Maria Goretti

St. Maria Goretti, called by Pope Pius XII “the St. Agnes of the 20^th century” was born on a small farm near Ancona, Italy, in 1890.  The third of seven children, she was in the words of her mother, “happy good, openhearted, without whim, but with a sense and seriousness beyond her years, and never disobedient.  Her father died when she was nine, and Maria helped out with the younger children and the house work while her mother ran the farm.  She received First Holy Communion at eleven and strove with all her strength to do better each day.  Six months later, her heroic maiden was severely tried for her Faith.  The Goretti family shared a home with partner of their father and his son Alexander, a wicked-minded youth who began making sinful advances towards Maria.  She repelled them immediately but said nothing about them for he threatened to kill her and her mother if she did.  Finally, lust drove Alexander to attach outright but again the said resisted him with all her strength, crying out repeatedly.  : ‘No, it’s a sin God does not want it’.  Whereupon, the attacker overwhelmed by fear and anger began to strike at her blindly with a long dagger, and several blows passed clear through her body.

St. Maria was rushed to the hospital at Nettuno and surgeons worked feverishly to save her life but it soon became evident that nothing could be done.  The next morning she was given Communion, but first queried about her attitude towards Alexander.  She replied clearly that she forgave him, that she would pray for his repentance and that she wished to see him in heaven.  Only July 6 1902, the saintly maiden died and went to meet her heavenly Spouse for whose love she had been willing to give her life.  Only July 25, 1950, she was raised to sainthood, with her mother, brothers and sisters present a unique event in the history of the Church.