July 6 marks the feast day of St. Maria Goretti, a young virgin and martyr whose life is an example of purity and mercy for all Christians.
St. Maria Goretti is best known for her commitment to purity and the courageous defence of her faith at the young age of eleven that made her willing to undergo death rather than participate in a sin against God.
One afternoon, Alessandro, the Serenellis’ 20-year-old son, made s*xual advances to her. When she refused to submit to him, he stabbed her 14 times. She was taken to the hospital but unfortunately she died forgiving him for what he has done to her.
He was later arrested, convicted and jailed. During imprisonment, he repented after Maria appeared to him in a dream giving him white lilies. After 27 years, he was released from prison and visited Maria Goretti’s mother to beg her for forgiveness, which she granted him. He later became a lay brother in a monastery and died in 1970.
Saint Maria is called a martyr because she fought against Alessandro’s attempts at s*xual sin; however, the most important aspects of her story was how she forgave her attacker, her concern for her enemy extending even beyond death – and the miracle her forgiveness produced in his life.
St Maria Goretti, Pray for us.