Editor’s Note: The recent floods in Việt Nam struck hardest in what was once Phú Yên Province, which is now incorporated into the newly formed Đắk Lắk Province. Four centuries ago, in July 1625, this very land gave birth to the country’s first Catholic martyr, Chân phước Anrê Phú Yên (Blessed Andrew of Phú Yên). His steadfast courage and unwavering faith have echoed across generations. Today, they stand as a profound source of strength and inspiration for the people of Phú Yên as they confront the devastation brought by the latest storms and rising waters.

In 17th-century Việt Nam, a figure was born who would cast a bright light, though tinged with the sorrow of youthful martyrdom, on the history of the Asian Catholic Church. Chân phước Anrê Phú Yên (Blessed Andrew Phú Yên, 1625–1644), known as the “protomartyr of Việt Nam,” represents not only the first blood shed for the faith in that nation. He remains an enduring symbol of how a young person can respond to Christ’s love with total dedication, even unto the sacrifice of life.