She protected her purity at all costs

BY ELIZABETH MORALES

Saints are often overlooked when depicted in artwork as seen in their glory. It may not be easy for the viewer to relate to, given all of life’s deep wounds, sins and burdens. Thus, it could be understandable to ignore St. Maria Goretti, who is usually portrayed as a young brunette girl with a lily in her hand. It sounds so cliché. Yet, beyond this stereotypical archetype is a human story that was anything but a trouble-free life.

Born in Italy on October 16, 1890, Maria Goretti was the third oldest in a family of seven children. Her parents, Luigi and Assunta, were poor farmers who loved their children but were unable to give them worldly possessions and a basic education. At one point in their life, the family became so poor that they lost their farm and became tenant farmers. They moved their household into a building where they shared living quarters with Giovanni Serenelli, who was said to have been an alcoholic, and his son Alessandro.

Luigi soon became ill with malaria and passed away, leaving Assunta to provide for the family. With her father’s passing, Maria was responsible for cooking, sewing, cleaning, and caring for her youngest sibling Teresa, while her mother worked. Despite being unable to attend formal education, Maria learned more about her faith by walking to church for catechesis. When the time came to receive First Holy Communion, she stood out in more ways than one. Maria was older in her class, and instead of wearing new attire, she wore her mother’s jewelry that had been gifted by her father. On May 29, 1902, she received Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time and then a few times throughout her life, the final time being on her deathbed.

One day when Maria was sewing at her home and watching her younger sister, Alessandro approached her with sexual advances and threatened her life. Maria was strong enough to resist him sexually but could not overcome him physically. He stabbed Maria fourteen times with an awl, and even after trying to escape the scene, he stabbed her three more times. She suffered wounds to her throat, heart, lungs and diaphragm.

When Assunta and Giovanni came to check on the baby, they found Maria in her condition and called for help. Maria was taken to the hospital, and the police took Alessandro into their custody.

The hospital attempted surgery on Maria. At a certain point, she awoke during surgery, and the pharmacist told her to remember him in paradise. She said she would. Maria also expressed concern for her mother and was able to explain what happened, in addition to sharing that Alessandro attempted to rape her two prior times. However, she had not shared with anyone out of fear for her safety. Maria said she forgave Alessandro and hoped he would be with her in paradise. She was given the Viaticum and died within 24 hours of her attack on July 6, 1902, at age eleven.

Alessan dro was sentenced to 30 years in prison due to his age of twenty as a minor and his social circumstances coming from a destitute and neglectful family. While in prison, he remained a closed young man. He did receive a visit from a bishop, Monsignor Giovanni Blandini. Afterward, he mailed the bishop a thank you letter, confiding in him a dream or vision he had of Maria. In this occurrence, she held lilies and offered him one of the flowers, which burned when it touched his hands. After this, Alessandro changed in prison. His behavior became obedient and helpful, so much so that he was released from prison three years early.

Upon his release, he visited the home of Assunta and sought her forgiveness. She forgave him, and both attended Mass together after their many years of suffering.

Alessandro eventually became a brother with the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. At his older age, he penned a letter of regret describing what led to his crime and how Maria was a holy example in his life. He served as a receptionist and gardener within the order until his death at 80 in 1970. Maria was beatified on April 27, 1947, by Pope

Pius XII, with her mother present. He addressed her individually with the words, “Blessed mother, happy mother, mother of a Blessed!”

Then on June 24, 1950, Pius XII canonized Maria. Assunta, a now 82-year-old woman, along with her remaining children was in attendance. At 66 years old, Alessandro was also amongst the hundreds of thousands of audience members present to witness her canonization.

St . Maria Goretti is a patron of forgiveness, purity, chastity, rape victims, girls, youth, teenage girls and poverty. Her memorial is on July 6.