St. Maria Goretti Patron Saint of Young Girls

St. Maria Goretti was an Italian peasant girl and Catholic saint who is remembered for her extreme devotion and her tragic death at a young age. She is considered one of the youngest canonized saints by the Catholic Church and is venerated as a martyr of chastity. Born in 1890 in Corinaldo, Italy, Maria was the youngest of five children in her family.

Maria’s childhood was marked by poverty and hardship, as her family struggled to make ends meet. However, she was known for her deep devotion to her faith and her love of prayer. Despite the difficulties of her life, Maria was said to be a joyful and generous child, always willing to help others.

In 1902, at the age of 11, Maria was attacked and stabbed by a 19-year-old neighbor, Alessandro Serenelli, who attempted to rape her. Despite her severe injuries, Maria forgave her attacker and asked that he be forgiven before she died of her injuries the following day.

Maria’s death and her forgiveness of her attacker made a profound impact on those around her and quickly spread throughout the local community. Serenelli, her attacker, was arrested, tried and convicted of her murder, and served 30 years in prison. He later converted to Christianity and credited Maria’s forgiveness and her intercession for his redemption.

Maria’s mother, Assunta, also forgave Serenelli and testified on his behalf at his trial. Her family, who had always been poor, became destitute after her death, but despite the challenges, they never wavered in their faith.

Maria’s canonization process began just 20 years after her death, and in 1950 Pope Pius XII declared her a saint. Her canonization was widely celebrated, as her story touched the hearts of people all over the world.

St. Maria Goretti is considered a model of Christian purity and forgiveness. Her story has been an inspiration to many and a symbol of the triumph of love and forgiveness over hatred and violence. Her cultus is widely spread and is especially honored in Italy.

Her feast day is celebrated on July 6, and her remains are preserved in the basilica of St. Maria Goretti in Nettuno, Italy, where many people go to pray and ask for her intercession. She is one of the most popular saints among youth and young adults and is known as the “patron saint of young girls and of the youth”

The Life of St. Maria Goretti

Maria Goretti met her violent death in 1902 and was canonized in the Holy Year of 1950. She is thus a saint of our own twentieth century. The Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in such matters, undoubtedly wishes to bring St. Maria Goretti to the attention of the modern world. To a world that has all but forgotten the virtue of purity, the Holy Spirit presents a saint who died in defense of purity. St. Maria Goretti is regarded as the patron saint of girls, youth, purity, and chastity.

St. Maria Goretti Biography

The story of Maria’s life is rather easily told because it was such unfortunately a short life. She was not yet twelve years old when she died. Maria was born October 16, 1890, the third of seven children. Her parents were poor peasants who lived near Corinaldo, in the Province of Ancona, in Italy. The family moved twice and eventually found themselves in the village of Ferriere di Conca, not far from Anzio. Maria’s father, Luigi, formed a partnership with a man named Serenelli, who also shared a house with him. Serenelli had two sons.

Maria was eight and a half when the family moved to Ferriere de Conca. When she was ten, her father was stricken with malaria and died. The mother had to take care of the family and the father’s work at the same time. Maria cheerfully helped her mother in every way possible and did more than her share of the household chores.

St. Maria Goretti Patron Saint of Chastity

Because of their poverty, and because Maria was needed at home, she had no chance to go to school and therefore never learned to read or write. She was remarkably pious and trudged miles on foot for the privilege of hearing Mass. She made her First Communion in 1901, when she was eleven. This was the usual age for First Communion in the days before Pope St. Pius X.

Maria’s unusual beauty attracted the attention of Alessandro, the younger Serenelli boy, who at twenty was wild and undisciplined She spurned his advances, and this only made him more determined Once he made a serious assault upon her, but she escaped. He warned her that if she told her mother or anyone else about the incident, he would kill her. Maria kept quiet but probably not because of the threat.

She simply did not wish to cause trouble between the two families. On July 5, 1902, Maria found herself in the house alone with Alessandro. The young man brought out a dagger and threatened Maria with death if she would not yield to his advances. Thinking more of Alessandro’s spiritual welfare than of her own danger, she cried: “No, no, no! God does not wish it. If you do that, you’ll commit a sin, you’ll go to hell.”

She struggled and tried to call for help, gasping that she would be killed rather than submit. The infuriated Alessandro struck at her with his dagger. As he kept striking, she fell to the floor in a pool of blood. Alessandro plunged the knife into her back and fled. Maria was found soon after that and taken in a horse-drawn ambulance over seven and a half miles of bad roads to the hospital. She lived for twenty-four hours. During that time she became a Child of Mary, received the Last Sacraments, and forgave her murderer.

 

St. Maria Goretti Patron Saint of Young Girls

She died on the afternoon of July 6, 1902. Alessandro was captured and nearly lynched. He was tried and sentenced to thirty years of hard labor. For a long time he was surly, brutal, and unrepentant. Then he had a dream in which he saw Maria Goretti gathering flowers and offering them to him. From that time, he was a changed man. He became such a model prisoner that he was released three years before his term expired. The first thing he did was to visit Maria’s mother and beg her forgiveness.

People regarded Maria as a saint and prayed for her intercession. Miracles were attributed to her intercession. She was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1947 and canonized by him in 1950. Both Maria’s mother and her murderer were still alive when she was canonized. The crowd in St. Peter’s Square was the largest that had ever assembled for a canonization.

Maria Goretti is listed on the rolls of the Church as a martyr because she died in defense of a Christian virtue. The Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Maria Goretti on July 6^th.

 

OTHER SAINTS OF THE SAME NAME:

• The Blessed Virgin Mary, d. about A.D. 45. Mother of Jesus, Queen of all Saints.
• St. Mary of Egypt, d. 430. Penitent who lived in the desert. Feast Day: April 2.
• St. Mary Ann of Quito, 1618-1645 Patron Saint of Ecuador. In 1950 she became the second native of the Americas to be canonized. Feast Day: May 26.

 

Popular St. Maria Goretti Medal and St. Maria Goretti Rosary

Prayers to St. Maria Goretti

Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God’s grace, did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth,with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen.

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Prayer to St. Maria Goretti Before a Date

Dear Little Saint Maria Goretti! Teach me that God must be my first love and that all other love is based on Him and Him alone. Obtain for me the grace to cease toying with the occasions of sin and to remember that my body and the bodies of all in grace are temples of the Holy Spirit, destined someday for a glorious resurrection.

Through your beautiful example, teach me the value and dignity of Christian modesty. Grant that I may never be the occasion of dragging others into Hell, by suggestive words or evil deeds of any kind. Through the merits of your Martyrdom, obtain for me the grace to turn aside from sin, no matter what the cost, so that one day I may enjoy Heaven with you and all the other saints. Amen.

Prayer to St. Maria Goretti

Dear St. Maria Goretti,

You were only 11 years old when you were martyred for preserving your purity. Your courage and unwavering faith in the face of adversity continue to inspire us today. We ask for your intercession and guidance as we strive to live a life of purity and holiness.

Help us to remember the importance of standing firm in our beliefs, even in the face of opposition or harm. May we have the strength to follow in your footsteps, and to always choose what is right and good in the eyes of the Lord.

We ask for your continued prayers and blessings, as we work to live a life that brings honor and glory to God. Amen.

Prayer for Courage and Purity through St. Maria Goretti

Dear St. Maria Goretti,

You faced a terrifying trial with such courage and grace, offering up your life rather than compromise your purity. We ask for your intercession as we face our own temptations and struggles, especially in maintaining our own purity.

Grant us the strength to resist the pull of sin and to remain steadfast in our commitment to live a life of holiness. Help us to remember that true joy and fulfillment can only be found in living a life pleasing to God.

We ask for your guidance and prayers, as we strive to imitate your example of courage, purity, and faith. Amen.

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Maria Goretti

Dear St. Maria Goretti,

You endured such hardship and suffering in this life, yet you remained steadfast in your faith and committed to living a life of holiness. We ask for your intercession as we face our own challenges and difficulties.

Grant us the courage to persevere through trials and to remain focused on the love and mercy of God. Help us to find comfort and peace in knowing that, like you, our suffering can bring about great spiritual growth and blessings if we offer it up to the Lord.

We ask for your continued prayers and blessings, as we strive to imitate your example of courage, faith, and holiness. Amen.

St. Maria Goretti: Patron Saint of Purity and Forgiveness

St. Maria Goretti is considered the patron saint of purity and forgiveness. She was a young Italian girl who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and is known for her devotion to her faith and her unwavering commitment to living a life of purity.

Why is St. Maria Goretti the Patron Saint of Purity and Forgiveness?

St. Maria Goretti was known for her devotion to her faith and her unwavering commitment to living a life of purity. When she was just 11 years old, she was faced with a difficult situation that tested her commitment to her beliefs. Despite the danger she faced, she refused to compromise her values and chose to die rather than sin.

St. Maria’s death and her forgiveness of her attacker have inspired countless people to embrace a life of purity and to forgive those who have wronged them. Her story is a testament to the power of grace and the importance of forgiveness, and serves as a reminder that it is possible to live a life of holiness and integrity even in the face of great adversity.

St. Maria Goretti’s Legacy

St. Maria Goretti’s legacy is one of purity, forgiveness, and grace. Her unwavering commitment to living a life of holiness and her willingness to forgive her attacker serve as a powerful example for people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Her story continues to inspire countless people to embrace a life of purity, to forgive those who have wronged them, and to live a life that is faithful and true. In an age where the values of purity and forgiveness are often challenged, St. Maria Goretti remains a powerful witness to the importance of these virtues and a source of hope and inspiration for all who seek to live a life of holiness and integrity.” “

Reflection on the feast day of St. Maria Goretti

The feast day of St. Maria Goretti is July 6th.

St. Maria Goretti was an Italian teenager who lived in the late 19th century. She is known for her strong faith and her martyrdom, which occurred when she was 11 years old. She was attacked and murdered by a man who had attempted to rape her. Her strong faith and her forgiveness of her attacker have made her an inspiration to many Catholics. She is the patron saint of chastity, rape victims, and forgiveness.

On her feast day, we can reflect on the importance of chastity and the virtue of purity. St. Maria Goretti was only 11 years old when she died, and her virginity was a symbol of her faith and her devotion to God. Her purity and her commitment to chastity are a reminder for us to strive to live pure and chaste lives, especially in a world that often promotes promiscuity.

St. Maria Goretti’s forgiveness of her attacker also reminds us of the importance of forgiveness. Despite the tragic circumstances of her death, St. Maria Goretti was able to forgive her attacker. This is a powerful example of the power of forgiveness, and it is a reminder for us to strive to forgive others, no matter how difficult it may be.

St. Maria Goretti’s sacrifice also reminds us of the importance of standing up for what is right. Despite her young age, she was able to stand firm in her beliefs, even in the face of danger. Her sacrifice is a reminder for us to be courageous in standing up for what is right, and to be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of our faith and for the sake of others.

In conclusion, the feast day of St. Maria Goretti is an opportunity for us to reflect on the importance of chastity, forgiveness, and standing up for what is right. Let us follow the example of St. Maria Goretti and strive to live pure and chaste lives, to forgive others, and to be courageous in standing up for what is right, even in the face of danger.

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