Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Agnes Phila

Note: To observe the Jubilee Year of Mercy (which runs through November 20), for several weeks I am featuring women who exemplify one of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy. Today: Admonish sinners.

The Basics: Born 1909 in Thailand; died December 26, 1940, in Thailand; beatified October 22, 1989, by John Paul

II; feast day, December 26. Woman religious and teacher.

The Story: It was a difficult time to be a Catholic in the Thai village of Songkhon. The pastor had already been deported; the catechist, Philip Siphong, had been killed on December 16. A little more than a week later, on Christmas Day, the local authorities came to threaten the two Sisters of the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, who operated the local school. The older of the two, Agnes, showed no fear. She asked if the men had enough bullets to kill all the Christians… and whether their gun barrels were sufficiently oiled. The next day, Agnes sent the police chief a letter saying the sisters; their cook; and three teenagers were ready to die. She also sent a vial of oil. The group were shot to death the following day, and with Siphong are remembered as the Martyrs of Thailand.

Agnes’s Wisdom: “You can kill us, but not the Church and God.”

What We Can Learn from Agnes: Agnes’ in-your-face belief in the Lord is almost jaw-dropping. Is there a place in your life you are being called to express your faith more overtly?

To Learn More: Look at the good work the Lovers of the Holy Cross is doing today in Los Angeles.

To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my books, Blessed Are You: Finding Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith or Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.

 

 

Tagged as: blessed agnes phila, Catholic, jubilee year of mercy, martyrs, martyrs of thailand, Sisterhood of Saints, wednesdays woman, women saints