Throughout the Churches history there have been children saints. Many of these are martyrs of the early Church. St Agnes, St Tarsisius (Patron of first communicants) being more famous - some remain un-named. Who can forget the four year old, Francis Chakichi beheaded in Japan in 1622! In more modern times there are child martyrs often forgotten about. There are also youths as during the Spanish civil wars. In each of the listed counties there are more than one such little hero but one is listed as exemplar.

Korea (during years 1839 to 1886)

St Peter Ryau 13,

St. Agatha Yi 17

Vietnam (1862)

St. Guise Tuuc 10

Uganda (1885/1886)

St. Kizito 14?15.

China (1900)

St. Anna Wang 14.

St. Andrew Wang- Tianqing 10

Thailand( 1940)

Bl. Bibianna Khamphai 15

In more recent history there have been martyrs of faith and purity: -

St. Maria Goretti (1902) 12, (Italy)

Bl.Laura Vicuna (1904) 13 (Chile and Argentina)

Bl. Karolina Kozka (1914) 16 (Poland)

Bl. Antonia Mesina (1935) 16 (Sardinia)

There have also been saintly children who were not to suffer martyrdom: -

Bl. Imelda Lambertini 11, patron saint of female first communicants (1322-1333)

St. Dominic Savio (1857) 15 (Italy)

Bl. Francisco Marto (1919) 11 (Portugal) Little Visionary at Fatima

Bl. Jacinta Marto ( 1920) 10 (Portugal) Little Visionary of Fatima.

Ven. Anne Guigne (1922) 11 (France)

There are many other examples of holy children already 'venerated', others whose lives are being investigated and upheld. Their lives are both edifying and a source of encouragement in holiness. The list is long, among them lives of such as Ven Zepherim Namuncura, Little Danny George, Chiara Luce Badano, Mary Ann Long, Monserrat Garcia. (See reference books)