ST. MARIA GORETTI (1890-1902) FEAST DAY IS JULY 6TH
At the tender age of 12 this pious and hardworking young girl was attacked by a 19 year old man who wished to rape her. She fought him off, telling him this was a sin and he could go to hell. He began to stab her, and would stab her 14 times. She would survive for 2 days in the hospital and died after having forgiven him and asking God to forgive him. Holding a Crucifix and a medal of Our Lady, the holy young girl gave her soul to God.
The man was convicted of this terrible crime and spent years in prison. For many years unrepentant, he later saw a vision of Maria that led to his conversion. He would be there in person when she was canonized in Rome in 1950. The girl’s mother was also there and following Maria’s example, she also forgave her killer.
Maria was not quite 12 when she died to preserve her purity. How we need her prayers for our young people today!
Not all of us are expected to die a martyr’s death, but we are all called to the pursuit of Christian virtue.
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.
from a homily by Venerable Pope Pius XII at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti
St. Maria Goretti Novena Prayer
You who at an early age
knew life?s harshness and toil,
its sorrows and brief joys;
You who were poor, an orphan,
who loved your neighbour tirelessly,
making yourself a humble and attentive servant;
You who were kind and good, without pride,
who loved Love above all else;
You who shed your blood
so as not to betray the Lord;
You who forgave your assassin
wishing him in Paradise;
Intercede and pray for us to the Father,
so that we may consent to his holy will for us.
You who are God?s friend and see him face to face obtain the grace we are seeking from you?
We thank you Marietta, for the love of God and neighbor that you have sown in our hearts.
Amen.
