1900 - Xi Zhuzi

June 1900

Yongnian, Hebei

Xi Zhuzi. [CRBC]

In 1882 Xi Zhuzi[1] was born into a poor family at Dezhao village in Shen Xian, Hebei Province. There were a number of Catholic families in the village, and as Xi grew up he was impressed by the demeanour and values they had compared to the other villagers. At the age of 17 he announced his desire to become a Christian. His parents strongly objected, because rumours were already abounding that a secret society called the Boxers were planning to kill all Christians and drive foreigners out of China.

Xi, however, could not be swayed from his desire, and attended church and Bible studies at every opportunity to learn more about God. Xi’s refusal to worship the idols that his family had venerated for centuries infuriated his parents, who told him, “If you want to remain a member of this family, stop going to church and wait till the situation is more favourable.”[2] Xi, however, remained firm in his new faith, even after his family disowned him.

In June 1900 the Boxers launched an organized attack against the Catholic communities in Hebei Province. The believers dug trenches, and some armed themselves in self-defence. Strangers were not permitted to enter Catholic villages in case they were Boxer spies. Because Xi Zhuzi had not yet been baptized, few people in Catholic circles knew him, and he was suspected of being a spy. Finally, one Catholic who knew him gave him a job as a servant in his house. Before long Xi’s parents discovered where he was and ordered him to come home. On the way, Xi Zhuzi was “captured by the Boxers, who cut off his arm, and continued to torture and mutilate him. Some villagers notified his parents, who did nothing to save him. However, after his death, his family became Catholic.”[3]

This young, 18-year-old believer, who had not yet been baptized, was beatified in 1955 and canonized a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

1. Some sources give his name as Chi Zhuzhe.
2. CRBC, The Newly Canonized Martyr-Saints of China, 67.
3. “The Martyrs of China 1648-1930,” Tripod, 59.