Thaddeus Liu was a 19th-century Chinese Catholic priest and martyr who served in the Sichuan and Guizhou provinces. Born in 1773 in Qionglai, he was raised in poverty by his mother following his father's early death. After working as a priest's assistant and studying Latin, he was ordained at age 34. His religious service ended when he was arrested by authorities in 1821, leading to his imprisonment, torture, and eventual execution by strangulation in 1823.
Life and martyrdom
After his mother and stepfather passed away, Liu began his religious journey as an assistant to a priest. He eventually entered a seminary to further his studies. Following his ordination, he worked within the Catholic Church in various regions. In 1821, he was detained alongside other Catholics, facing significant hardship and torture before his death in Qu County on November 30, 1823.
Veneration
The Catholic Church recognizes him as a saint. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1900 and was later canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, as part of a group of Chinese martyrs. His feast days are observed on July 9 and November 30.