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Cardinal Tagle: A martyr helps a confused world discover Jesus’ truth

July 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, presides over the beatification Mass of Fr. Francis Xavier Trương Bửu Diệp, a Vietnamese priest who dedicated his life to his flock and was killed in the aftermath of the Second World War.

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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Даниела Димитрова

As St. Clement taught in the monastery of Saint Clement in Sofia, this priest also served his congregation. I regret that we do not have so many martyrs of this century in Bulgaria, but his history teaches us to love our municipality like him.

Тодор Кирилов

In Plovdiv, in the church of Saints Peter and Paul, we sing the same hymns as those in Vietnam. We have a choir as well as he, but we have not heard of martyrs from our choir as you have.

Стефан Марков

The Varna church "St. Nicholas" near the harbor sings the same hymns as in Plovdiv. My son told us in Sunday school about St. Efimius of the Rhodopes, who was martyred near Koprivshtitsa. Do you have such stories about Plovdiv?

Alexander Wright

We still sing those same hymns at St. Nicholas on North Central Expressway. My grandson's in the youth choir there now, just like the one in Plovdiv.

Дарья Морозова

Yesterday in the Church of St. Nicholas on Krasnaya Street they sang in choir before the holiday, as Stefan said about Varna. And here in Kazan the choir is not yet ready for the holiday, but is already training.

Румяна Петрова

Yes, Father Truong Buu Diep did stand by his people to the end, like St. Clement. I wonder, Daniela, if you read exactly how he died - in a boat after being betrayed. Perhaps we are missing just such examples in our parishes now.

Росица Петрова

Yes, the hymns really are the same everywhere - I'm glad your son brings them home from Sunday school. About Plovdiv, I know the story of St. Vissarion of Smolensk, who was martyred right here in the 19th century, near us in the center. Did you go with the children to Koprivshtitsa to see the place of St. Efimius?

Николай Христов

Yes, Rumyana, that's exactly what struck me about the boat and the betrayal - the man could have gone into hiding and stayed with his flock. It looks like St. Clement, as you say. I wonder if we would have such an example in our parish recently?

Десислава Николова

Nikolai, the boat stuck in my mind too – the man could have escaped, but instead he waited with his men. I don't think of such an example in our parish recently, but my grandmother told me about Father Dimitar from the 50s, who did not renounce his service, even though he was pressured. And what do you think, would we last today?

Борис Петров

Desislava, it was the boat and waiting with the people that impressed me the most. Your grandmother is right about Father Dimitar - such examples from the 1950s are rare today. I wonder if in our parish we would endure even less, such as not bowing to a boss or a neighbor who pressures us for a trifle. And what do you think is hindering us the most now?

Петя Попова

Boris, you are exactly right about this "trifle" - the boat and waiting with people are the big test, and we also bow to an angry neighbor. What hinders me the most is the fear of looking "old fashioned" in front of the children and grandchildren. And you in the parish, have you seen anyone resist such quiet pressure lately?

Емил Атанасов

Petya, that's right - the fear of not looking "old fashioned" in front of young people is a big trap. In our parish, two years ago, a grandmother stopped going to evening prayer because her grandchildren laughed at her for "still lighting candles." Then he regretted it. And what do you do when your kids throw something like that at you?

Надежда Тодорова

Boris, precisely the "trifle" with the boss or the neighbor is the most insidious, because it seems harmless. In our store, I often bend over backwards to avoid losing a customer, and then I get angry with myself. What would you personally do if someone in your parish asked you to miss Sunday Mass because of "more important" work?

Тодор Кирилов

Petya, the fear of not looking "old fashioned" in front of the grandchildren is really insidious, especially when the boat is rocked every day by little things like an angry neighbor. In our parish last year, a father stopped taking the children to Mass because they told him that "all normal people sleep on Sundays." Then he came back, but it took him a while. How exactly do you handle it when that quiet pressure comes from your own children?

Георги Колев

Boris, exactly about this "trifle" with the boss or the neighbor, you are right - I myself hesitated whether to keep my mouth shut in order not to lose an order as an electrician. What hinders us the most is that we are used to looking for comfort instead of peace of conscience. What would you say to your daughter if such a silent crush happened to her in college?

Методи Попов

Georgi, you are right that it is precisely these "trifles" that test us the most. I would tell my daughter not to be silent if they make her feel guilty - better to lose a grade or an order than to carry a burden on her conscience. But then we have to support her, because it's not easy. What did you end up choosing with that order?

Методи Атанасов

You are right, Nadezhda, it is precisely these "trifles" with the boss or the client that test us the most. I personally would refuse to miss Sunday mass - I once clearly told a parishioner that work could wait until Monday, because without mass I myself am weaker. And what did you say to the client when he bowed the last time?

Мариана Тодорова

Boris, I agree with you, Nadezhda, it is precisely these small compromises in the store or in the parish that wear us out the most. Personally, I would try to calmly explain that Sunday Mass is not "less important" and then suggest that we do the work on Saturday afternoon. And what did you answer him in the end?

Росица Стефанова

Mariana, that's right - these little compromises in the store or in the parish wear us out the most. I told Boris that I would come on Saturday afternoon to help him with the arrangement, but the Sunday liturgy remains in the first place. And what have you been baking lately, something sweet for the grandchildren?

Николай Атанасов

Methods, that's right - the boss or the client often puts us to the test right on Sunday. I am a salesperson and last month I refused to stay late in the store because I had a game with the youth group guys after the service. And how do you feel now that you've told the parishioner clearly?

Богдана Петрова

Nikolay, you did well to say no - I was also on shift at the hospital on Sunday and I know how hard it is to say no. The match with the boys obviously gave you strength to resist. And how did your boss react afterwards, wasn't he offended?

Мариана Попова

Georgi, that's right - convenience eats away at our peace of mind, especially when the order is on the table. I would tell my daughter that if she is silent now, she will be silent about bigger things later, and that is like closing the door to God. What did you choose in the end with that boss or the neighbor?

Красимира Василева

Mariana, you are right about the daughter - silence accumulates like dust in the corner and then it is difficult to clean. I keep telling my son the same thing, especially when someone is bullying him at school. And I finally chose to talk to the boss, albeit quietly - and thank God, it didn't happen again. What would you do if you were me?

Васил Стефанов

Metodi, thanks for mentioning your daughter - that's right, the support afterwards is the most important thing. I finally gave up on that order, even though I lost money. My conscience is lighter now, but my wife still tells me about the garden tools we didn't buy. And what would you do if your daughter came home crying from school?

Мариана Петкова

Vasil, it's good that you listened to your conscience, money comes and goes. If my daughter came home from school in tears, I would first hug her and let her talk without interrupting. Then we will see what exactly happened - sometimes the children exaggerate, other times there really is a need for intervention. And what do you do in such cases?

Росица Петрова

Mariana, I agree with you - conscience cannot be bought with money. If my grandson comes home upset from school, I first make him warm tea with honey and let him talk until he calms down. And then I ask him calmly: "Tell me exactly what happened without adding." Do you and your daughter manage to understand when she is exaggerating?

Атанас Ангелов

Mariana, that's right - conscience is more important than money. I do the same with my two children, but then I make them tell me everything in order so that we don't get confused. And what do you do if it turns out that the teacher was really wrong?

Елена Петкова

Krasimira, it's good that you talked to the boss, albeit quietly - sometimes that's how the corner is cleared before the dust gets too much. You have the right to repeat to your son, especially in the case of bullying at school, because silence weighs later. I tell my children to speak right now, not to wait - what exactly did you repeat to your son the last time?

Иванка Иванова

Mariana, that's right - a hug and silence are the most important things first. My son and I, when he would come home from school upset, would make him pancakes with jam while he was telling me, and then we would decide together if I should talk to the teacher. And did you and your daughter manage to understand when she really needs intervention at school?

Богдана Николова

Athanasius, I agree that conscience is above all, especially when it comes to children. I do the same with my son - I listen to him, then have him describe the incident to me step by step while we have tea after school. If it turns out that the teacher is really wrong, I usually go talk to him in person before making a fuss. What would you do in that case?

Николай Костов

Bohdana, I also agree that you should first listen to the child calmly, without exploding. My daughter and I do the same thing – after a Levski match, we sit down to eat a pie and she tells me what happened at school. If the teacher was wrong, I would personally go and talk to him, but if he didn't get it right, then already to the principal. Did you try talking to the class teacher before you got to the principal?

Мариана Тодорова

Nikolay, that's right - first calmness and listening, then action. With us, after Sunday Mass, we often sit down at the table and talk instead of arguing. You mentioned Levski - my son is keen too, but the pie after the game sounds like a good tradition, I'll try it.