1 Layman, 4 lay women 2 religious
Thailand, formerly known aw Siam has had Catholic missionaries for over 350 years. Although most of the population is Buddhist, the country had traditionally been tolerant of other religious. All this changed in the 1930' and 1940'sas the fierce nationalist that swept over Germany and Japan also affected the Thai government. The Thai government believed that national unity was best achieved by expelling foreign missionaries and persecuting Thai people who followed the 'foreign' religions.
The seven martyrs all came from Songkhon, near the Mekong River. Trouble in the village began in 1940 when government officials expelled the parish priest. Next they began to intimidate and threaten the Catholic villagers, demanding that they renounce their faith. Although they were frightened, the villagers refused. Philip Siphong, a catechist and two Sisters of the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cress, Sister Agnes and Sister Lucia encouraged the villagers.
Philip received a letter requesting his presence in a near by town to meet with officials. Many of the villagers warned him not to go. They feared if was a trap. Their fears were correct. On December 16, 1940, Philip set out with a police escort for the meeting. Once he was inside a forest, the police executed him.
The government hoped that Philips death would end the resistance. They were mistaken. The children continued to attend school, the sisters and their helpers continued encouraging one anther to be strong and steadfast during this persecution.
The government continued to harass the villagers. On Christmas Date 1940 the situation came to a head. The chief of police came to the convent and threatened the sisters with death if they would not stop teaching about the Catholic faith. Sister Agnes boldly stood up to his threats. In the evening, the sisters sent a letter to the police stating their willingness to die for their faith. They also, in true Christian fashion, forgave their persecutors.
On December 26, the police arrived at the convent and arrested the six people who were staying there: Sister Agnes, Sister Lucia, the cook Agatha, Cecilia Butis, Bibiana and Maria. Sister Agnes, 31 years old was the oldest of the group. Maria Phorn,14 years old, was the youngest. The police marched them to the village cemetery.
The small group encouraged one another by singing hymns and praying. The police fired into the group and then left, convinced that they had killed the Catholics. The villagers, who had been watching the scene in hiding rushed to see if anyone was still alive. Sister Agnes and Maria Phorn were still breathing. Sister Agnes told the villagers to send for the police as she was not yet dead. Hearing that some of the Catholics were still alive, the police returned to the cemetery and killed the wounded victims.
The villagers buried the bodies and continued to endure another four years of persecution. Eventually, the persecution ended and the Catholic Church in Thailand began to grow. The seven martyrs were beatified on October 22, 1989 by Pope John Paul II.
For more information see:
Heroic Catholic of the Twentieth Century
By Sister Elizabeth Ann Barkett SJW
New Hope Publications
New Hope, Ky.
Or
Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker
Walton Ky
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