St. Maria Goretti

Today is the feast day of St. Maria Goretti, a perfect time to reflect on this saint of the 20^th century.  I have known about St. Maria Goretti almost my whole life, but I only recently realized that she died only 110 years ago.  I had always thought of her as a saint of the long past, and as I read about her life I felt that I was meeting her for the first time.  She is so much nearer than I knew, and not just in time.  She is a wonderful saint for these modern times and the call to be boldly holy in our society today.  She died to protect her purity.  What a witness for the New Evangelization! 

 

Maria was born in Corinaldi , Italy on October 16, 1890, the third of six children.  Her father died of malaria when she was nine, and her family survived by working for Giovanni Serennelli and his teenage son Alessandro.  Alessandro would harass Maria with impure suggestions and advances.  On July 5, 1902, when Maria was 11 years old, he once again made sexual advances toward her, but she refused to give up her purity, saying "No!  It is a sin!  God does not want it!"  Alessandro then stabbed her 14 times.  Maria died the next day after forgiving and praying for Alessandro.  When asked if she forgave her murderer, she replied, "Yes, for the love of Jesus I forgive him...and I want him to be with me in Paradise ."

 

Pope Pius XII canonized Maria only 50 years after her death, with her mother and Alessandro attending the ceremony in St. Peter's Square together.  The pope pronounced her a Saint and Martyr of the Church and proposed her as the Patroness of Modern Youth.  He said, "From Maria's story carefree children and young people with their zest for life can learn not to be led astray by attractive pleasures which are not only ephemeral and empty but also sinful. Instead they can fix their sights on achieving Christian moral perfection, however difficult and hazardous that course may prove. With determination and God's help all of us can attain that goal by persistent effort and prayer.  

 

Not all of us are expected to die a martyr's death, but we are all called to the pursuit of Christian virtue. This demands strength of character though it may not match that of this innocent girl. Still, a constant, persistent and relentless effort is asked of us right up to the moment of our death. This may be conceived as a slow steady martyrdom which Christ urged upon us when he said: The kingdom of heaven is set upon and laid waste by violent forces.

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......"

 

Immediately after his attack on Maria, Alessandro was sentenced to thirty years of hard labor in prison.  One night, he had a dream of Maria surrounded by lilies and he knew that he was forgiven.  From that moment, Alessandro changed, and after prison he lived at a Capuchin monastery as a gardener.  He died on May 6, 1970, and left this witness, dated May 5, 1961:

 

"I'm nearly 80 years old. I'm about to depart.

 

Looking back at my past, I can see that in my early youth, I chose a bad path which led me to ruin myself.

My behavior was influenced by print, mass-media and bad examples which are followed by the majority of young people without even thinking. And I did the same. I was not worried.

There were a lot of generous and devoted people who surrounded me, but I paid no attention to them because a violent force blinded me and pushed me toward a wrong way of life.

When I was 20 years-old, I committed a crime of passion. Now, that memory represents something horrible for me. Maria Goretti, now a Saint, was my good Angel, sent to me through Providence to guide and save me. I still have impressed upon my heart her words of rebuke and of pardon. She prayed for me, she interceded for her murderer. Thirty years of prison followed.

If I had been of age, I would have spent all my life in prison. I accepted to be condemned because it was my own fault.

Little Maria was really my light, my protectress; with her help, I behaved well during the 27 years of prison and tried to live honestly when I was again accepted among the members of society. The Brothers of St. Francis, Capuchins from Marche, welcomed me with angelic charity into their monastery as a brother, not as a servant. I've been living with their community for 24 years, and now I am serenely waiting to witness the vision of God, to hug my loved ones again, and to be next to my Guardian Angel and her dear mother, Assunta.

I hope this letter that I wrote can teach others the happy lesson of avoiding evil and of always following the right path, like little children. I feel that religion with its precepts is not something we can live without, but rather it is the real comfort, the real strength in life and the only safe way in every circumstance, even the most painful ones of life."

Signature, Alessandro Serenelli

 

This story of both Maria’s life and death and Alessandro's conversion are beautiful witnesses to the power of forgiveness and mercy.   Let us join them with daily acts of holy boldness and mercy, extending these to all we meet!

 

St. Maria Goretti, pray for us!

http://www.mariagoretti.org/; www.ewtn.com/faith/goretti.htm

Written by Kristen