TODAY we remember the life and works of St. Maria Goretti, Patroness of the Youth and martyr for purity.
Born on October 16, 1890, in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, Maria Goretti was baptized the day after she was born and was consecrated to the Immaculate Virgin Mary. She was the second of the six children of Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. She was not educated due to their poor status in life. In 1896, unable to feed the growing family from the small land that they tilled, Luigi decided to bring his family to Fierriere de Conca near Nettuno in Rome, where they rented a farm in a waterlogged area infected with mosquitoes. They shared the farm with John Serenelli and his son Alexander.
On May 6, 1900, Luigi died of Malaria. On his deathbed, he implored his wife Assunta to go back to Coronado but even if the widow would like to follow his death wish, she could not do so because she was contract-bound to her employer. Maria helped her mother by caring for her younger brothers and sisters.
Maria’s only wish was to receive Jesus through Holy Communion. Although she was discouraged by her mother, she learned the Catechism and passed the questioning session by the Archpriest of Nettuno. A kind benefactor provided for the clothes and shoes she wore during her First Holy Communion on June 6, 1901, which coincided with the Feast of the Corpus Christi.
Maria was pretty. Alexander was attracted to her. He would constantly pester her with sinful demands but Maria instinctively rejected him. Afraid of Alexander’s advances, she begged her mother not to leave her alone. She would like to consecrate herself to Jesus. She always prayed: “Take me Jesus, I offer myself to you.” But her sad fate at the hands of Alexander happened on July 5, 1902. Alexander pulled her into the bedroom and threatened to kill her if she shouted. Maria screamed for help and struggled. She cried and told Alexander. “No, God does not wish it. It is a sin. You would go to hell for it.” Frustrated and angered, Alexander began striking and stabbing her with a knife. She received 14 wounds with one missing the heart by a millimeter.
She was taken to the hospital and told the priest who came that she had forgiven Alexander and wanted him to be with her in Paradise. Kissing the medallion of the Holy Virgin Mary the priest gave her, she prayed: “Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.” She passed away on July 6, 1902, at 3:45 p.m. at the age of 11 years and 9 months.
Alexander was arrested and was sentenced to 30 years. For a long time he was unrepentant and ill-tempered. One night, he had a vision of Maria giving him flowers. When he woke up, he was a changed man. He repented what he had done and lived a reformed life. When he was released from prison after 27 years, he went directly to Maria’s mother to beg for forgiveness.
On April 27, 1947, Maria Goretti was beatified by Pope Pius XII. On June 24, 1950, she was declared a saint by Pope Pius XII in St. Peter’s, in the presence of her mother and Alexander, her murderer.
As we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Maria Goretti, let us remember her faithfulness to God. May her example guide us not to give in to sinfulness. And may we find in our hearts to forgive those who has sinned against us.