St. Maria Goretti

Saint Maria Goretti, born in 1890 in Corinaldo, Italy, is celebrated for her extraordinary commitment to purity and her capacity for forgiveness. Born into a poor farming family, Maria’s early life was marked by hardship and struggle. Despite the challenges, she grew up deeply rooted in faith and virtue.

At the age of eleven, Maria faced a tragic and defining moment. Alessandro Serenelli, a young man who lived nearby, attempted to assault her. Maria resisted, declaring her desire to remain pure. In a fit of rage, Alessandro stabbed her multiple times. As she lay dying, Maria forgave her attacker, expressing her hope that he would repent and find salvation.

Maria’s death deeply moved her community, and her story spread rapidly. Alessandro was arrested and imprisoned. While in prison, he experienced a profound conversion, attributing it to Maria’s forgiveness and intercession. He later sought forgiveness from Maria’s mother and lived a reformed life, becoming a lay brother in a Capuchin monastery.

Maria was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, who praised her as a martyr of purity and a powerful intercessor for those struggling with similar challenges.

• Lesson 1: Upholding Personal Integrity: Saint Maria Goretti’s life teaches us the importance of maintaining our personal values and integrity, even in difficult situations. In today’s world, where pressures and temptations are pervasive, we can draw inspiration from Maria’s steadfast commitment to her principles. Whether it’s in our personal relationships, workplace ethics, or social interactions, her example encourages us to stay true to our convictions.
• Lesson 2: The Power of Forgiveness: Maria’s ability to forgive her attacker reminds us of the transformative power of forgiveness in our lives. Holding onto anger and resentment can be damaging, but choosing to forgive, even in the face of great hurt, can lead to healing and reconciliation. In our everyday encounters, whether with family, friends, or colleagues, practicing forgiveness can bring peace and strength to our hearts.

Prayer to Saint Maria Goretti:

O Saint Maria Goretti, you who remained steadfast in your commitment to purity and forgave your attacker, pray for us, that we may uphold our personal integrity in all aspects of our lives. Help us to resist the pressures and temptations that challenge our values and to stay true to our principles. Grant us the grace to forgive those who hurt us, and to seek reconciliation and healing in our relationships. Through your intercession, may we grow in virtue and love. Amen.

A Letter from Allesandro:

When Allesandro was released from prison, he went to live in the Capuchin convent of Macerata. He left the following testimony , dated May 5, 1961, which bears witness to the importance of avoiding pornography and the negative impact of much of the media, so prevalent in our times:

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

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Godleva (1070), Martyr

photo: “Painting of Maria Goretti” by GIUSEPPE BROVELLI-SOFFREDINI via Wikimedia Commons