SAINT MARIA GORETTI

(VIRGIN AND MATYR)

Born – 16th October 1890
Died – 6th July 1902

Saint Maria Goretti (Virgin and Martyr) whose feast is on July 6th was born to the Goretti Family on a small farm near Ancona, Italy in 1890. She lost her father at the tender age of nine (9years) and was left with her brothers and sister to the care of their devoted mother. As their lives depended on the farm, they had to employ the services of an elderly man to help them with their harvest and this man came to live in with them with his son Alexander who later became the salvage storm that broke upon Maria.

Little Maria was a highly devoted girl and very fond of the Eucharist. In her days, children were only admitted to the Holy Eucharist at the age of twelve (12 years) but Maria followed her elder one to learn the doctrine and because of her exceptional knowledge of the Christian doctrine and her love for the Eucharist, she was admitted to receive the Holy Eucharist at the age of eleven years (11 years). Least did she know, she was preparing herself the crown of Martyrdom.

Alexander, the wicked-minded youth, started making advance towards Maria but she turned them down. She did not even tell her mother because Alexander had threatened to kill her if she did (obedience).

On the fateful day in which Maria received the blow that made her a martyr; Alexander had gone to the farm with his father and Maria’s mother leaving Maria at home to take care of the younger ones. On the farm, Alexander pretended to be sick and sneaked away, back to the house where he threatened to kill Maria if she did not agree to his evil demand. Maria said, “No, it is a sin. God doesn’t want it”. Alexander stabbed her 14 times and locked himself up in a room thinking Maria was dead.

But Maria did not die that day. She was taken to the Hospital in the nearby town of Nethuno. She was miraculously kept alive for three purposes:
i) To tell the truth of what happened.
ii) To forgive Alexander. When asked about her attitude towards Alexander, she replied clearly, “I forgive him, I will pray for his repentance and I hope to see him in heaven”.
iii) To make last confession and receive Holy Communion.

On the 6th of July, 1902, this saintly maiden died and went to meet her heavenly spouse for whose love she had been willing to give up her life.

On July 25th 1950, within such a short space of her death/she was cannonised a Saint; with her mother, brothers and sisters present; a unique event in the history of the church. By that time, her prayers for her murderer had been answered. After eight years of unrepentant imprisonment, Alexander had a complete change of heart and was released for good behavior after twenty-seven (27) years. He hastened to beg forgiveness of the Saint’s mother and then became a capuchin lay brother. He gave evidence at the cannonial enquiry about Blessed Maria and lived to see her cannonised.