Who was Maria Goretti and why is she our patron saint?
Maria Goretti was born in Corinaldo, Italy to Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini on October 16, 1890. She is most well-known for her canonization into the Roman Catholic Church in 1969 because of her brave martyrdom. When she was still just eleven years old, her neighbor, Alexander Serenelli attempted to rape Maria and in refusing to let him commit the mortal sin of rape, Serenelli grew angry and stabbed her fourteen times. Tessa, one of Maria’s sisters came to see what all the screaming was about and immediately took her to the nearest hospital. The doctors were unfortunately not able to save Maria’s life but surprisingly, Maria lived for twenty hours after the attack. Before she died, she forgave Alexander. During her last moments, Maria held onto an image of the Virgin Mary and a cross and died July 5, 1902. Alexander was captured and given a sentence of thirty years. And then something amazing happened! Maria appeared to him in a dream and gave him flowers. He repented and sought to live a virtuous life. Right after he was released, he went to Maria's mother in hope of asking forgiveness. Her mother said, "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness." She is the patron saint of victims of rape, crime victims, teenage girls, modern youth, and children of Mary and we celebrate her feast day on July 6.
Do we strive to live out our faith and love for God passionately and courageously? In a world where people constantly give themselves to so many passions and seek to find happiness in any way possible, Maria Goretti is a beautiful example of one who passionately loved Christ, even to the point of death. As a young woman who valued truth, beauty, and purity, Maria is one who points to Christ and shows us how to love, forgive, and find true happiness and joy in our Lord. Maria Goretti, patron saint of young women, pray for us!
More about Maria Goretti here: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=78