VEYO Patron Saints

St. Maria Goretti

Born: October 16, 1890
Died: July 6, 1902
Canonized: 1950
Feast Day: July 6th
Patron Saint of: young girls, rape victims and young people in general

Maria was a beautiful, pious farm girl, one of six children, born to Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini in 1890. In 1896 the family moved to Ferriere di Conca.  Soon after, Maria’s father died of malaria, and the family was forced to move onto the Serenelli farm to survive.

In 1902, at age twelve, Maria was attacked by 19 year old farm-hand Alessandro Serenelli. He tried to rape the girl who fought, yelled that it was a sin and that he would go to hell. He tried to choke her into submission, and then stabbed her fourteen times. She survived in hospital for two days, forgave her attacker, asked God’s forgiveness of him, and died holding a crucifix and medal of Our Lady. 

While in prison for his crime, Allessandro had a vision of Maria.  He saw a garden where a young girl, dressed in white, gathered lilies. She smiled, came near him and encouraged him to accept an armful of the lilies. As he took them, each lily was transformed into a still white flame. Maria then disappeared. This vision of Maria led to Alessandro’s conversion, and he later testified at her cause for beatification and was present at her canonization in 1950.

Maria is called a martyr because she fought against Alessandro'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.

For more info see

• http://www.catholic-forum.com/Saints/saintm09.htm
• http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=78