St. Maria Goretti, Pray for Us!

Feast Day: July 6

Patronage: Mercy, forgiveness, love, purity, chastity, patron of youth and rape victims

Symbols: Palm of martyrdom and lilies for purity

Early Life

Today is the feast day of Saint Maria Goretti and her life is a remarkable story about faith and forgiveness. She was born in 1890 in Italy as the third child of six to Luigi and Assunta. They were a poor peasant family and her father worked as a farmer in the fields of a Count and shared this work with their neighbor, Giovanni Serenelli and his teenage son, Alessandro. When Maria was nine, her father died of malaria and her mother took her father's place working in the fields. Maria voluntarily took over her mother's work in the home and cared for her siblings. The Goretti family received very little of the profits from farming and lived in poverty.

Maria showed virtue and piety at an early age. Despite the family's difficulties, she remained cheerful and was diligent in her work, devoted to her family and also worked for the Serenellis. On her trips to the market, she would visit the shrine of Our Lady of Graces and in the evenings she would recite the five mysteries of the Rosary for the repose of her father's soul. During her life, Maria showed a profound understanding of Christ's love and desire for forgiveness for all when she said, "He loves, He hopes, He waits. Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keep us waiting an instant."

Martyrdom

In 1902, for several months, 20-year-old Alessandro began to make sexual advances towards 11-year-old Maria. She refused him every time, often reduced to tears, and didn't tell her mother for fear of bringing more trouble for her family. Alessandro's treatment and advances towards Maria increased in intensity and culminated on July 5, 1902. Maria was home alone when Alessandro came into her home and after being refused again, pulled Maria into a bedroom. He tried to force her to submit and this time she cried out, “No! It is a sin! God does not want it!" She told him she would rather die than do what he was demanding. He became enraged and stabbed her 14 times in her abdomen and torso.

Maria was taken to a hospital in Nettuno and was crying out, concerned for the state of Alessandro's soul. When she arrived at the hospital, she was dehydrated due to a massive loss of blood. She begged for water, but because her intestines were pierced and she was at risk for sepsis, the doctors couldn't give her water. A priest came to give her Last Rites before her surgery. He showed her the crucifix and told her Jesus was also very thirsty as he suffered on the cross. He asked Maria if she would offer up her thirst to Jesus for the salvation of sinners. She agreed and did not ask for water again. Because of the nature of her injuries, she had to undergo very painful surgeries without anesthesia. She didn't cry out in pain and endured in silence offering it all up to Jesus. Despite the doctors efforts, Maria's bleeding and infection could not be controlled. In her last moments, the priest asked Maria if she forgave her attacker. Her last words expressed forgiveness for Alessandro, "I forgive Alessandro Serenelli...and I want him to be with me in heaven forever." After 20 hours of suffering, Maria died July 6, 1902.

"He loves, He hopes, He waits. Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keep us waiting an instant."

Murderer's Conversion

Alessandro was sentenced to 30 years in prison and remained unrepentant and at his trial even blamed Maria for her own death. In prison, his heart became even more hardened and he was in solitary confinement because of his anger and constant fighting. Six years into his prison sentence, Maria appeared to Alessandro. She gathered fourteen white lilies and one by one offered them to him as a gesture of forgiveness and love, one flower for each time he stabbed her. Alessandro repented and began his conversion.

He was released from prison after 28 years and immediately went to Maria's mother and begged her forgiveness. Assunta replied, "If Maria forgives you, and God forgives you, how can I not also forgive you?" Assunta and Alessandro attended mass together and received communion kneeling side by side. He also publicly confessed and asked forgiveness before the congregation. He later became a Third Order Franciscan and was a gardener for the monastery where he lived the rest of his days in the joy of restored dignity from forgiveness. In a letter, found after his death, he writes, "Maria Goretti, now a saint, was my good angel whom God placed in my path to save me. Her words both of rebuke and forgiveness are still imprinted in my heart. She prayed for me, interceding for her killer."

Little Saint of Great Mercy

In 1950, Maria was canonized by Pope Pius XII and both her mother and Alessandro were at her canonization. At the time, Maria was the youngest recognized Roman Catholic saint at 11-years-old. It was also the first time a mother was able to witness the canonization of her child. Pope Pius XII declared that Maria Goretti was the "St. Agnes of the 20th Century...the sweet little martyr of purity."

Many miracles have been attributed to Maria and her prayers have brought physical healing to many as well as healing many hardened hearts and bringing about miraculous conversions.

Reflections

Reading the lives of saints is a source of inspiration for me, because only in a life rooted in Christ's love can we witness such miracles of forgiveness, conversion and love beyond human understanding. While many of us are unlikely to be a martyr, we all have opportunities to offer forgiveness. I ask Maria to pray for me to soften my heart when I need to give forgiveness and when I need to ask for forgiveness. I found it profound to read she wanted Alessandro, her murderer, in heaven with her. To realize that Christ wants all of us with him, means we must desire to have all those we know in heaven with us in communion with Christ. It's not easy, but with the help of the prayers of the saints who have gone before us, and with humility, we can get there. What a beautiful vision it is to see the power of God's love that overcomes all and makes all things new.

Official Prayer to St. Maria Goretti

Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate even at the age of eleven to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen.

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

St. Maria Goretti, pray for us!

Novena to St. Maria Goretti

Pray this for anyone or yourself, for any of the causes that Saint Maria Goretti is known to intercede for: Saint Maria Goretti Novena