Autobiography

by Marcel Van, Cardinal F-X Nguyên Van Thuân (Preface)

The Autobiography is the first volume of the Complete Works of Marcel Van’s authentic writings. Following the request of his spiritual director, Father Boucher (1907-1991), Marcel Van wrote the story of his life on 900 small notebook pages. Father Boucher will later dedicate more than twenty years to translating all of his written works, and will proceed with the first steps towards his beatification. The diocesan phase of the process was begun at Ars, in France, March 26th 1997. This first volume of the Complete Works of Marcel Van was published as a response to St. John Paul II’s request that the memory of the witnesses and martyrs of the faith of the twentieth century be recorded and preserved. This book enables us to see the life, spiritual progress and deep faith of this « hidden apostle of love, » whose path was strewn with obstacles from his earliest years. We learn that on Christmas day 1940 he discovered the mission that he was to carry out in the « To change suffering into happiness. »

Genres: Catholic

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Also known as Marcel Nguyễn Tân Văn.

He was a Redemptorist Brother.

Reviews

[Robert_Caritas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was suggested to me by a Benedictine monk. It is the autobiography of Brother Marcel Van, which he wrote under obedience to his religious superior, who had noticed that he had had an unusual and exceptional youth. His early life was filled with great trials, but also with great joys and closeness with God. Van’s life is one from which there is much to learn.

His greatest strengths are possibly his simplicity, humility, and trust in God, and his life shows that these can go a long way! I have found him an inspiration in many aspects of life. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the lives of twentieth century Catholic saints (though Van is officially a servant of God as of February 2016).

[Ana Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, those who live un a humble way and give themselves fully to God can teach us so much about God’s love and the way we can become saints in our daily life.