ST. MARIA GORETTI
(1890 - 1902)
St. Maria Goretti was born on October 16, 1890 in Corinaldo, Italy, some four hours by train south of Rome. She was the third child of seven. Tonino died after living only eight months. Alessandrino died in America in his twentieth year. Angelo just died on November 14, 1965 and had lived in America since the death of Maria. Mariano lives in Naples. Teresa, the baby in the next room when Maria was killed, is now Sister St. Alfredo, a Franciscan Nun. Ersilia, three years older than Teresa, lived near her convent.
Owing to extreme poverty, the family migrated to Ferrere diConca, a village near the Anzio Beachhead. To make ends meet, Maria's father, Luigi, shared the business and a home with a family named Serenelli. The Serenelli family had two sons, one, Alessandro, killed Maria.
Maria was eight and one-half years of age when the family settled in Ferriere. Even at that age, Maria was known for her unusual serious-mindedness and piety, as well as for her pretty features. She would walk for miles for the privilege of hearing Mass. At Ferriere there was no parish church, nor priest. Her mother, Assunta, gave her permission to walk every day to the village of Mazzoleni where she received cathechetical instructions, she received her First Holy Communion on May 29, 1902, the Feast of Corpus Christi. She was to receive Holy Communion only FOUR more times before her death.
During her ninth year, 1900, her father died, and she had to assume complete care of six children and also cook for the Serenelli family as well. Being a beautiful child, she attracted the attentions of the twenty-year-old son, Alessandro Serenelli, who made many advances towards Maria. He had threatened to kill her and her family if she told her mother about his disgusting advances which she always repelled.
Maria was ten days short of her eleventh birthday when Alessandro tried to force his intentions on her. She repeatedly called out to him, "NO, IT IS A SIN, YOU WILL GO TO HELL." Failing in his efforts to molest her, Alessandro struck Maria no less than fourteen times with a butcher's knife.
Maria lived for twenty more hours during which time she received Holy Communion, and openly forgave her murderer. She died on the vigil of the Feast of the Most Precious Blood, July 5, 1902. Her feast day is kept in the church on July 6.
Even at her funeral the townspeople proclaimed her a saint!
On March 25, 1945, Pope Pius XII proclaimed that she was truly a martyr and needed no proof of miracles in order to be raised to the Dignity of a Beatified.
On April 27, 1947, the same Pope beatified her.
On May 4, 1947, a woman deathly sick with dropsical pleurisy, after praying to Maria Goretti was instantly cured.
On May 8, 1947, a man who entire foot was crushed to pieces by a mountain landslide, invoked Maria's name and his foot instantly returned to normal.
On June 24, 1950, before 250,000 in St. Peter's Square, Pope Pius solemnly canonized her and on June 25, 1950, the same Pope offered Mass to her inside St. Peter's Basilica. Maria's mother and family were present for these rites of the church.
Maria is buried in the Passionist Church of Our Lady of Grace, Nettuno, Italy, where she was buried more solemnly on January 26, 1929.
What happened to her murderer? Alessandro, since he was under twenty-one years of age at the time of the murder, was sentenced to thirty years imprisonment. For good behavior, he was released four years short of the thirty.
During the Christmas season of 1937, Alessandro deliberately went to Maria's mother, Assunta, to ask forgiveness. Assunta's words were "Maria has already forgiven you." The next day, Maria's mother and her murderer received Communion together.
Alessandro still lives and works as a gardener in a Capuchin Monastery near Nettuno, Italy. At the death of Angelo Goretti, Alessandro sent him flowers.
In his special sermon during the Canonization, Pope Pius XII said: "We greet you, oh beautiful and lovable saint! Martyr on earth, and angel in heaven, look down from your glory on this people, loving, venerating, glorifying and exalting you. On your forehead you bear the full brilliant and victorious name of Christ; in your virginal countenance may be read the strength of your love and the constancy of your fidelity to your Divine Spouse; as His bride espoused in blood, you have traced in yourself His own image. To you, therefore, powerful intercessor with the Lamb of God, we entrust these our sons and daughters who are present here, and those countless others who are united with us in spirit. For while they admire your heroism, they are even more desirous of imitating your strength of faith and your inviolate purity of conduct. Fathers and mothers have recourse to you, asking you to help them in their task of education. In your, through our hands, the children and all the young people will find a safe refuge, trusting that they shall be protected from every contamination, and be able to walk the highways of life with that serenity of spirit and deep joy which is the heritage of those who are pure of heart."
PRAYER TO ST. MARIA GORETTI
O 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, deign to look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially modern youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee anything that could offend Jesus and defile our souls with sin. Obtain for us from God a great horror of sin so that keeping our souls undefiled we may live holy lives on earth and win eternal glory in heaven. Amen.
July 6 Annual Feast Day
October 16, 1890 Maria Born in Corinaldo
October 17, 1890 Maria Baptized
October 4, 1896 Received Confirmation
May 6, 1900 Maria's father, Luigi died
May 29, 1902 Received First Communion, Corpus Christi Feast
July 5, 1902 Attacked by Alessandro
October 11, 1902 Killer sentenced 30 years imprisonment
In 1906 three brothers traveled to America
In 1917 brother, Alessandro died in America; brother, Mariano returned to Italy; Angelo remained here
March 7, 1929 Alessandro released from prison after 27 years
December 24, 1935 Alessandro Serenelli went to Assunta, now living in Corinaldo to seek forgiveness and both received Communion at the Midnight Mass
March 25, 1945 Pope Pius XII declared her a true martyr
May 5, 1947 Woman cured of dropsy
May 8, 1947 Man's foot totally crushed, cured instantaneously
April 27, 1949 Beatified by Pius XII
June 24, 1950 Declaired a Saint by Pius XII before 250,000
October 8, 1954 Mother, Assunta Died
June 25, 1960 First Mass in her honor as Saint in St. Peter's
November 14,1965 Her brother, Angelo died (had lived in North Jersey)