I have no fear, for you are with me

  Today, July 6, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr, we are invited to first read and reflect on a passage from the first letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians (7: 25-40), entitled "Christian chastity". Our treasure, which follows, is from a homily at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti by Pope Pius XII. Maria Goretti (1890–1902) was an eleven-year-old Italian girl who is one of the youngest canonized saints in the Catholic Church. Raised in a poor but deeply faithful family, Maria was known for her love of God, purity, kindness, and prayer. When a young man, Alessandro Serenelli, attempted to assault her, she courageously resisted, choosing to remain faithful to God even at the cost of her life. She died the next day after forgiving her attacker, saying that she wanted him to be with her in heaven. Maria Goretti's martyrdom teaches that holiness is possible at any age and that the power of forgiveness is stronger than hatred or violence. She is honored not only for defending her purity but also for her extraordinary mercy toward the one who killed her. Alessandro later repented, spent the rest of his life seeking God, and even attended Maria's canonization. For young people especially, Saint Maria Goretti is a model of courage, chastity, forgiveness, and unwavering love for Christ. Her life reminds all Catholics that true strength is found in fidelity to God and that His grace can transform even the hardest of hearts. The important message in our "treasure" today from a homily by Pope Pius XII       entitled "I Have No Fear, for You Are With Me," is that God's grace gives even the weakest person the strength to remain faithful to Christ in the face of suffering and temptation. Pope Pius XII presents Maria as a young girl whose courage came not from her own strength but from her complete trust in God. Her willingness to die rather than commit sin demonstrates the incomparable value of holiness and purity. The main takeaway is that true Christian heroism is found in loving God above all else and responding to evil with forgiveness rather than hatred. Maria's final act of forgiving her attacker reveals the transforming power of Christ's love. Pope Pius XII holds her up as a model for all Christians—especially the young—encouraging them to live with purity, courage, and unwavering faith, trusting that God is always with those who remain faithful to Him. The central teaching from our first reading is that every Christian is called to live a life of purity and faithful devotion to God according to his or her vocation. Saint Paul explains that both marriage and celibacy are gifts from God. Marriage is a holy vocation in which spouses love and serve one another, while consecrated celibacy allows a person to devote himself or herself more completely to the service of the Lord. Saint Paul also explains that chastity is not merely the avoidance of sin but the proper ordering of love according to one's state in life. Whether married or single, every Christian is called to live with purity, self-control, and undivided fidelity to God. True chastity frees the heart to love authentically and to seek first the Kingdom of God above all earthly attachments..