Saint Maria Goretti
On July 6th we celebrate the life of Saint Maria Goretti who was born near Ancona, Italy, in 1890. She came from a larger family with six older brothers and sisters. Her family lived together with her father’s business partner and his son, Alexander. As Maria grew, Alexander began making sinful advances on Maria. He warned her that if she ever told anyone he would kill her and her mother. As such, Maria remained silent. One day, Alexander became so enraged by her refusal to sin with him that he started to stab her repeatedly with a long dagger. Several of the stab wounds went all the way through her body. Maria was rushed to the hospital where the doctors tried to save her but it quickly became apparent that she would not survive. The next morning she was asked how she felt about Alexander and she replied that she forgave him and that she will pray for his repentance as she would like to see him in heaven. Afterwards she received communion and died on July 6, 1902. Maria was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, with her mother, brothers, and sisters present. She received her wish for Alexander as 27 years after her death he was released from prison on good behavior and became a Capuchin lay brother, after a complete change of heart.