Here you are : » Saint Augustine Schoeffler » Biography

Biography

Augustine Schoeffler was born on 22 November 1822 in Mittelbronn (diocese of Nancy), in Lorraine. At the time, this region was part of Germany; it is now Dept. 54, Meurthe-et-Moselle of France.

Back | Print

Augustine pursued his studies in the town school, at the minor seminary of Pontà-Mousson, the college of Phalsbourg, and the Major Seminary of Nancy. His father opposed his attendance at the seminary and died before his son’s ordination. It is saidthat his three sisters and one aunt did nothing to enhance the good name of the family. On the other hand, he had an uncle who was a priest, but died before him. Augustine made profession in the Third Order of St. Dominic on 15 July 1846. Augustine joined the Paris Society of Foreign Mission in 1846, was ordained priest in 1847, and was sent to Vietnam later that year. He had a pleasant disposition and was eager for active work, and moreover showed a great facility with language. He first preached in Hong Kong and then in the Vietnamese province of Sudoa, then in the Christian areaof Bono. During his early months in Vietnam, he endured recurrent fevers which hampered his activities. It was in Bau-No that he was betrayed to soldiers who, as part of a general persecution, were hunting Christians. His brief labors in the missionfield culminated in his arrest and beheading on 1 May 1851, at Son Tay, Vietnam. Augustine’s letters home were, for the most part, not spiritual but rather material, familial, practical — especially those to one of his aunts. These latter letters betrayed asomewhat bitter flavor. As for the quality of his writing, he himself willingly confessed weaknesses in grammar, punctuation and style. He often ran his words together and was very parsimonious in using commas, yet very profligate with exclamation points.During his imprisonment, Augustine was able to receive letters; but unlike some of his co-workers, he had no opportunity to write. He considered himself a simple footsoldierin the work of spreading the faith. Yet he showed great zeal in his ministry. As a soldier, always anticipating death on the battle field, he awaitied the “small blow of the saber” which would mark the end of his short period of service. Surprisingly enough, nobiography of the saint has yet been written [2000]; a professor at the University of Strasbourg is said to be working on one. In the meantime, Augustine’s letters provide what little we know about his life, activity, and spiritual development. Augustine was beatified in Rome on 27 May 1900 by Pope Leo XIII and wascanonized also in Rome on 19 June 1988 by Pope John-Paul III. His feast is celebrated on 24 November, the collective feast of 117 Martyrs of Vietnam — a small portion of the thousands known and unknown.
Haut de page Haut de page