THE TOUCHING STORY OF ST MARIA GORETTI
THE TOUCHING STORY OF ST MARIA GORETTI
REFLECTION THEME: ST. MARIA GORETTI, MODEL OF FORGIVENESS
BY: Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch
Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Maria Goretti, one of the youngest canonized saints in the Catholic Church, who stands as a beacon of purity, forgiveness, and unwavering faith. Her life story, though tragically short, leaves a profound impact on all who hear it, reminding us of the power of grace and the strength of the human spirit.
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Maria Teresa Goretti was born on October 16, 1890, in the small town of Corinaldo, Italy, to Luigi and Assunta Goretti. She was the third of seven children in a devout Catholic family. Despite their poverty, the Goretti family was rich in faith and love. From a young age, Maria displayed a deep piety and a mature understanding of her faith, which was nurtured by her parents’ strong example.
In 1896, seeking better opportunities, the family moved to Ferriere di Conca, near Nettuno. There, they worked as sharecroppers for Count Mazzoleni, sharing a home with the Serenelli family. Tragically, Luigi Goretti contracted malaria and died in 1900, leaving Assunta to manage the farm and care for the children with Maria’s help.
Living in close quarters with the Serenelli family brought Maria into contact with Alessandro Serenelli, a young man whose intentions would ultimately lead to tragedy. Alessandro, then 20 years old, began making unwanted advances towards Maria. Despite her rejections and attempts to avoid him, he persisted.
On July 5, 1902, Alessandro’s advances turned violent. Finding Maria alone in the house, he dragged her into a room and attempted to assault her. Maria resisted with all her might, crying out that what he intended was a mortal sin and that he would go to Hell for it. In a fit of rage, Alessandro stabbed her 14 times with a knife.
Maria was discovered bleeding and unconscious by her family and neighbors and was rushed to the nearest hospital. Despite the severity of her injuries, she remained conscious and lucid. When asked if she forgave her attacker, Maria replied, “Yes, for the love of Jesus I forgive him… and I want him to be with me in Paradise.” After receiving the sacraments, Maria succumbed to her injuries the following day, on July 6, 1902.
Maria’s death deeply affected Alessandro. He was arrested, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Initially unrepentant, he experienced a profound spiritual transformation during his eighth year of imprisonment after a vision of Maria offering him lilies, which burned in his hands. This vision led to his repentance and conversion. Upon his release in 1928, he sought forgiveness from Assunta Goretti, Maria’s mother, who forgave him, reflecting the forgiveness her daughter had offered on her deathbed. Alessandro spent the remainder of his life in a Capuchin monastery, living in penance and prayer.
Maria Goretti was beatified on April 27, 1947, and canonized on June 24, 1950, by Pope Pius XII, who presented her as a model of purity, virtue, and forgiveness. Her mother, Assunta, her siblings and Alessandro were present at the canonization ceremony, a unique and moving moment in Church history. St. Maria Goretti is the patron saint of youth, young women, purity, and victims of sexual assault. Her feast day is celebrated on July 6, the anniversary of her death.
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