Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of St. Maria Goretti, Patron Saint of all Young Girls and all Rape Victims | July 6

Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of St. Maria Goretti, Patron Saint of Young Girls and all Rape Victims | July 6 Today, we are bringing you the exciting story of a child saint. Can a child become a saint? oh, yes, children can also possess great love for God, like St. Maria Goretti, who at eleven years old died a martyr of purity. Maria Goretti was born of a very poor family on October 16, 1890, in Corinaldo, Italy. Her father died when she was nine, so her mother and siblings had to share a home with another poor family. The good Catholic mother taught her children how to love God above all things and to hate sin. The rule that Maria learned by heart was: “Rather death than sin." Maria was a beautiful girl. She had chestnut hair and an innocent smile, which reflected the beauty of her soul. Her mother and two siblings would go to the farm every day, while she remained at home to care for her youngest sister, cook the food and keep the small house in order. Now, the family with whom they lived had a 19-year old son, named Alessandro, who admired and liked Maria very much. In order to satisfy his desire, he tried to make unchaste advances on her, but she always refused and rebuffed him. One day, while Maria was alone with her little sister, Alessandro came with a dagger. He demanded Maria to give in to his lustful aspiration. But Maria courageously refused and cried out: "No, it's a sin. God does not want it." The alternative for her refusal was death. The dagger soon pierced her body several times and she was taken to the hospital but died the next day. Before dying she prayed for Alessandro and forgave him."... I want him with God in heaven." After her death, many people prayed to her and miracles have been wrought through her prayers. The greatest miracle, however, was the conversion of her murderer, who became the principal witness for her beatification. Since he was a minor when he committed the crime, his sentence was reduced to 30 years. He entered the Order of Friars Minor and served as receptionist and gardener. Maria was 11 years old when she died on July 5, 1902. When she was beatified on April 27, 1947, her mother and siblings were present. On June 25, 1950 Pope Pius XII canonized Maria in the presence of her aged mother, her siblings and Alessandro. St. Maria Goretti is a protector of chastity, patron saint of young girls and rape victims.  Virtue : Love of Jesus, purity of soul and body, serene acceptance of poverty and harsh life. Prayer: Oh, St. Maria Goretti lover of purity, please help today’s teenagers to preserve their virginity amidst the indecency in our world.