Throughout the late 20th century and into more recent times, there have been many stories of Chinese Catholic heroism and Chinese priests, bishops, and laypeople who have been martyred at hands of anti-Catholic government officials. Many of these stories are associated with the Communist takeover of China under Mao Zedong but also include those persecuted for their faith during the Boxer Rebellion and even the 1911 Revolution.

Among the stories birthed by the long history of Catholic persecution in China, one legend often stands out among the whole of these unnamed Martyrs. That story is the legend of Little Li, the Child Martyr of the Eucharist.

Recounted by many different retellings throughout the years, the gist of her legend is this — Little Li was a Catholic child in China who was about 10 years old and had recently received her First Communion. One day, soldiers broke into her parish, imprisoned the pastor, and desecrated the Eucharist by throwing it on the floor. They guarded the church night and day to keep people from worshiping at the site. Little Li, seeing that there were over 30 consecrated Hosts on the ground, decided to sneak into the church every evening and pray in adoration before picking up one of the pieces from the floor with her tongue and consuming it.

Li continued to do this, unnoticed by the soldiers, until almost all the pieces had been consumed. Upon her final trip into the church to consume the last Host, she was discovered by the guard and killed.

Her story of martyrdom stands to remind us of all the Catholics in China who have been martyred for their faith and of those who are still unable to worship publicly today without fear of persecution. Unnamed Martyrs of Chinese Persecution, pray for us!