July 06 2026 - St. Maria Goretti - Lover of Chastity

 

Maria Goretti was born of a poor family in the central Italian town of Corinaldo. Her father died when she was 10 years old. One of the men who had worked with her father, 19 year old Alessandro Serenelli, had made several attempts to seduce the young girl. She told him that he could go to hell for what he wanted to do, but her refusal and her words of faith so angered him that he stabbed her, 14 times.

It took Maria two days to die from those stab wounds.  But as she lay dying, Maria, not only forgave Alessandro, but she said: “I hope that he too will join me in Paradise.”  Maria Goretti was scarcely twelve years old when she died on July 7, 1902. 

Alessandro remained unrepentant for his assault and murder of the young girl, but several years into his prison sentence, Alessandro had a dream in which Maria presented him with a bouquet of lilies. Repentance filled his heart and he turned to the mercy of Christ.  After 27 years in prison, Alessandro was released, and visited Maria’s mother, Assunta, whom he asked forgiveness. “If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness?" she said. Alessandro spent his last years as a third-order Franciscan and died in 1970.

Maria Goretti was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950, and it is the first time in history that the mother of a saint was present at the canonization.  Alessandro was also there, also probably the first time that the saint’s murderer was present at the canonization, and thanks be to God, his soul was right with God. He had testified in her cause for canonization.

It is said that "even if she had not been a martyr, she would still have been a saint, so holy was her everyday life".  And this is such an important lesson for all of his: the holiness of her everyday life helped her at a crucial moment to remain courageous, to forgive and love her murderer with the heart of Christ. And her sanctity brought about the eventual conversion of a very evil man, who probably only died in communion with Christ because of her.

May St. Maria Goretti help us to cultivate a love of innocence, chastity, and forgiveness, and help all of us to remain steadfast in faith in the moment of trial, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Through the intercession of the holy virgin-martyr St. Maria Goretti, may God help all Christians to practice the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and bring about a greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

 

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus.

 

That God may bring about repentance in all those guilty of sin and crime, and that the message of God’s mercy might reach the most hardened hearts.

 

 

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, for victims of abuse, especially children, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

 

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

 

 

 

 

July 6 2021 - St. Maria Goretti, virgin martyr - Lover of Chastity

Today we celebrate the 99th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Maria Goretti. Maria was just 11 years old when one of the men working for her father made several attempts to seduce young Maria.  Her refusal so angered him that he threatened to kill her, which he eventually did, stabbing her 14 times.  Maria died in the hospital after forgiving her murderer.  

God is invoked in the Collect for her feast as the “author of innocence and lover of chastity.” Chastity is a virtue to be practiced by all Christians, and St. Maria Goretti is a model of this virtue for us. Even at the age of 11 Maria knew that giving in to seductive advances outside of marriage is sinful, telling her seducer that God forbids such behavior as sinful and could lead to the damnation of their souls.

Maria had a rightly formed conscience. Her parents brought her to Church and instructed her in the virtues. Her faith rightly guided her. Sadly, so many of our young people have no guidance in these matters save for what they see on television and internet. Sex before marriage and cohabitation are commonplace. But that doesn’t make them right.

Even when her seducer tried to wear down her conscience through multiple attempts to seduce her, Maria remained strong. When there was the threat of death, she remained courageous. Our young people, and all Christians need fortitude and courage in resist the constant and relentless barrage of perverted sexuality in our culture. For perverted sexuality brings only inner emptiness, shame, and dysfunctional relationship. So we do well to invoke St. Maria Goretti as the patron saint of young people and a patron saint of chastity.

Maria loved chastity because Christ loved chastity, and calls all Christians to practice chastity consistent with their vocation in life. And because chastity is beautiful, it attracts souls to Christ. May St. Maria Goretti’s steadfastness help us all in keeping and obeying all Christ commands of us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

O God, author of innocence and lover of chastity, who bestowed the grace of martyrdom on your handmaid, the Virgin Saint Maria Goretti, in her youth, grant, we pray through her intercession, that, as you gave her a crown for her steadfastness, so we, too, may be firm in obeying your commandments.

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Through the intercession of St. Maria Goretti and all the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase in reverence for and practice of the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life. 

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

July 6 2020 - St. Maria Goretti - A holy life prepares us for trial

Maria Goretti was born of a poor family in the central Italian town of Corinaldo. Her father died when she was 10 years old, and one of the men who had worked with her father, 19 year old Alessandro Serenelli, had made several attempts to seduce the young girl. She told him that he could go to hell for what he wanted to do.  Her refusal and her words of faith so angered him that he stabbed her, 14 times.

It took Maria two days to die from those stab wounds.  And On her deathbed, Maria, not only pardoned Alessandro, but she said: “I hope that he too will join me in Paradise.”  Maria died in the hospital after forgiving her murderer.  Maria Goretti was scarcely twelve years old when she died on July 7, 1902. 

Alessandro remained unrepentant for his attempted rape and murder of the young girl, but several years into his prison sentence, Alessandro had a dream in which Maria presented him with a bouquet of lilies—lilies are of course a symbol of purity. Repentance filled his heart and he turned to the mercy of Christ.  After 27 years in prison, Alessandro was released, and visited Maria’s mother, Assunta, whom he asked forgiveness. “If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness?" she said. Alessandro spent his last years as a third-order Franciscan and died in 1970.

Maria Goretti was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950, and it is the first time in history that the mother of a saint was present at the canonization.  Alessandro was also there, also probably the first time that the saint’s murderer was present at the canonization, and thanks be to God, his soul was right with God. He had testified in her cause for canonization, speaking not only of her courageous protection of her purity, but the tremendous holiness the saint had cultivated over those short twelve years.

It is said that "even if she had not been a martyr, she would still have been a saint, so holy was her everyday life".  And this is such an important lesson for all of his: the holiness of her everyday life helped her at a crucial moment to remain courageous, to forgive and love her murderer with the heart of Christ. And her sanctity brought about the eventual conversion of a very evil man, who probably only died in communion with Christ because of her.

May St. Maria Goretti help us to cultivate a love of innocence, chastity, and forgiveness, and help all of us to remain steadfast in faith in the moment of trial, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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Through the intercession of the holy virgin-martyr St. Maria Goretti, for an increase of reverence for and practice of the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.

That the Holy Spirit may guide the selection of a new bishop for the diocese of Cleveland.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, for victims of abuse, especially children, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

July 6 2018 - St. Maria Goretti - Lover of Chastity

Maria Goretti was eleven years old, when she died in defense of her chastity on July 6 1902.  She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950, and it is the first time in history that the mother of a saint was present at the canonization. 

One of the men who had worked with her father, 19 year old Alexander Serenelli, had made several attempts to seduce young Maria.  Her refusal so angered him that he threatened to kill her, which he eventually did, stabbing her 14 times.  Maria died in the hospital after forgiving her murderer. 
It is said that "Even if she had not been a martyr, she would still have been a saint, so holy was her everyday life".  God is invoked in the collect for her feast as the “author of innocence and lover of chastity.”

Chastity is a virtue to be practiced by all Christians, and St. Maria Goretti is a model of this virtue for us. Even at the age of 11 Maria knew that giving in to seductive advances outside of marriage is sinful. Maria would always rebuked the advances of the young man, telling him that God forbids the sinful actions which could lead to the damnation of their souls.

Maria had a rightly formed conscience. Her parents brought her to Church. Instructed her in the virtues. She was very pious. Her faith rightly guided her. So many of our young people have no guidance save for what they see on the internet. Sex before marriage and cohabitation are commonplace. But that doesn’t make them right.

Even when the young boy tried to wear down her conscience through multiple attempts to seduce her, she remained strong. Even when there was the threat of death, she remained courageous. Our young people, and all Christians need fortitude and courage in resist the constant and relentless bombardment of perverted sexuality in our culture. And perverted sexuality brings only inner emptiness, shame, and dysfunctional relationship. So we do well to invoke St. Maria Goretti as the patron saint of young people and a patron saint of chastity, and to share her story.

For Maria loved chastity because Christ loved chastity, and calls all Christians to practice chastity consistent with their vocation in life. And because chastity is beautiful, it attracts souls to Christ. May St. Maria Goretti’s steadfastness help us all in keeping and obeying all Christ commands of us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
- - - - - - - - -

Through the intercession of St. Maria Goretti and all the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase of reverence for and practice of the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of July: That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests. We pray to the Lord.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord