History of the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue

I. THE FORMATION PROCESS OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE LOVERS OF THE HOLY CROSS OF HUE (1719)

1. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc – The Cradle of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue (1719))

Continuing the missionary path and the spread of the spirituality of the Lovers of the Holy Cross established by Bishop Pierre Lambert de la Motte, the first Apostolic Vicar of Đàng Trong, the missionary priests of the Paris Foreign Missions Society founded additional Lovers of the Holy Cross Phước Viện across Vietnam. These institutions were established to support local priests and catechists in their apostolic work.

In the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Đàng Trong, which included the provinces of Thừa Thiên, Quảng Trị, and Quảng Bình, missionary priest Pierre de Sennemand (1660–1730) established a Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent in 1719 while residing in Thợ Đúc. This was the first female religious congregation in the Vicariate of Hue. Father Sennemand built a residence, a chapel, and a large infirmary for the Sisters. During that time, in addition to their daily spiritual practices, the Sisters devoted themselves to educating young girls, managing the infirmary, caring for the sick and the bedridden, and engaging in various charitable works. Father Pierre de Sennemand guided the Convent for 11 years until his passing on January 25, 1730. He was laid to rest in Thợ Đúc^[1]. After his death, missionary Charles de Flory took over the care of the Sisters. However, he also passed away three years later, on January 3, 1733, in Phủ Cam, Thừa Thiên Province[2].

During the time of Bishop Alexander ab Alexandris (1691–1738), an Italian Barnabite who served as the Apostolic Vicar of Đàng Trong (1728–1738), due to his unfavorable stance toward the French missionaries, he strongly opposed all their missionary activities. As a result, the Convent of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Thợ Đúc was abandoned: the chapel and living quarters were demolished, the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross were excommunicated and scattered, leaving only four Sisters who found refuge in the homes of laypeople. On July 27, 1739, Bishop Elzéar des Achards de la Baume, the Papal Envoy, arrived in Hue. He met with and listened to the pleas of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters of Thợ Đúc, lifted their excommunication, and ordered the reconstruction of Phước Viện as it had been before. However, he passed away two years later, on April 2, 1741[3].

After the passing of Papal Envoy Bishop de la Baume, Thợ Đúc had become a Catholic center with approximately 800 parishioners. Adjacent to the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc was Saint Charles Seminary, built by Vicar General Father de la Court (1740–1750), and the Bishop’s Residence, established in 1743 by Father Armand François Lefèbvre (1709–1760).

• Persecutions:

– During the Reign of Võ Vương Nguyễn Phúc Khoát (1738–1765): In 1750, Võ Vương issued an edict banning Christianity, leading to the destruction of Saint Charles Seminary and the Bishop’s Residence. Father François Lefèbvre sold the church to a royal prince, the brother of Võ Vương, so that he could station guards there and prevent it from being further demolished by government forces. In this perilous situation, although the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc remained unharmed—since the Sisters lived virtuously and were engaged in charitable work at the infirmary—the nuns still requested the bishop to sell the convent to the prince. While he declined to purchase it, he promised to ensure the convent’s protection during the period of persecution.[4]

By the end of 1750, Bishop François Lefèbvre, Coadjutor Bishop F. Bennetat, and all missionaries were expelled from Đàng Trong. In 1752, the Coadjutor Bishop returned with a French delegation to negotiate but was expelled again in 1753. From that time onward, the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc lacked missionary support.

– During the Tây Sơn Era (1771–1802): Under the leadership of Bishop Pigneau de Béhaine (Bá Đa Lộc, 1771–1799), his Coadjutor Bishop (appointed in 1782), Bishop Jean Labartette—who later became the Apostolic Vicar of Cochinchina (1799–1822)—sought to re-establish the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc with some modifications. He guided the convent to develop in parallel with the Lovers of the Holy Cross congregations in Tonkin.^[5]

In the years 1785–1786, the conflict between the Tây Sơn brothers and the Nguyễn Lords broke out again in the northern regions of the South, bringing widespread devastation to the entire Church. In this situation, the Lovers of the Holy Cross Congregation was also affected, as described by Bishop Jean Labartette: “We had two convents, each with 20 members; one house remains, while the other was destroyed by the rebel troops (the Tây Sơn), though they did not disturb anyone. The Sisters were divided into two groups while waiting for peaceful times when they could fully observe their religious rules”^[6]. Shortly after the destruction, the convents were rebuilt, and the community resumed its activities, with the number of Sisters gradually increasing.

In 1798, a more severe persecution took place. At the end of 1797, King Cảnh Thịnh intercepted a letter from Nguyễn Ánh to Bishop Jean Labartette. Suspecting that Catholics were collaborating with the enemy, the king issued an edict banning Christianity in August 1798.

Believing that the bishop was still in Thợ Đúc, Tây Sơn soldiers stormed the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc, searching the premises, destroying buildings, and ravaging the gardens. At that time, there were 34 Sisters in the convent; a few managed to return to their families, but those who remained were subjected to severe mistreatment. Nine young nuns were tied up and taken to Phú Xuân fortress, but their Superior, Sister Thục (72 years old), fiercely protested. At the same time, Father Emmanuel Nguyễn Văn Triệu (1756–1798) was hiding at the home of a man named Quyền, near the convent. Seeing the brutal persecution of the nuns, he courageously came forward and declared himself a priest. The Sisters were only tied up for a few hours, but their convent was besieged for five days by two lines of soldiers. During that time, everything in the convent was looted, the gardens were destroyed, and when the nuns were expelled, they were left with only the clothes on their backs. This was the fate of six convents in the northern region of the South. Father Emmanuel Triệu was arrested on August 7, 1798, and executed by beheading on September 17, 1798, at Bãi Dâu. On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized him as a saint.

Nguyễn Ánh ascended the throne under the title Gia Long (1802–1819). Bishop Pigneau de Béhaine (Bá Đa Lộc) had supported him in his struggle to reclaim the country, providing material and military assistance that helped him defeat the Tây Sơn and Lê dynasties, ultimately bringing unity to the North and South after 200 years of division.

Out of gratitude to the bishop, Emperor Gia Long maintained a friendly relationship with the missionaries and the Catholic community. Bishop Jean Labartette, who governed the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Cochinchina, was granted an audience with the emperor. Later, he established numerous Lovers of the Holy Cross Convents throughout the three provinces of Thừa Thiên, Quảng Trị, and Quảng Bình.

– During the Reign of Emperor Minh Mạng (1820–1840):

Emperor Minh Mạng was an intelligent and studious ruler; however, he disapproved of the new religion and viewed Catholicism as a heretical belief, leading him to strictly prohibit and persecute Catholics. In 1833, the emperor issued a decree banning Christianity, ordering the destruction and confiscation of the Thợ Đúc parish church, which was then handed over to the village of Dương Xuân Hạ to be used as a communal house. Thợ Đúc also became an execution ground where many Catholics were sentenced to death. It was at this very site that Captain Phaolô Tống Viết Bường was beheaded in 1833 in front of the former church. Additionally, Father Joseph Marchand Du (1803–1835), a missionary priest, was executed by dismemberment at Thợ Đúc^[7].

The young sapling of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc had just begun to sprout, yet before it could take root and flourish, storms of persecution struck, scattering and devastating it. The Sisters were dispersed, forced to return to their family homes, and only regathered at the convent after the persecution subsided. A second wave of persecution further destroyed what little remained from the first or had just been rebuilt. The newly reunited Sisters in Hue were once again scattered^[8]. By 1840, the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc had only 15 members remaining. Among them were Sister Anna Madalena Ngọ, 65 years old (the first on the list), Sister Matta Hoãn, 83 years old (the eldest), and Sister Inê Nay, 20 years old (the youngest).^[9]

Five years after the Phân Sáp (Forced Dispersal and Resettlement) in 1862 under Emperor Tự Đức, in a report sent to the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith on August 8, 1867, Bishop Joseph Hyacinthe Sohier Bình (1823-1876) wrote: “In Thừa Thiên, there are two Lovers of the Holy Cross Convents, Phủ Cam Convent and Dương Sơn Convent”^[10]. Thus, the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc may have been abolished before 1867.

The missionary priest Léopold Cadière, also known as Cố Cả (1869-1955), wrote: “Behind the communal house of Dương Xuân Hạ village and at the foot of Thành Lồi, there once stood the Thợ Đúc parish church, built by French missionary priests, along with the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent constructed by Father Pierre de Sennemand and the Bishop’s Residence of Bishop François Lefèbvre.”

According to the account of Father Tống Văn Hộ (1884-1968), a native of Thợ Đúc, there was an ancient well in a garden in Vĩnh An hamlet, within the Trường An parish, known as “Bà Ngọ Well.” If this name refers to ‘Sister Superior Ngọ,’ then this well once belonged to the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Thợ Đúc. Even today, the locals still call it “Bà Ngọ Well.”^[11]

The early Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross made great efforts to survive amid many adversities caused by war, persecution, disaster, and epidemic. Yet, despite these trials, their spirit of religious life and devotion did not diminish. We can sense this through the testimony of Bishop Jean Labartette. He compared the Sisters of Cochinchina to new “Chartreuses” (Carthusian nuns), saying: “Regarding their fervor, I will summarize it in a few words, knowing that in this aspect, the Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters are no less devout than the most fervent nuns in Europe. We are consoled to see them progressing along the path and in the practice of the highest virtues, with the same zeal and heroic courage that we admire in the lives of European saints”^[12].

2. The Convents of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue Through Historical Events

Between 1780 and 1812, the Catholic Church experienced relative peace, allowing Bishop Labartette to establish several convents: Di Loan (1780), Kẻ Bàng and Phủ Cam (1797), as well as Nhu Lý, Bố Liêu, Mỹ Hương, Trung Quán, an orphanage, and Sáo Bùn Convent (circa 1805-1812).

During the Văn Thân uprisings, the convents of Bố Liêu and Nhu Lý were completely destroyed. In response, Bishop Caspar temporarily established Kim Long Convent to shelter the surviving Sisters. He also founded two additional convents: one in Tam Tòa (1892) for the Sisters from Mỹ Hương, and another in Trí Bưu for those from Bố Liêu. Thus, after the Văn Thân period, six convents remained: Di Loan, Kẻ Bàng, Phủ Cam, Dương Sơn, Trí Bưu, and Tam Tòa.

In 1954, following the signing of the Geneva Accords, Di Loan Convent was relocated to La Vang, and Tam Tòa Convent was moved to Thanh Tân, becoming an orphanage under the Dương Sơn Convent. The Sisters of Kẻ Bàng Convent merged with Phủ Cam Convent, leaving five remaining convents: Phủ Cam, Dương Sơn, Kim Long, Trí Bưu, and La Vang^[13]. We will now review some key historical periods.

2.1. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Di Loan

In 1776, Father Jean Labartette left the Thợ Đúc parish and moved to Di Loan. After establishing a relatively stable new parish, he founded a convent named the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Di Loan in 1780, as he mentioned in a letter dated July 14, 1784: “I established the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Di Loan four years ago. The nuns live in silence and seclusion, without interaction with the outside world. They are well regarded by the local people”^[14].

In 1786, during the pillaging by the Tây Sơn army, the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Di Loan was completely destroyed. Bishop Labartette^[15] oversaw the rebuilding of the convent, allowing it to resume operations. However, just a few years later, it was once again devastated by the Tây Sơn in 1792. Subsequently, Father Doussain led its reconstruction, as he mentioned in a letter in 1797: “I have just rebuilt the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Di Loan. I built three houses, though I do not know if the Tây Sơn will destroy them again. The number of nuns has reached 30, and many young women are still asking to join ”^[16]. Despite enduring countless hardships, the faithful and the nuns of the Di Loan parish remained courageous and steadfast in their faith. However, the Tây Sơn’s cruelty stirred resentment among the people, who longed for Lord Nguyễn to liberate them. At that time, a popular folk song expressed this sentiment:

“Oh Heaven, please let the southern wind blow,
So Lord Nguyễn’s boat may swiftly go.”

It was Bishop Labartette who sent a directive instructing the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Di Loan to organize a Novena to pray for peace to return soon. According to the Bishop’s account: “On June 12, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Di Loan nuns concluded their Novena for peace, and on the same day, we received news that Nguyễn Ánh’s army had arrived in Hue. The Tây Sơn forces were defeated”^[17]. The convent then enjoyed a long period of peace and development.

2.2. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Phủ Cam

Some historical documents of the Congregation record that the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Phủ Cam was founded by Bishop J. Labartette during a time of peace (under the reign of King Gia Long). “Among the six Lovers of the Holy Cross Convents in the Diocese of Hue, five were located in quiet rural areas. However, the Phủ Cam Convent was built on a beautiful piece of land near Phủ Cam Bridge, by the banks of the An Cựu River, which is ‘muddy in the sun and clear in the rain.’ Though it was then still in the outskirts of Hue, its proximity to the city center made it difficult to avoid disturbances from urban life. This became especially problematic after the railway was built, running right next to the convent, causing excessive noise and vibrations beyond what a convent—meant to be a place of peace—could endure. As a result, Bishop Eugène-Marie Joseph Allys Lý (1852–1936) permitted the relocation of the convent to the area behind Phủ Cam Church a convent belonging to the Lovers of the Holy Cross, located in Phủ Cam”^[18]. The Phủ Cam Convent continues to exist to this day.

2.3. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Dương Sơn

In 1828, Missionary Priest François Jaccard Phan (1799–1838) was invited by King Minh Mạng to the imperial capital to serve as an interpreter for the king. Later, he requested permission to reside in Dương Sơn, about 12 km from Hue. At that time, Bishop Jean Louis Taberd Từ (1794–1840) in Saigon appointed Father Jaccard Phan as the Vicar General of the imperial capital’s Catholic community. After consulting with Bishop Taberd Từ, Father Jaccard Phan dissolved and closed An Ninh Seminary to establish a new seminary in Dương Sơn in 1829. At the same time, he transferred the Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters of Di Loan, who had been serving at An Ninh Seminary, to continue their mission at the new seminary. Subsequently, around 1829, during the reign of King Minh Mạng, Father Jaccard Phan founded the Dương Sơn Convent^[19]. According to Missionary Priests P. Guillot Cao and A. Chapuis Châu, the Sisters living at the Dương Sơn Convent in 1840—ten years after its construction—confirmed that Father Jaccard Phan had established the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Dương Sơn ^[20].

The Dương Sơn Convent was temporarily dissolved due to a legal dispute between Dương Sơn and Cổ Lão villages in 1831^[21]. A few years later, it was re-established, and although the persecution under Emperor Minh Mạng lasted nearly eight years (1833–1840), the convents remained relatively undisturbed. According to historians, this was because “the external appearance of the Sisters did not differ from that of laywomen; their convents had no strict enclosure, and people were free to come and go with the permission of the Sister Superior. The Sisters also worked in the fields and gardens, sold herbal medicine, and practiced weaving, embroidery, and sewing, so they were not harassed. Moreover, women were generally not closely watched, and the law imposed the death penalty on anyone who dared to search beneath a woman’s clothing”. As a result, by 1855, Bishop Pellerin Phan reported to the Holy See that there were eight convents in Hue with a total of 300 Sisters. In 1840, at the end of King Minh Mạng’s reign, the Dương Sơn Convent had only 18 Sisters.”[22].

Father Jaccard Phan was martyred on September 21, 1838, in Nhan Biều, Quảng Trị, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on August 19, 1988.

2.4. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Nhu Lý (1885):

Nhu Lý is a parish with a long-standing history in the Diocese of Cochinchina, dating back to the 17th century during the early period of the Jesuit missionaries (1617–1672). It is a fully Catholic parish and was once highly praised by several bishops, including Bishop Longer Gia, Bishop Jean Labartette, and Bishop Étienne Cuenot Théodore Thể (1802–1861). Within this parish, Bishop Jean Labartette established a community of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, likely in the late 18th century.

In 1831, the missionary priest Delamotte Y arrived in Vietnam and stayed at the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent in Nhu Lý. He was deeply committed to strengthening and building up the communities of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters. According to his account, during the period of religious persecution, “all the Sisters from the convents in that region had dispersed. Many returned to their parents’ homes, while only a few of the most resilient, who were also local villagers, remained in the convent to take care of the house. Only the Sisters of Nhu Lý, where I have been residing for quite some time, managed to stand firm—because of my presence. Otherwise, they would likely have shared the same fate as the others…” His presence at Nhu Lý Convent was indeed a great blessing for the community.^[23]

However, in 1839–1840, during King Minh Mạng’s persecution of Christianity, authorities launched a search for the missionary priest Delamotte Y, who was hiding in the Nhu Lý parish and the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent in Nhu Lý. Others were also pursued, including Sister Maria Magdalene Nguyễn Thị Hậu. The Superior of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent in Nhu Lý, Phan Thị Khiêm, who was 93 years old at the time, was summoned to Quảng Trị province for questioning on charges of sheltering a Western missionary. However, she was not executed due to her advanced age.^[24] Sister Maria Magdalene Nguyễn Thị Hậu, on the other hand, became the first recorded martyr of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue on January 30, 1841. Her courage and heroic witness were documented by the Apostolic Vicar: “A student and a servant of the priest (Caldalh), a nun, village leaders (of Nhu Lý), and catechists were arrested and put in shackles. Sister Hậu was then interrogated, and she gave an admirable response to the judge: ‘Even if you cut me into three pieces, I will not be afraid’^[25]. Three years after her death, Bishop Cuenot Thể wrote: ‘The sentence also speaks of the perseverance of Sister Maria Magdalene Hậu… She endured punishment… and she passed away due to the extreme torture and suffering she endured, as I have previously described in my letters.”^[26].

3. The Văn Thân Uprising: The Massacre of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters in Quảng Bình and Quảng Trị (1885–1886)

The Forced Relocation and Seizure campaign under Emperor Tự Đức (1847–1883) claimed the lives of countless Catholics; it was one of the most painful, prolonged, and tragic strategies used against Christians. Particularly between 1856 and 1860, the persecution intensified as Tự Đức took harsh measures to eradicate the faith. Amid this fierce persecution, all the convents were disbanded. In a letter to the priests in 1859, Bishop Joseph Sohier Bình [27] wrote:”…I am constantly grieved and distressed to see the Lovers of the Holy Cross convents throughout the Diocese in ruins and destroyed, with the Sisters forced to disperse and return to their families, living in the midst of the world and facing countless dangers and hardships. For this reason, I urge the priests to care for and support the Sisters so that they may fulfill their duties, preserve their chastity, and continue to set a good example—so that God may be glorified and the holy faith upheld in good repute..”[28]

After the Phân Sáp campaign, the bishop lived for another 14 years. While in Hue, he worked tirelessly to reorganize the affairs of the diocese despite many difficulties. He devoted himself to restoring the Lovers of the Holy Cross convents, both spiritually and materially, after the periods of persecution and suppression. Starting with whatever was possible, he established orphanages in Sáo Bùn (Quảng Bình), Kim Long (Huế), and Thanh Tân (Thừa Thiên), entrusting the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross with their care.

However, the political turmoil between 1883 and 1886 brought even greater tragedy. The Văn Thân and Cần Vương movements, under the slogan “Bình Tây Sát Tả” (“Suppress the West, Kill the Heretics”), brought devastation to the diocese. In 1883, after Emperor Tự Đức passed away, the French seized the Thuận An port. Nguyễn Văn Tường and Tôn Thất Thuyết deployed the Đoàn Kiệt militia to massacre Catholics in Cầu Hai, Nước Ngọt, Truồi, Châu Mới, and Buông Tằm (Thừa Thiên province). This time, the Lovers of the Holy Cross convents were spared. In 1885, Tôn Thất Thuyết ordered an attack on the French stronghold at Mang Cá and the Résidence Supérieure in Hue, but the assault failed. He then fled with Emperor Hàm Nghi (1884–1885) to Tân Sở (Quảng Trị) and launched the Cần Vương movement. From that point on, the Văn Thân and their followers intensified their massacres of Catholics in Dinh Cát (Quảng Trị) and Quảng Bình (1885–1886). Across the Diocese of Hue, 12 priests, over 70 Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, and approximately 8,950 Catholic faithful were killed. Homes, gardens, churches, seminaries, convents, and all Catholic properties were looted and destroyed. In 1885, as the imperial capital fell, Tôn Thất Thuyết took Emperor Hàm Nghi into hiding in Tân Sở (Quảng Trị) and later in Quảng Bình. He then secretly issued an edict to the Văn Thân, urging them to expel the French and exterminate Catholics without mercy.

In September 1885, many Catholic communities in Quảng Trị were burned alive. By January 1886, the same fate befell the Catholics in Quảng Bình. This time, four convents of the Lovers of the Holy Cross—Bố Liêu, Nhu Lý, Di Loan (Quảng Trị), and Mỹ Hương (Quảng Bình)—suffered devastating losses, nearly reduced to ruins[29].

3.1. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Bố Liêu – Quảng Trị was destroyed in 1885.

On September 6, 1885, the Văn Thân forces seized Quảng Trị province and ordered the mass execution of Catholics by fire. Father Huấn, a native of Dương Lệ Văn, served as the parish priest of Bố Liêu and the Superior of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent there. At 6:00 PM on September 6, Father Huấn, along with 40 Sisters and approximately 400 parishioners, fled to An Lộng village for refuge before heading toward the coast to walk to Hue—about 60 km away. They arrived at Thuận An Gate on the evening of September 8 and later met with Bishop Louis Caspar Lộc (1841–1871), who was overseeing the diocese. About 100 parishioners and a few Sisters remained behind. When they heard of the impending massacre, they sought refuge inside the church and locked the doors. On September 7, following the orders of the Văn Thân, surrounding villages joined in besieging the Bố Liêu parish. They destroyed the convent, homes, and gardens, looting everything in sight. The Sisters and parishioners who had taken shelter in the church perished when the attackers set it ablaze. More than a century of faith, growth, and devotion was reduced to ashes. Later, the surviving Sisters rebuilt the convent in another location, in the village of Cổ Vưu. This became the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Cổ Vưu (Trí Bưu).

3.2. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Nhu Lý, Quảng Trị, in 1885[30]

In 1884, the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Nhu Lý had more than 60 Sisters. In 1885, amidst the Văn Thân uprising, the Sisters and nearly 450 parishioners evacuated to Dương Lộc Parish, hoping to escape persecution. On September 7, 1885, the drums sounded continuously in the surrounding villages, and many armed Văn Thân fighters marched toward Nhu Lý, massacring all the remaining Catholics.

At that time, in Dương Lộc, there were four priests, 58 Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Nhu Lý, and over 2,500 nearby parishioners gathered together. The Văn Thân forces arrived in large numbers; in the initial attacks, the Catholics fiercely resisted and emerged victorious. On September 8, however, the Văn Thân returned, now fully armed. The Catholics continued to defend themselves bravely without faltering. In the end, the Văn Thân set fire to the village—houses, fields, and bamboo fortifications went up in flames. The parishioners and Sisters inside the church were burned alive. The Văn Thân forces then stormed in, slaughtering and ravaging for days. When the massacre ended, only a few survivors remained—some wounded, others starving. Bishop Caspar Lộc recounted the courage of Sister Hớn, the Sister Superior of Nhu Lý Convent, and another Sister, her niece, who were not burned alive. A Văn Thân soldier offered to spare Sister Hớn if she followed him, but she rebuked him and refused. Enraged, the soldier forced her and the other Sister to lie among the dead in a large pit, where they were buried alive[31].

3.3. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Di Loan was burned down in 1885

On September 8, 1885, the Văn Thân forces attacked the Di Loan parish multiple times but were repeatedly defeated due to the fierce resistance of the local Catholics. However, Father Chính Đăng ordered a retreat to An Ninh Seminary. The evacuation was rushed, leaving behind everything they owned. The church, the convent, and the homes of the parishioners were all burned down. At the seminary, the elder Sisters prayed alongside the adults and children, while the other Sisters helped cook meals to support the small defense units resisting the Văn Thân forces. Under the wise leadership of the priests, the Catholics held their ground until reinforcements arrived from Hue. The Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Di Loan survived unharmed.

Despite enduring multiple persecutions by the Văn Thân forces, the Di Loan Convent remained in Di Loan, Quảng Trị. In 1954, the convent relocated to La Vang.

3.4. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convents of Mỹ Hương and Kẻ Bàng (Quảng Bình) were burned down in 1886.

In January 1886, the Văn Thân forces suddenly launched a massacre of Catholics in Quảng Bình, forcing the Sisters to flee for their lives while their convent and homes were burned and destroyed. The faithful and the Sisters were taken by Father Héry Y to take temporary refuge near Đồng Hới. In August 1886, the Văn Thân returned to massacre the Catholics of the Sáo Bùn community… Everyone was terrified and fled, just as they had before. That same year, 1886, a resettlement camp was established in Đồng Hới, where the missionary priest Fr. Bonin organized a new parish, which came to be known as Tam Toà. The Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross from Mỹ Hương remained there, and the place later came to be known as the Tam Toà Convent or House of the Lovers of the Holy Cross at Tam Toà^[32].

In early July 1886, the Văn Thân also attacked Sen Bàng parish and the Kẻ Bàng Convent of the Lovers of the Holy Cross. However, thanks to the nearby French military forces, the convent was spared from destruction. After the Văn Thân uprising, only six convents of the Lovers of the Holy Cross remained in the Diocese of Hue: Dương Sơn and Phủ Cam in Thừa Thiên province; Trí Bưu (Cổ Vưu) and Di Loan in Quảng Trị province; and Kẻ Bàng and Tam Tòa in Quảng Bình province.

Today, the parishes of Dương Lộc, Trí Bưu, and Bố Liêu have martyr shrines honoring the ancestors and Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross who perished as powerful witnesses of faith and hope in God. These shrines were built during the time of Bishop Louis Caspar Lộc, following the “Bình Tây Sát Tả” movement.

After the terrifying chaos of the Văn Thân uprising, the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross gradually regained stability. They rebuilt their convents to have a place to live, work, and dedicate themselves to apostolic ministry in response to the call of the Diocese.

Father Léopold Cadière, a historian, documented the life of the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross in the Diocese of Hue at the beginning of the 20th century as follows: “In the northern and southern regions of the mission, there were six convents, with the number of Sisters in each being 61, 69, 73, 72, 45, and 34, totaling 354 Sisters. Their rule was not excessively strict: in the morning, they prayed, meditated, and attended Mass before engaging in manual labor. At midday, they practiced personal reflection. After a short rest, they continued their prayers and resumed their work. In the evening, they recited prayers with deep devotion and gentleness—prayers that were longer than those commonly said by laypeople the work of the Sisters included weaving cotton fabric for the Vietnamese and producing various types of silk, which they sold within their community…”^[33] .

In 1932, in a report sent to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, Bishop Alexandre Chabanon Giáo (1873–1936) wrote beautifully about the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue: “…There are 20 mission sites run by the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross. Though they work in quiet humility, they are very warm, approachable, and joyful. They welcome the sick in their poverty with simplicity and trust in the Heavenly Father, truly living up to their beautiful and profound name, ‘Lovers of the Holy Cross…”^[34].

In 1937, Bishop François Arsène Lemasle Lễ (1874–1946), in his annual report to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, wrote: “Father Cadière, as the Superior of the Đất Đỏ district, also took care of a convent of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, where 12 Sisters were assigned to various schools, and many others were preparing to teach catechism and prayers to children in neighboring parishes. At the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent in Di Loan, Father Cadière established a silk-weaving workshop, which became highly sought after in both European and Vietnamese markets”^[35].

4. The Southward Migration of 1954

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Lovers of the Holy Cross convents gradually rebuilt their houses. Although they were still made of thatched roofs and earthen walls, they were more solid and well-structured. From 1908 to 1931, under the administration of Bishop Allys, the diocese experienced its most glorious period after years of persecution. The Lovers of the Holy Cross convents also progressed along with this development. Missionary, educational, and social programs received greater attention. The missionary priests serving as superiors of the convents implemented reforms and provided instruction to help the Sisters meet urgent needs.

In July 1954, war broke out again. The country was divided at the 17th parallel, with the Bến Hải River in Quảng Trị Province serving as the boundary. The Diocese of Hue, which included the provinces of Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, and Thừa Thiên, was split into North and South along the Bến Hải River. The Catholic communities north of the Hiền Lương Bridge migrated south, along with the Lovers of the Holy Cross convents of Kẻ Bàng, Tam Tòa (Quảng Bình), and Di Loan (Quảng Trị). However, they did not move far but remained within the territory of the Diocese of Hue. The Sisters left behind everything they had built for over half a century. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Di Loan relocated to the Marian Shrine of La Vang (Quảng Trị), while the Tam Tòa Convent moved to Thanh Tân (Thừa Thiên), and the Kẻ Bàng Convent settled in Truồi (Thừa Thiên). By 1965, only 15 Sisters remained in Kẻ Bàng, as most had merged with the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent of Phủ Cam. The convents that migrated south of the Bến Hải River (Hiền Lương) began a new journey in a new land. They remained independent both spiritually and materially, each having its own superior.

From 1956 to 1968, life gradually stabilized. Most of the convents reduced their involvement in manual labor such as farming and weaving, shifting instead to new missions. These included managing and teaching at schools from elementary to secondary levels, serving in hospitals and clinics, and engaging in pastoral work such as catechism instruction, assisting religious organizations, and missionary activities. Many Sisters pursued further education through courses provided by the Ministry of Education to obtain higher qualifications and keep up with societal advancements.

5. The Renewal and Unification Effort

Having grown in grace through many historical upheavals, the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue now stand like a great river, formed by the streams of the various Lovers of the Holy Cross convents within the Diocese.

In 1961, Bishop Pierre Martin Ngô Đình Thục was appointed Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hue. He initiated the renewal and unification of the Lovers of the Holy Cross convents in the Diocese into a single Congregation under the name The Missionary Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue. The Congregation’s Charter was officially approved by Pope John XXIII on June 5, 1962.

In 1962, Archbishop Philip Nguyễn Kim Điền continued the work of his predecessor. Along with Father Joseph Trần Văn Tường and the Augustinian Sisters in Đà Lạt, he facilitated the formation of some Sisters from the Missionary Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue in the areas of spirituality, religious vows, and renewal, under the guidance of the Augustinian Sisters. On June 7, 1965, eight Sisters made their solemn profession according to Canon Law. On June 3, 1967, the Congregation held its first General Chapter. The Superior of the Congregation was given the title Superior General of the Unified Lovers of the Holy Cross, and the General Council included the five Superiors of the former convents.

In its early years, the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue faced numerous challenges, both spiritually and materially. Yet, amid these trials, God’s providence and love guided the Congregation forward in His divine plan.

II. THE PROCESS OF GROWTH AND MATURITY

1. Development

As previously presented, the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue faced inevitable difficulties throughout its formation and development. Following the reformation and unification of the five convents in the three central provinces, the Congregation endured many hardships and challenges. Although it is one of the oldest religious congregations in the ancient imperial city of Huế (founded in 1719), events such as the southward migration in 1954, the Tết Offensive of 1968, the “Red Summer” of 1972, and the major upheaval of 1975 served as moments of purification according to God’s providential plan, leading the Sisters to unfamiliar and distant lands.

In 1972, and especially in 1975, most of the Sisters relocated to the South to continue their apostolic mission, forming various communities in Phan Thiết, Xuân Lộc, and Cam Ranh. Most of the Sisters originally from Tam Tòa moved to Bình Tuy, and in 1983, they established a new congregation: the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Phan Thiết. Meanwhile, the communities in the Hue – Xuân Lộc region later became the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Bà Rịa in 2008. These two congregations have flourished alongside the 24 other Lovers of the Holy Cross congregations in Vietnam. Additionally, the Sisters in Cam Ranh have expanded their presence within Khánh Hòa province.

Currently, the Diocese of Nha Trang has nine communities of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue. Additionally, the Sisters who served in Vientiane (Laos) from 1962 to 1975 later evacuated abroad along with the local people, establishing the first overseas communities of the Lovers of the Holy Cross. These became the foundations of the communities in France and Italy.

2. PERSONNEL

Through the various historical periods of the country, the Lovers of the Holy Cross had to endure hardships and overcome many challenges to survive. The number of members fluctuated—sometimes increasing, sometimes decreasing, sometimes united, sometimes scattered—depending on the country’s political upheavals and persecutions. During difficult times, the Sisters lived in silence, went into hiding, or returned to their families. When peace was restored, they returned and brought with them many generous souls dedicating their lives to God.

According to the 2016-2017 statistics, the Congregation had 349 perpetually professed Sisters, 101 temporarily professed Sisters, 26 novices, 13 postulants, and 80 aspirants.

3. Facilities

– Mother House:

Adress  : 113 Tran Phu Street, Hue city

Tel        :  (023) 43824594

Email   : huemtg@gmail.com

– Communities: The Congregation has 67 communities serving in four dioceses in Vietnam: Huế (40), Đà Nẵng (4), Nha Trang (9), Sài Gòn (5); and in three dioceses abroad: France (4), Italy (4), and the United States (1).

4. Apostolic Activities

Committed to the local Church in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel, the Sisters actively engage in pastoral activities at parishes: teaching catechism at various levels, instructing catechumens, preparing couples for marriage, leading choirs, and organizing charity classes. They also serve at the Bishop’s House and assist pilgrims at the La Vang Marian Shrine. Additionally, the Congregation participates in educational and social services: operating daycare centers and kindergartens, providing tutoring, caring for orphans, children with disabilities, and ethnic minorities; offering medical check-ups and distributing medicine to the visually impaired; running projects to support poor students in rural areas; sponsoring and providing financial aid for associations of the blind; sheltering and supporting young women with unexpected pregnancies; and prepare and distribute free porridge to poor and hospitalized patients in Đông Hà, Quảng Trị.

Currently, the Congregation operates three centers for orphans and children with disabilities:
• Mái ấm Hy Vọng Nguyệt Biều (Nguyệt Biều Hope Shelter), 560 Bùi Thị Xuân, Thủy Biều, Hue City.
• Mái ấm Tình Thương Lâm Bích (Lambert Charity Shelter), Quarter 10, Ward 5, Đông Hà City, Quảng Trị Province.
• Hơi Ấm Thừa Sai (Missionary Warmth Shelter) – Hòa Yên Community, Cam Đức, Khánh Hòa Province.
• Additionally, the Congregation runs a free boarding house for ethnic minority children.
• The Congregation also dedicates a house at the Nguyệt Biều facility to support young women facing unintended pregnancies.

With fervent prayers in the chapel for the Church and souls, and with love for Jesus, the Sisters humbly and silently serve society and the local Church as the extended hands of the Crucified Lord.

5. Significant Events of the Congregation

            5.1. The Unification Day of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Monasteries in the Diocese of Hue

– 1962: Approval of the Constitutions.

– June 7, 1965: Transition from private vows to canonical vows during the Profession Mass in Đà Lạt.

– June 3, 1967: The first General Chapter of the newly renewed and unified Congregation.

            5.2. Renaming the Lovers of the Holy Cross Missionary Congregation of Hue to the Lovers of the Holy Cross Congregation of Hue

During the renewal and unification of religious congregations in accordance with the teachings of the Church, Archbishop Pierre-Martin Ngô Đình Thục named it the Lovers of the Holy Cross Missionary Congregation of Hue. In 1990, together with the seven Lovers of the Holy Cross congregations of the Archdiocese of Saigon, the congregation adopted a new Constitution. The Lovers of the Holy Cross Missionary Congregation of Huế shares the same Founder, the same spirituality, and a history deeply rooted in the life of the Vietnamese Church for over 300 years, just like all other Lovers of the Holy Cross congregations. Therefore, after a process of study, reflection, and in a spirit of unity with the other congregations bearing the name “Lovers of the Holy Cross,” the Sisters agreed to change the name from “the Lovers of the Holy Cross Missionary Congregation of Huế” to “the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Huế”.

            5.3. Approval of the Constitution

After a ten-year trial period (1990–2000), on September 14, 2000, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Archbishop Stéphane Nguyễn Như Thể officially approved the Constitution of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue.

The Archbishop wrote: “Now, in accordance with Canon 595 of the Code of Canon Law, I hereby issue a decree officially approving the renewed Constitution of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue, which was ratified by the Congregation on March 30, 2000, as per the official document submitted by Superior General Agatha Võ Thị Trúc, and preserved in the archives of the Archbishop’s Office of Hue.”

“I declare that all previous Constitutions shall cease to be effective from the date on which this renewed Constitution, approved by my decree, is promulgated by the Superior General.

Issued at the Archbishop’s Office of Hue, on September 14, 2000.
Stéphane Nguyễn Như Thể
(Signed and sealed)   

  5.3.  Establishment of Two New Lovers of the Holy Cross Congregations from the Hue Congregation

By God’s grace, the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue has given rise to two new congregations in two dioceses:

• The Lovers of the Holy Cross of Phan Thiet, established in 1983.
• The Lovers of the Holy Cross of Ba Ria, established in 2008.

III. RETURN TO THE ROOTS

In 1970, in communion with the 14 Lovers of the Holy Cross Congregations of Southern Vietnam celebrating the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the Lovers of the Holy Cross in Vietnam, the Lovers of the Holy Cross Missionary Congregation of Hue held a grand three-day commemoration in mid-July 1971. On this occasion, Archbishop Philipphê Nguyễn Kim Điền, together with several priests, concelebrated the Holy Mass at Thợ Đúc, on the land where the former Lovers of the Holy Cross Phước Viện of Thợ Đúc once stood. Another concelebrated Mass followed at Phủ Cam Cathedral, accompanied by a cultural performance, an exhibition, and a celebratory banquet.

Since the establishment of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Spirituality Research Group, the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue have had the opportunity to receive, study, and explore the rich heritage of the Congregation through the writings of Bishop Pierre Lambert. They have actively participated in ongoing formation courses organized by the Inter-Congregational Assembly of the Lovers of the Holy Cross. In this journey of rediscovering their origins and their Founder, the Sisters of Hue joyfully embraced the new Constitution, along with the seven Lovers of the Holy Cross Congregations of the Archdiocese of Saigon (1990), for trial implementation and adaptation.

1. NOTABLE FIGURES OF THE LOVERS OF THE HOLY CROSS OF HUE

Sister Maria Magdalene Nguyễn Thị Hậu (1814–1841)[36]

CONCLUSION

“The Lord’s love endures forever” (Psalm 117)

As we close this page of grace-filled history, we, the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Huế, offer our heartfelt thanksgiving to God. May God, Our Lady of La Vang, and the Vietnamese Martyrs pour down abundant blessings upon all our benefactors, both living and deceased. In the spirit of love and in the continuous flow of the spirituality of the Lovers of the Holy Cross—lived and cultivated through generations of Sisters on this beloved homeland, within the heart of the Archdiocese of Huế, with both sweat and even blood—we now entrust everything and unite ourselves in the Love of Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen, forever and ever. Alleluia!

_________________________________________________________

[1] ADRIEN LAUNAY, Histoire de la Mission de Cochinchine, 1658-1823, Documents Historiques, II, op. cit., p. 39.

[2] Ibid., p. 41.

[3] Ibid., p. 89.

[4] Ibid., p. 257.

[5] See ĐINH THỰC, Les Sœurs Amantes de la Croix au Vietnam – Các Nữ Tu Mến Thánh Giá Tại Việt Nam, op. cit., p. 66.

[6] The two female religious institutes mentioned here are the Phước Viện Mến Thánh Giá Thợ Đúc and another Phước Viện in Di Loan, founded by Bishop Labartette in 1780 (See ADRIEN LAUNAY, Histoire de la Mission de Cochinchine, III, p. 148 [Letter from Bishop Labartette to Father Boiret, March 22, 1787]). See also ĐINH THỰC, Les Sœurs Amantes de la Croix au Vietnam – Các Nữ Tu Mến Thánh Giá Tại Việt Nam, op. cit., p. 75.

[7] NGUYỄN VĂN NGỌC, History of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convents in the Diocese of Hue (Lịch Sử Các Phước Viện Chị Em Mến Thánh Giá Địa Phận Hue), op. cit., p. 17.

[8] See Missionary Directory, no. XI “LXIII” 208; see also ĐINH THỰC, Les Soeurs Amantes de la Croix au Vietnam – Các Nữ Tu Mến Thánh Giá Tại Việt Nam, op. cit., p. 95.

[9] See Documents in the Tradition Room of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue Congregation.

[10] NGUYỄN VĂN NGỌC, History of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convents in the Diocese of Hue, p. 17.

[11] See ADRIEN LAUNAY, Histoire de la Mission du Tonkin 1658-1717: Documents Historiques, I, op. cit., pp. 147, 149.

[12] ADRIEN LAUNAY, Histoire de la Mission de Cochinchine, III, op. cit., p. 147; ĐINH THỰC, Les Soeurs Amantes de la Croix au Vietnam – Các Nữ Tu Mến Thánh Giá Tại Việt Nam, op. cit., pp. 68-69.

[13] See Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue, in 150th Anniversary Yearbook of the Archdiocese of Hue, Hue, 2000, pp. 1-2.

[14] NGUYỄN VĂN NGỌC, History of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convents in the Diocese of Hue, op. cit., p. 19.

[15] Father Labartette was chosen by the Holy See as Coadjutor Bishop to Bishop Pigneau de Behaine in 1784, but he was not consecrated until 1793.

[16] NGUYỄN VĂN NGỌC, History of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convents in the Diocese of Hue, op. cit., pp. 19-20.

[17] Ibid.

[18] TRẦN QUANG CHU, “Phu Cam Monastery” in Pilgrimage of the Diocese, II, pp. 351-352.

[19] See Journal of the Propagation of the Faith, Vol. VI, p. 433.

[20] See L. Grochet, Vie du vénérable F. Jaccard, 1875, pp. 107-117.

[21] See TRẦN QUANG CHU, “Tu Viện Dương Sơn” in Hành Hương Giáo Phận, II, p. 30.

[22] NGUYỄN VĂN NGỌC, Lịch Sử Các Phước Viện Chị Em Mến Thánh Giá Địa Phận Hue, op. cit., p. 27.

[23] See: ĐÀO QUANG TOẢN, Nữ Tu Nguyễn Thị Hậu, Toulouse, 2000, pp. 3-4.

[24] See: Ibid., p. 18.

[25] Pontifical Missionary Annual Report, XL (LXVI), 556; ĐINH THỰC, Les Soeurs Amantes de la Croix au Vietnam – Các Nữ Tu Mến Thánh Giá Tại Việt Nam, op. cit., p. 96.

[26] AMEP, vol. 749, p. 995, n^o 20.

[27] Vicar General Joseph Sohier Bình (1818-1876) oversaw the Di Loan parish and was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop to Bishop François Phan in Cochinchina on August 17, 1851 (see Sacré Mgr. Sohier: Bulletin M.E., 1937, p. 162).

[28] See Journal of the Propagation of the Faith, volumes 30 and 32.

[29] See JABOUILLE, “A Page of Blood and Tears,” in History of Quảng Trị Province in September 1885, Trung Hòa Printing House, Hanoi, Trung Hòa, 1941.

[30] See JABOUILLE, “A Page of Blood and Tears,” op. cit., pp. 28-31.

[31] See NGUYỄN VĂN NGỌC, History of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Convents in the Diocese of Hue, op. cit., pp. 46-49.

[32] See Compte Rendu de Hué en 1886, pp. 103-105; R. HÉRY, MAP de Hué 1854-1905.

[33] M.L. CADIÈRE, Mission Apostolique, in Revue: Annales des Missions Étrangères, I, 1911, p. 24. (Some documents from the missionaries of the Paris Foreign Missions Society, useful for studying the history of the Archdiocese of Hue, Vol. I, p. 24).

[34] ALEXANDRE CHABANON (1873-1936), Rapport annuel des Évêques, Hue, 1932, pp. 4-5.

[35] F.A. LEMASLE, Rapport annuel des Évêques, Hue, 1937, pp. 2-7.

[36] See Part I, Chapter V: The Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters – Witnesses of Faith.