St. Maria Goretti
Patron of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape
1890 - 1902
Born in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, on October 16 1890; her farmworker father moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. Her father died of malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children.
In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed her from her steps and tried to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather died than submit, Alexander began stabbing her with a knife.
As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. Her death didn't end her forgivness, however.
Alexander was captured and sentenced to thirty years. He was unrepentant until he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime and living a reformed life. When he was released after 27 years he went directly to Maria's mother to beg her forgiveness, which she gave. "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withold forgiveness," she said.
When Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alexander was there in the St. Peter's crowd to celebrate her canonization. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950 for her purity as model for youth.
She is called a martyr because she fought against Alexander's attempts at sexual assault. However, the most important aspect of her story is her forgiveness of her attacker -- her concern for her enemy extending even beyond death. Her feast day is July 6. St. Maria Goretti is the patroness of youth and for the victims of rape.
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I was first introduced to Maria Goretti through my teacher in primary school. Over the years I have regretted that Maria Goretti was formed to believe that virginity was more important than her life.
A truly awe inspiring, glorious, and magnificant saint, one that everyone should use as a rolemodel and adore her courage and love for god. I'm currently in Highschool and i know everything that goes on there, so far i'm succeeding in following her glorious example.
She is my st name!!!!
thats my saint name in class
Dear Virgin Saint,
I am a filthy sinner who is tied to the lunatic of lust. How bold and courageous you were to choose death to sin! Kindly pray for me that I would be freed from this lunatic and never again give into lustful thoughts. Help me to lead a holy life free from sin. Amen.
St. Maria is my Confirmation Saint. I have always admired her courage and forgiveness, since the fourth grade.
I love her & she was a very wonderful young girl.
hw i wish i was able to live her life style**** Maria pray for me that i may live a life what emolating just like yours amen
I one time had a dream when I had stomarch pain, some nun sent me to buy some tomatoes and on the way coming back I remembered that I had forgotten the some of the things sister sent me for. I turned back then I met a Lady and told him that I have forgetten some of the things in one of the shops here, she told me she knew where they were but the pain wa much. I went to her house and stayed but complaining of the serious pain. So she called her daughter called Gorret to escort back to the convent. On the way she picked some herbs and gave me to mix and drink. In the morning I asked one of the nuns coz I had seen the herb in the dream and got to know it. When I asked the nun in the morning abt the herbs she asked me are u in your periods den I answered yes. I got the herbs mixed and drunk I became ok.
Thank God for the special gift of Maria Goretta's life and the sacrifice of her life for Christ, please Saint Maria powerfully intercede before God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit for my two sons,for their conversion. Thank you St Maria Goretta's.
st maria goretti please bring peace and happiness to my mother and my family and be with us alway amen.
Saint Maria Goretti please pray for me and my family so we may be live like you and make God happy, Amen
thank you for everything you have done
This girl is truly brave!
I love her!
st.Maria goretti is my role model i admire her courage.She has an encouraging history to be remembered by all shoul read st Rosalia who lived in the wilderness.
she is to be imitated by our youths today.
her story touches my heart everytime i read this im picking her as my saint
Love her I go to school at St. Maria Goretti
I have just visited St Maria Goretti Basillica in Nettuna and had Mass on her alter she is my Confirmation Saint and my grand daughter is getting Confirmed later this year and she is taking her for her Confirmation Saint May God Bless both of them.