There are several accounts of this little girl, later named Little Li. These accounts have various time frames and details surrounding her death. No matter how these narratives differ, this brave little girl showed a deep love and respect for Jesus Christ in the Eucharist that resulted in her paying the ultimate price, her life. Her story has touched the hearts of millions of Catholics throughout the world.
The story of this brave little girl, Li, brings us back to the early 1950’s, to Communist China where God was not allowed to be mentioned and people who practiced their belief in Him were either imprisoned, tortured or killed by the ruling political class who were all communists. In May 1953, when Li made her First Communion, she had asked Jesus in her heart: “always give me that daily bread so that my soul can live and be healthy!” Since then Li received Holy Communion every day, but she was aware that the Communists who didn’t believe in God could stop the Mass at any time. One day the police made a sweep of the village, and crammed all the inhabitants into the tiny Church. The Inspector ridiculed their beliefs and he told them they were tricked into believing that God is present in the tabernacle. The people watched with disbelief, as with a thundering voice, he ordered the soldiers to fire at the tabernacle. In front of all them, he grabbed the ciborium and threw all the Sacred Hosts onto the tile floor. Little Li froze in horror. Her innocent and righteous little heart bled for the Sacred Hosts strewn all over the ground. Before they left, the Communists locked the priest in the large coal bunker in the church, where a small opening helped him to see through to the sanctuary where the Hosts lay strewn on the floor. There was little the priest could do. However, feeling very upset at what had happened, there was still one thing he could do. He sank into prayers of atonement for the sacrileges committed against Jesus and suffered because he was not able to come to Jesus’ defense. He prayed in anguish. “Stop this sacrilege! Lord Jesus!”
The next day, a little girl very silently came into the Church. Slowly, she made her way into the sanctuary and it was then that Father Luke saw her. He trembled: she could be killed at any moment! Unable to communicate with her, he could only watch and beg all the saints in Heaven to protect this child. He observed as she bowed for a moment and adored in silence, just as she had been taught to do in school. Little Li stayed with Jesus in adoration for one whole hour, knowing that she was supposed to prepare her heart before receiving Him. Her hands joined together, she whispered a prayer to her Jesus who was so mistreated and abandoned. Father Luke never took his eyes off the young girl, and he continued to observe her as she lowered herself down on her knees, bent over, and with her tongue, took up one of the Hosts. She then remained there on her knees, eyes closed and in deep joy at having her Heavenly Friend within her. Then the young girl, with a gentle spring in her step, left the Church quietly and unnoticed. Like on the first day, she repeated the same routine of spending one holy hour in adoration of her Friend Jesus. As before, she then took up one Host with her tongue and disappeared quietly. Father Luke, concerned for her safety, couldn’t understand why she didn’t take more than one. He knew exactly how many Hosts had been in the ciborium: there were thirty-two of them and surely she would be seen if she came in each of those days? But, Li didn’t do that, as Sister had taught the children they could have only one Host per day and they were never to touch it except with the tongue. The little girl kept to all she had been taught because she knew just how precious the Host was: it was Jesus Himself really and truly present in it. Father Luke was relieved when the last day came around. Today, Little Li would consume the last Host – her special Friend. At daybreak, she entered the church as usual and drew near to the altar. She knelt to the ground to pray very close to Jesus in the Sacred Host. Father Luke had to stifle a cry when a soldier suddenly appeared at the church door and aimed his gun at her. A single shot was heard, followed by laughter. The child immediately collapsed. Father Luke thought she was dead, but no! Grief stricken, he watched her struggle to crawl over to where the Host was, and could hardly believe his eyes when, in obvious pain, she put her tongue over the Sacred Host to receive her Jesus for the last time. She then drew her last breath and died: a true martyr’s death.
For a moment, the soldier simply looked as if trying to make sense of the terrible thing he just did. Then, he turned and rushed out of the church. The soldier returned and he released Father Luke and told him he was free to go. Fortunately, Father Luke just had enough time to give little Li a decent burial. As he left the cemetery and walked along the road, a man approached and invited him into his car. He dropped him off at the border. The priest escaped death and was now free and, that is the very reason we know about the story of this beautiful young Chinese girl martyr today. Little Li was dead, but not before she had ensured that Jesus would not be further desecrated. Though gone from this world, her memory still lives on in the countless millions of people worldwide.
“Little Li.” My First Holy Communion. 2020. https://www.myfirstholycommunion.com/portfolio-view/little-li/
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