Japan and from Vietnam, must heartily approve.
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