St. Maria Goretti

Born on October 16, 1890 in Corinaldo, in the Ancona Province in Italy, her farmworker father moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. When he died of malaria, Maria's mother had to struggle to feed her children. Maria's mother, brothers, and sisters worked in the fields while she cooked, sewed, kept the house clean, and watched her youngest sister Teresa. Though the family's circumstances were extremely difficult, they were very close and loved God. Despite the poverty and hardship they faced, the Goretti family maintained a strong faith and a deep love for one another, creating a home filled with love and devotion to God even in the midst of their struggles.

On July 5, 1902, Maria was sitting outside the steps of her home sewing her 18-year-old brother or neighbor - it is unclear which - Alessandro's shirt while he threshed beans in the barnyard. As she concentrated on her sewing, Alessandro surprised her and grabbed her from her steps. When he tried to rape her, Maria cried that it was a mortal sin and warned he would go to hell. When Alessandro persisted, she fought him and screamed, "No! It is a sin! God does not want it!" At her words, Alessandro began to choke her and she said she would rather die than submit. Upon hearing her words, Alessandro pulled out a knife and stabbed her eleven times. When she attempted to reach the door, he stabbed her three more times then fled. Maria's courageous defense of her purity, even at the cost of her life, demonstrated her deep understanding of the sacredness of human dignity and her unwavering commitment to God's law.

Teresa woke to the sounds of her sister's cries and began to cry. Maria's family returned home and found her bleeding on the floor. They quickly took her to the nearest hospital in Nettuno, where she underwent surgery without anesthesia. Unfortunately, her wounds were beyond the surgeon's ability to help. Halfway through the surgery, the man asked her, "Maria, think of me in Paradise." As she lay on the table, she looked up at him and said, "Well, who knows which of us is going to be there first?" She did not realize how terrible her situation was, and the surgeon replied, "You, Maria." She said, "Then I will think gladly of you." She also mentioned concerns for her mother. The next day, Maria forgave Alessandro and said she wanted to see him in Heaven with her. She died that day while looking upon an image of the Virgin Mary and holding a cross to her chest. Maria's extraordinary act of forgiveness, even in the face of such terrible suffering, demonstrated her deep faith and her understanding of the power of forgiveness and redemption.

Shortly after Maria's family discovered her, Alessandro was captured and questioned. He admitted Maria was a physical virgin as he was unable to assault her and he was sentenced to thirty years. He also admitted he had attempted to persuade her to accompany him to bed on several occasions in the past and had attempted to rape her before. Alessandro remained unrepentant for his actions until he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him lilies, which immediately burned in his hands. When he woke, he was a changed man. He repented his crime and lived a reformed life. When he was released 27 years later, he went directly to Maria's mother and begged her forgiveness, which she gave, saying, "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness?" This miraculous conversion of Alessandro, brought about through Maria's forgiveness and intercession, became one of the most powerful testimonies to the transformative power of forgiveness and God's mercy.

Maria Goretti was beatified by Pope Pius XII in a ceremony at Saint Peter's Basilica on April 27, 1947. Three years later, on June 24, 1950, Maria was declared a saint and Alessandro was present in the St. Peter's crowd to celebrate her canonization. He later became a laybrother of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, where he lived in a monastery and worked as its receptionist and gardener until his death. Saint Maria is called a martyr because she fought against Alessandro's attempts at sexual sin; however, the most important aspects of her story are how she forgave her attacker - her concern for her enemy extending even beyond death - and the miracle her forgiveness produced in his life. Saint Maria's body can be found in the crypt of the Basilica of Nostra Signora delle Grazie e Santa Maria Goretti in Nettuno. Images of Saint Maria often represent her with wavy hair dressed in either white or farm clothes and is often depicted holding lilies, symbolizing her purity and the miraculous conversion of her attacker.

Liturgical Celebration

The feast of St. Maria Goretti is celebrated on July 6th, during the summer season when the Church reflects on the themes of growth and harvest. This feast is celebrated as a memorial in the Roman Catholic Church, recognizing Maria's importance as a martyr of purity and her powerful example of forgiveness and courage. The feast falls during a time when many young people are on vacation and may be more open to spiritual reflection, making it an ideal time to remember Maria's example of courage and fidelity to Christ. The feast provides an opportunity to honor Maria's memory and to reflect on the importance of maintaining purity and forgiveness in our own lives.

Traditions and Customs

On the feast day of St. Maria Goretti, many people participate in special prayers and devotions to honor her memory and seek her intercession. Churches, particularly those with youth groups or families, hold special Masses and services. Many young people and families gather to pray for the gift of purity and the courage to stand up for what is right. The day is also marked by prayers for forgiveness and reconciliation, asking for St. Maria's intercession in helping us to forgive those who have wronged us and to seek forgiveness for our own sins. Many people also take time to reflect on the importance of protecting human dignity and to pray for the grace to be faithful witnesses to Christ in all circumstances. The feast is also a time to reflect on how we can incorporate Maria's virtues of courage, purity, and forgiveness into our daily lives.

Prayer and Devotion

The feast day is an excellent time to pray for the gift of courage and the ability to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult. Many people make special petitions for young people and for the strength to maintain purity of heart and mind, asking for St. Maria's intercession in helping them to be faithful to God. The day is also a time to reflect on the importance of forgiveness and to pray for the grace to forgive those who have wronged us, following Maria's example. St. Maria's feast day encourages us to remember that we are all called to be saints, regardless of our age, and that we can achieve great holiness through our love for God and our willingness to make sacrifices for Him. It is also a time to pray for the grace to protect human dignity and to be courageous witnesses to Christ in all circumstances.