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St. Maria Goretti, Forgive All Injuries

Feast Day July 6 (1890 to 1902)

Born in 1890, Maria Goretti lived with her widowed mother and her siblings in a small Italian village near Anzio. In 1902, when she was just twelve years old, Maria was attacked by an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alessandro Sarenelli. Sarenelli grabbed Maria and attempted to rape her.

As he attacked her, Maria told Alessandro that she would rather die than submit. He subsequently choked and stabbed her to death. Before she died, Maria forgave Alessandro.

Alessandro was soon captured and was sentenced to a lengthy jail term. During his early years in jail, Alessandro was unrepentant. This changed quickly after Maria appeared to him in a dream. In his dream, Alessandro saw a young girl holding a bouquet of lilies. She approached him, smiling, and handed him the flowers. As he took them, they turned into flames. The dream ended, but Alessandro's life as a repentant Christian was at its beginning.

After 27 years, Alessandro Sarenelli was released from prison. He rushed to Maria's mother, and begged her forgiveness. "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness, " she said.

Maria Goretti was canonized a saint in 1950. Alessandro Sarenelli joined with the crowd in St. Peter's to celebrate the act of love and forgiveness that lead to her canonization.

Maria Goretti is considered the patroness of young people and of purity. Her feast is celebrated on July 6.