True Faith

This week, I achieved a long term wish of visiting the Shrine of the Seven Thai Martyrs in Songkhon, Mukdahan Province.  I shared the pilgrimage with two good friends, Tony and Om.  There, I discovered a peaceful, powerful, beautiful spot by the Mekong.  It is a very special places which just oozes spirituality.  Here is their story as given at the shrine.     

The Seven Blessed Martyrs of Songkhon 

 In 1940, Thailand was at war with their Indo-China neighbours.  To achieve unity on the home front, the government expelled all foreign missionaries and sought to pressure its Catholics into apostasy.  The persecution was really strong, especially at Songkhon, a Catholic village in Mukdahan Province, of the Mission of Tharae-Nongseng.   

 Living in Songkhon were two Sisters of the Congregation of the Lovers of the Cross.  They were Sister Agnes and Sister Lucia.  They, together with an excellent catechist, Philip Siphong, were the leaders of their faith community as their pastor had been ordered out on 29^th November, 1940. 

Philip Siphong, a married man with five children, gave moral and spiritual support by speaking words of encouragement and strengthening the faith.  The policemen decided to frighten the other parishioners into submission by executing him.  On 16^th December, 1940, they took him outside the village and shot him dead.  So Philip Siphong died for his faith and became the first of the Seven Blessed Martyrs.  His death strengthened, rather than weakened, the faith of the parishioners. 

On 23^rd December, 1940, one of the policemen ordered the Catholics to assemble in front of the church.  He told then that he been ordered to suppress Christianity.  Therefore, he gave them a choice between apostasy and death.  At that moment, Cecilia Butsi, 16 years old, spoke out – “We die only one time for the faith.  I am not afraid.”  She was ready to accept death.  The policeman did not seem to hear her. 

On Christmas night, Sister Agnes wrote a letter in her own name and in the name of all who resided in the convent, declaring they would rather die than abandon their faith.  In the note, she prayed, “We ask to be your witnesses, O Lord, our God.”  Sister Agnes gave the letter to Cecilia Butsi to deliver to the policemen. 

On 26^th December, these policemen called at the convent and addressed the Sisters and the layfolk present.  All reiterated their resolve not to apostatize. 

They therefore had all of them escorted to the cemetery.  All of them walked in line singing hymns and praying.  As they arrived in the cemetery, they knelt down beside a fallen tree trunk and prayed fervently; and then Sister Agnes addressed the policemen, saying, “We are ready!  Please do your duty.”   Immediately, the policemen opened fire and left the cemetery. 

As soon as the Church was granted freedom, the local Ordinary began setting up the canonical investigations on the case of these Seven Brave Servants of God.  On 22^nd October, 1989, Propagation of the Faith Sunday, Pope John Paul II proclaimed their Beatification at St Peter’s Basilica.  Deeply touched by their fidelity, the Holy Father quoted Sister Agnes’ letter to the policemen:

“We rejoice in giving back to God the life that He has given us. … We beseech you to open to us the door of heaven. … You are acting according to the orders of men, but we act according to the commandments of God.” 

The feast of the Seven Martyrs of Songkhon is 16^th December, the anniversary of Philip Siphon’s death, which is also Thai Catechists’ Day.  

The Seven Blessed Martyrs are:

Philip Siphon, catechist, 33 years old.

Sister Agnes Phila, 31 years old.

Sister Lucia Khambang, 23 years old.

Agatha Phutta, 59 years old. 

Cecilia Butsi, 16 years old.

Bibiana Khamphai, 15 years old.

Maria Phorn, 14 years old.