The Catholic Church in Thailand paid tribute to the late Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at Assumption Cathedral in Bangkok, as the country observed a period of national mourning following her death.
The Mass, organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT) on Dec. 13, was offered for the repose of the Queen Mother’s soul and drew Church leaders, diplomats, government representatives, and members of the Catholic community, reflecting her long-standing relationship with the Church and her role in supporting religious harmony in Thailand.
The liturgy was presided over by Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, president of the CBCT, and was concelebrated by bishops from other dioceses.
The large assembly included the apostolic nuncio to Thailand, members of the diplomatic corps, clergy, religious, and a representative of the Thai government from the Department of Religious Affairs, underscoring the Queen Mother’s enduring influence across religious and social boundaries.
Homily of hope: Integrating faith and service
The homily delivered during the Mass integrated the Gospel of the day, the Third Sunday of Advent, or Gaudete Sunday, with a reflection on the Queen Mother’s royal service.
Archbishop Vira began by acknowledging the dual emotions of the day: the Advent joy that “the Lord is near,” coupled with the collective sorrow of the nation.
He drew inspiration from the day’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah: “The desert and the parched land will exult… they will bloom with abundant flowers.”
“Isaiah is speaking of hope, the hope that transforms dryness into abundance and turns sorrow into a song of joy,” the archbishop preached.
Connecting this hope to the Queen Mother’s life, the archbishop highlighted the practical, action-based ministry of Jesus, as described in the Gospel where he tells John the Baptist’s disciples, “Go and tell John… the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”
The archbishop then reflected on how Queen Sirikit, whom he called a “Giver of Hope,” embodied this spirit:
• Journeying to the wilderness: “Her Majesty did not merely reside within the comforts of a beautiful palace. Instead, she chose to travel into the wilderness, to remote areas, trekking through forests to reach her poorest subjects.”
• Transforming lives: Her numerous Royal Initiative Projects, particularly the SUPPORT Foundation (Silpacheep), were described as “rain falling upon parched land,” transforming the impoverished into people possessing skills, income, and dignity. “For the Thai people, she was the ‘Mother of the Land’ who brought ‘Good News,’ a better life, to her children.”
Concluding his homily, Archbishop Vira urged the faithful to honor the late Queen not only through mourning, but by “carrying forward her legacy of hope.”
He exhorted the congregation to be “greater than John the Baptist,” translating faith into “concrete action” by being Preparers of the Way and Givers of Hope in their daily lives. “Our sharing, our small acts of help, can make ‘the blind see’ (see light in their lives) or make ‘the lame walk’ (help those who have fallen to rise and fight again).”
Official church tribute underscores lifelong connection
The Eucharistic celebration concluded with a formal tribute delivered by Archbishop Vira on behalf of the Catholic Church in Thailand. The bishops and priests gathered reverently before a portrait of Queen Sirikit near the altar for the solemn pronouncement.
The tribute expressed “profound sorrow” at her passing and acknowledged her role alongside King Bhumibol Adulyadej, described as “the Supreme Patron of all religions,” as the Queen Consort who graciously supported and nurtured all faiths.
The document highlighted the Queen Mother’s personal connection to the Catholic community from an early age:
• Early education: She was educated at St. Francis Xavier Convent School in Bangkok, where she was “beloved by the sisters, teachers, and fellow students.”
• Papal audiences: The Queen Mother accompanied the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on two historic visits to the Vatican, meeting Pope John XXIII in 1960 and Pope John Paul II in 1984. The document cited Pope John XXIII’s spiritual memoir, which described the royal couple as “most respectable and graceful.”
The Church also recognized her humanitarian role, specifically noting the collaboration between her initiative and the Catholic Office for Relief and Refugees (COERR) during the Indochinese refugee crisis in 1979.
As president of the Thai Red Cross Society, she established a relief center in an eastern province, where COERR actively participated, “successfully providing relief as intended by Her Majesty.”
The tribute concluded by quoting the Queen Mother’s own words from 2007, in which she fondly recalled how her Catholic schooling instilled in her patriotism and a deep appreciation for the beauty and nature of Thailand.
“The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand now invites all to reflect upon the profound kindness of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. Let us reaffirm our patriotism and commitment to contributing to the nation, a spirit of Thai Catholicism, in gratitude for the boundless compassion bestowed upon us throughout her life.”
