Saint Maria Goretti

St. Maria Goretti was born 16 October 1890 in Corinaldo Italy. She was the third of six children in a poor farming family.  Her father died when she was only nine years old.  She took over household duties from her mother, while her mother worked in the fields. On 5 July 1902, Alessandro who was a nineteen year-old entered Maria’s house and attacked her because of sex.  She fought to stop him, but he stabbed her eleven times. The following day, 24 hours after the attack, Maria forgave to Alessandro and wanted to have him in Heaven with her. After the death of Maria, her body was buried in the cemetery of the Passionists at Nettuno.

On 24 July 1950, Maria Goretti was declared a saint in Saint Peter's Square by Pope Pius XII. St. Maria Goretti was the first Passionist martyrs. She is the patron saint of chastity, rape victims, youth, teenage girls, poverty, purity and forgiveness.