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Saint Maria
Goretti |
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St.
Maria Goretti is the patroness of youth and for the
victims of rape.
History
Maria Goretti was born in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy
on October 16, 1809. Her father, a farmer, died of
malaria. Her mother struggled to raise the family alone. In 1902,
an eighteen-year old neighbor named Alexander, attacked
and tried to rape her in her house. Maria said that she
would rather die than submit. Alexander stabbed her
several times with a knife.
As she
lay dying in the hospital she forgave Alexander. Maria
later died. She was only 12 years old.
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Alexander was
caught and jailed. He did not repent until he
had a dream that he was in a garden where Maria
was giving him flowers. When he woke he was a
changed man, repented his crime and reformed his
life.
When he was
released from jail, he asked forgiveness from
Maria’s mother. Just as Maria forgave him, her
mother forgave him.
Alexander was
in the crowd in St. Peter’s in 1950 when Pope
Pius XII declared Maria a saint for her purity
as model for youth. She is called martyr because
she fought against attempts at sexual assault.
However, the
most important aspect of her story is her
forgiveness of her attacker.
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A Prayer
In Honor of Saint Maria
Goretti
(Feast – July 6) |
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ST. MARIA GORETTI,
Strengthened by God’s grace,
You did not hesitate,
Even at the age of eleven,
To shed your blood
To sacrifice life itself
To defend your virginal purity.
Deign to look graciously
On the unhappy human race,
Which has strayed far
From the path of eternal salvation.
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Teach us all,
And especially the youth,
With the courage and promptness
We should flee anything
That could offend Jesus.
Obtain for me
From God a great horror of sin,
So that, keeping my soul undefiled,
I may live a holy life on earth
And win eternal glory in heaven.
Amen. |
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For more, please
read |
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St. Maria Goretti: In Garments All Red
(Paperback)
by Godfrey Poage |
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Saint of the Day: Lives, Lessons, and Feasts
(Paperback)
by Leonard Foley (Editor), Pat McCloskey (Editor) |
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availability of
atypical art works. Entries are
generally based on the 1926-38 edition
of Butler's Lives of the Saints, with
the length of each entry varying from
one-half page to several pages. Short
entries giving written insight into the
lives of pious individuals are combined
with depictions rendered by artists such
as Raphael and El Greco. An inexpensive
tribute to art and faith more
appropriate for gift-giving than for
libraries. |
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