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IN
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Saint
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There
really isn't much to tell about St. Maria Goretti because she died
when she was 12 years old.
Born
in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, on October 16 1890; her farmworker father
moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. Her father died of
malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children.
In
1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed her from her
steps and tried to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather die
than submit, Alexander began stabbing her with a knife.
As
she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. Her
death didn't end her forgiveness, however.
Alexander
was captured and sentenced to thirty years. He was unrepentant until
he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him
flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime
and living a reformed life. When he was released after 27 years he
went directly to Maria's mother to beg her forgiveness, which she
gave. "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold
forgiveness," she said.
When
Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alexander was there in the St.
Peter's crowd to celebrate her canonization. She was canonized by Pope
Pius XII in 1950 for her purity as model for youth.
She
is called a martyr because she fought against Alexander's attempts at
sexual assault. However, the most important aspect of her story is her
forgiveness of her attacker -- her concern for her enemy extending
even beyond death. Her feast day is July 6. St. Maria Goretti is the
Patroness of youth and for the victims of rape.
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