There is a commemoration today of Saint Maria Goretti, the twelve-year old virgin martyr who was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1947 and, on June 25, 1950 Maria Goretti became the first saint in the history of the Church to have her mother present at her canonization. Imagine the ecstasy realized by Maria's dear mother who had carried her precious child in her womb at the beginning of the last decade of the nineteenth century.

    She was born in Corinaldo, Italy to a humble sharecropper Luigi Goretti and his wife Assunta Carlini on October 16, 1890 and baptized the next day in the parish church of San Francesco. Six years later Bishop Giulio Boschi, the Shepherd of Senigallia, bestowed Confirmation on October 4, 1896.

    As the child of a poor Italian farmer in the marshy flatlands of central Italy, she and her family moved to the little town of Ferriere, Italy in 1899 in search of work .Desperately seeking to support his family, Luigi Goretti struck up a bargain with Signor Serenelli, who had a son named Alessandro. The two families lived together in a multi-family building owned by Count Mazzolini.

    Strengthened with the sacraments, Maria quickly matured in grace and holiness in the eyes of friends and other acquaintances. After losing her father to malaria, she developed great strength and maturity. Her charming modesty, cheerful obedience and the serious, but free acceptance of a hundred thankless home chores distinguished her from the other children who would play in the dusty streets of Ferriere.

    Perhaps the highlight of her life was her First Holy Communion, which she dutifully prepared for and awaited with great anticipation. She truly seemed to be advancing "in wisdom, and age and grace before God and men." Thus, two years after moving Maria received her First Holy Communion on June 16, 1901 in the church of Conca, today called Borgo Montello.

    Lured by the passions of his day and nurturing the dark side of his soul with impious reading and thoughts, Alessandro Serenelli had been a thorn in lovely Maria's side. He propositioned her on several occasions and harassed her with impure suggestions. When she was nearly twelve the young Serenelli, who lived in the same complex as she and her family, was overcome with fierce passion and made lustful advances towards her. When she refused him on July 5, 1902, reminding him that it was a sin and that chastity was so precious to her, the devil overcame him and he came at her with a knife for he would be denied no longer. As she once again rebuffed his sexual advances, shouting, "No! It is a sin! God does not want it!", Alessandro lunged to the deed, stabbing Maria fourteen times.

    She was rushed to the hospital and all the while prayed for the conversion of her killer, forgiving him. Doctors in Nettuno tried to save Maria's life to no avail. After twenty painful hours of suffering during which she forgave and prayed for Alessandro, Maria entered Heaven fortified with the Last Sacraments. Her last earthly gaze rested upon a picture of the Blessed Mother on July 6, 1902.

    After she died, the young Alessandro was arrested and sentenced to thirty years for her murder. He went to the gallows kicking and screaming and cursing. While in prison he experienced a mystical vision whether in actuality or a dream in which Maria appeared to him and presented him with the same number of lilies as the stab wounds she had received from him. From that point on the young man converted and was a model prisoner. After his release he was a prime witness to her sanctity in talking with the Devil's Advocates for her cause. Alessandro became a lay brother and spent the rest of his days in repentance and reparation for his act. He tended to the garden and his favorite flower he cultivated? What else but the lily.

    Almost fifty years after her death His Holiness Pope Pius XII stood on the steps of St. Peter's in Rome on June 24, 1950 and pronounced Maria Goretti a Saint and Martyr of the Universal Church to half a million people. He proposed her as the Patroness of Modern Youth and set July 6th as her feast Day. Her mother, and her murderer Alessandro, who in prison had converted and retired to a Capuchin monastery upon his release, attended the canonization ceremony together. This was the triumph of the little girl who loved God and hated sin, proof of the fruits of her sanctity.

    Maria Goretti had led a very ordinary life. But in spite of her simplicity, her great faith and love for God made her truly extraordinary, much in the same manner as another saint just before her Saint Therese of Lisieux. Many recorded miracles, both spiritual and physical, have been worked through St. Maria Goretti's intercession. With Our Lady entreating all at Fatima to avoid the sins of the flesh which prompt so many to go to hell, St. Maria Goretti is an edifying role model for all young Catholics to "say no" until marriage and to love Jesus more than any human, and to be willing to offer their lives for Him rather than offending Him so grievously. Source: mariagoretti.org

We want to thank the Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for expediting these resources of the Propers. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

Collect for Saint Maria Goretti Orémus. Deus, Qui famulae Tuae Mariae in tenera aetate victoriam martyrii contuilisti: da nobis, quaesumus, ejus patrocinio in mandatis Tuis constantiam; qui dedisti certanti virgini coronam. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.		Collect for Saint Maria Goretti Let us pray. O God, Thou blessed the young maiden Maria with the victory of martyrdom in her early youth. May we be firm in our obedience to Thy commandments through the intercession and prayers of this virgin whom Thou has crowned in reward for her struggle. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.

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SECRET

Secret for Saint Maria Goretti Placationis Tibi hostiam, Domine, offerimus, qua beata Maria famula Tua, prima jam aetate, didicit corpus suum hostiam sanctam Tibique placentem exhibere. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.		Secret for Saint Maria Goretti O Lord, we offer Thee this sacrifice of atonement, through which the blessed maiden Maria, even in her early youth, offered her body to Thee as a holy and pleasing victim. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.

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POSTCOMMUNION

Postcommunion in Commemoration of Saint Maria Goretti Orémus. Caelisti pane refectis, da, qaesumus, Domine, eam in tuenda corporis et animae castitate fortitudinem: quam famulae Tuae Mariae mirabiliter contulisti. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fiiium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.		Postcommunion for the Commemoration of Saint Maria Goretti Let us pray. O Lord, grant those who have been refreshed with the bread of Heaven the same strength to defend the purity of body and soul that Thou bestowed upon Thy handmaiden Maria. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.

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