St. Maria Goretti Research Paper

St. Maria Goretti
St. Maria Goretti was an amazing woman and faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Maria had a tough and short life, facing many struggles. Through it all she showed her faith and strength. Knowing God would always be with her, she was always peaceful. Also, she was one of the youngest canonized saints in all of the Catholic Church. I believe all young people can look up to Maria, and have great respect for her.
Maria was born October 16, 1890, in Corinaldo. She was born into a Catholic, farming family, later being baptized and confirmed. Her parents were Luigi Goretti and Assunta née Carlini. She was the third of seven children. Her six siblings were named Antonio, Angelo, Mariano, Alessandro, Ersilia, and Teresa. When Maria was just six years old her

family became so poor that they were forced to give up their farm, move, and work for other farmers. They moved into a building that was shared with another family including Giovanni Serenelli and his son, Alessandro. The Serenelli’s lived upstairs while the Goretti’s lived on the main level. By the time Maria was nine, her father became sick with malaria, and died. The family had to work very hard, and life was really tough. Although things were bad, the family worked together and stayed close.

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One day when Maria was just eleven years old, she was watching her younger sister Teresa.

They were home alone because the rest of the family was working on the farm. Knowing Maria would be alone, Alessandro Serenelli approached her. He was the boy that lived in the same home as the Goretti family. He threatened Maria, and started to choke her. He ended up stabbing her fourteen times before running off. Maria lay lifeless on the porch. With all the commotion, Teresa awoke and started to cry. Hearing the child, Giovanni and Assunta came to check on her, and found Maria bleeding on the ground. They rushed her to the nearest hospital as fast as possible. She went into surgery, but it didn’t matter. Her wounds were too fatal, and she could not be saved. The doctors still attempted to save her and half way through surgery, Maria woke up. She forgave Alessandro Serenelli, and said that she wanted him in heaven with her. In fact, her last words were, “I forgive Alessandro Serenelli … and I want him with me in heaven forever.” She also expressed concern for her mother’s welfare. On July 6, 1902, twenty-four hours after the attack, Maria died of her injuries at the age of

eleven.
Many miracles were attributed to Maria after her death. One miracle that happened was when Alessandro Serenelli changed his whole life around and converted. He repented in jail and was later released. After he was let out, he joined a monastery and lived a religious and peaceful life. Another miracle occurred after Maria’s death, when holy cards were being handed out all around Italy. A man was
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supposed to get his foot amputated the next day, but his wife wrapped the holy card in the bandages around his foot. When the doctor unwrapped his foot the following day, he was completely healed.
In 1950, she was canonized by Pope Pius XII, officially becoming the youngest Roman Catholic saint. Over 200,000 people attended the ceremony. That was the most people ever to attend a canonization ceremony. It was also the first time in history that a mother, Assunta Goretti, was present for the canonization of her own daughter. Maria’sfeast day is celebrated by the Church on July 6. She is the patron saint of purity, rape victims, young women, and youth in general.
Maria Goretti made a big impact on the world by showing others how to act. She is like Jesus in so many ways. She forgave those who sinned against her, and gave herself to God. She was recognized as the “Saint Agnes of the twentieth century” by Pius XII. Maria was and still is a great example for all youth today.
I can learn a lot from Saint Maria Goretti because she was so young, yet so faithful. She died for her faith at eleven years old, and I honestly can’t say that I would have done the same. She not only died painfully, but also forgave her attacker. She did not have to do this, but chose to. At the moment of death and pain, she forgave the person that killed her when she was only eleven. This is amazing and a great example for everyone. Maria Goretti is a true saint.