A Vietnamese Moses

What is it about?

The book is a biography of a Vietnamese Jesuit priest, Father Philiphe Binh, who is sent by his community of Christians in Tonkin to Portugal to request its ruler to send a bishop to serve northern Viet Nam. The book is based on Father Binh's extensive journals and writings, and situates his life within the wider context of global Catholic geographies. I argue that his life and mission were profoundly shaped by the contours of Catholic missionary and ecclesiastical geographical divisions. The book traces Father Binh's spiritual growth, his journey from Tonkin to Macao and Lisbon, and then his nearly 40 years in Portugal as a Vietnamese diasporic individual.

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Why is it important?

This is an extremely rare biography of a pre-20th century Vietnamese historical figure based on a unique archival literature. It is also a rare opportunity to see Europe and European church politics through the eyes of an Asian Christian, particularly in this early period. It shows Vietnamese Catholic agency, that they were engaged in global Catholic politics, rather than simply being marginal players or victims. It makes personal what is often abstract, the spread and impact of a global religious movement.