St. Maria Goretti
Born: October 16, 1890
Died: July 6, 1902
Canonized: June 24, 1950, by Pope Pius XII
Feast Day: July 6
Patron Saint of: girls, rape victims, youth
St. Maria Goretti is the patroness of youth, young women, purity, and victims
of rape. She was born into a poor family at Corinaldi, Italy in 1890, the third
of six children. When she was nine her father died of malaria. Her family was
too poor to pay for Masses in her father's memory. Every night Maria would
recite the five Mysteries of the Rosary for the repose of her father's soul. She
was pious and prayed often. She spent a difficult childhood assisting her mother
in domestic duties. The family survived by working for a man named Giovanni
Serenelli and his teenage son Alessandro.
In 1902, 20-year-old Alessandro began ordering 11-year-old Maria to perform
difficult chores, none of which could be completed to his satisfaction.
Alessandro also began making advances on Maria. She refused, he grabbed her, and
demanded that she submit to him, but she told him that God did not wish it and
it would be a sin. Angrily Alessandro stabbed her to death, with Maria
preferring to die rather than be raped.
She survived for 20 hours in the hospital, undergoing surgery without
anesthesia. Asked if she forgave her murderer, she replied, "Yes, for the love
of Jesus I forgive him...and I want him to be with me in Paradise. May God
forgive him" She died kissing the crucifix and holding a medal of Our Lady.
Alessandro was captured and sentenced to 30 years. He was unrepentant until he
had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him flowers. When
he woke, he repented of his crime and living a reformed life. When he was
released after 27 years he went directly to Maria's mother to beg her
forgiveness, which she gave him.
Alessandro was present at St. Peter's when she was canonized by Pope Pius XII
in 1950 for her purity as a model for youth. She is called a martyr because she
fought against Alessandro's attempts at sexual assault. The most important
aspect of her story is her forgiveness of her attacker. Her concern for her
enemy extended beyond her death.
From a homily at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti by Pope Pius XII"... It
is well known how this young girl had to face a bitter struggle with no way to
defend herself. Without warning a vicious stranger burst upon her, bent on
raping her and destroying her childlike purity. In that moment of crisis she
could have spoken to her Redeemer in the words of that classic, The Imitation of
Christ: "Though tested and plagued by a host of misfortunes, I have no fear so
long as your grace is with me. It is my strength, stronger than any adversary;
it helps me and gives me guidance." With splendid courage she surrendered
herself to God and his grace and so gave her life to protect her virginity.
"The life of this simple girl - I shall concern myself only with highlights--we
can see as worthy of heaven. Even today people can look upon it with admiration
and respect. Parents can learn from her story how to raise their God-given
children in virtue, courage and holiness; they can learn to train them in the
Catholic faith so that, when put to the test, God's grace will support them and
they will come through undefeated, unscathed and untarnished.
"From Maria's story carefree children and young people with their zest for life
can learn not to be led astray by attractive pleasures which are not only
ephemeral and empty but also sinful. Instead they can fix their sights on
achieving Christian moral perfection, however difficult and hazardous that
course may prove. With determination and God's help all of us can attain that
goal by persistent effort and prayer.
"Not all of us are expected to die a martyr's death, but we are all called to
the pursuit of Christian virtue. This demands strength of character though it
may not match that of this innocent girl. Still, a constant, persistent and
relentless effort is asked of us right up to the moment of our death. This may
be conceived as a slow steady martyrdom which Christ urged upon us when he said:
The kingdom of heaven is set upon and laid waste by violent forces.
"So let us all, with God's grace, strive to reach the goal that the example of
the virgin martyr, Saint Maria Goretti, sets before us. Through her prayers to
the Redeemer may all of us, each in his own way, joyfully try to follow the
inspiring example of Maria Goretti who now enjoys eternal happiness in
heaven......"
