Saint Maria Goretti

Maria Goretti, the daughter of Luigi and Assunta Goretti, was born in Corinaldo, near Ancona, Italy, on October 16, 1890. Her father, a farmworker, later moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio, Italy. Her father died of malaria on May 6, 1900 and her mother had to struggle to feed Maria and her brothers and sisters. Maria had a difficult childhood helping her mother in domestic duties.

Maria was of a pious nature, and often in prayer. In 1902 nineteen-year-old Alessandro Serenelli, the son of her father's partner who lived in the same house with the Gorettis, dragged her into the kitchen and tried to rape her. Maria, not yet 12 years old, resisted, saying "It is a sin! You will go to hell!". When Alessandro saw Maria would not give in to him he stabbed her 14 times with a dagger. Maria suffered from her wounds for two days. She forgave Alessandro as she lay dying in the hospital, saying "For the love of Jesus I forgive him...and I want him to be with me in Paradise. May God forgive him, because I have already forgiven him".

Alessandro was captured and sentenced to thirty years in prison. He was unrepentant for nearly eight years until he had a dream. He was in a garden, Maria was there also and gave him some lilies, which burst into flame when he touched them. When he awoke, he was a changed man. He repented of his crime and lived a reformed life. Alessandro was released after 26 years, four years early because of good conduct. After his release he went to Maria's mother to beg her forgiveness, which she readily gave. When Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alessandro was there in the crowd, as was Maria's mother, at St. Peter's to celebrate her canonization. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII for her purity as a model for all youth.

Maria is called a martyr because she fought against Alessandro's attempts to sexually assault her. However, the most important aspect of her story is her forgiveness of her attacker, her concern for his soul extended even beyond her death. Her feast day is July 6. She is the patroness of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape.


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