St. Maria Goretti. My Chastity, My Glory.

“If the God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, Your Majesty, He will save us; and even if He does not, then you must know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18. NJB). This was the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to King Nebuchadnezzar. Such, also, was the reply of the pure virgin Maria Goretti to her murderer. The only difference is that, while God saved the three men of old from the fiery furnace, He saved Maria Goretti from the pains and worries of this life unto a life of endless peace and joy.

                Maria Goretti was Born on the 16^th October, 1890 in Corinaldo, in the Ancona Province in Italy. She was the third of the seven children of her parents. Her Father, a farmer, died when she was still nine. Consequently, the mother and some of Maria’s other siblings had to work harder in the farm, to sustain the family. Maria, in turn, would have to take care of the household chores which included cooking, sewing, taking care of her baby sister, Teresa and so on. The family, also, had to share a house with another family which included Giovanni Serenelli and his son, Alessandro. At a very tender age, Maria showed so much sense of devotion and virtue that her life was exemplary.

                Maria’s family sharing a house with another family resulted in her virtue been tested many times by several sexual assaults from Alessandro, with whom they shared a house. Nevertheless, she stood faultless as a gallant soldier of Christ. However, on the 5th of July 1902, the little pious girl, not yet up to twelve years of age, was outside doing her sewing, Alessandro knowing that she would be alone at that time of the day, returned from the farm and tried to rape her. She resisted, insisting that it is a mortal sin and that they would go to hell. Alessandro, infuriated by her refusal stabbed her with a dagger, 14 times. Maria’s baby sister, Teresa awoke with the noise and began to cry. When her family returned, they rushed her to the hospital. The doctors tried their best to rescue her but it was beyond them. The next day, 24 hours after the attack, after forgiving Alessandro and expressed her desire to see him in heaven, she died. Alessandro on his part, was sentenced to prison. He repented during his imprisonment and when he returned, he begged pardon of the family of Maria. Maria Goretti was beatified on April 27, 1947. She was canonized on June 24, 1950. Her mother, four of her siblings and Alessandro, her murderer was present at her canonization.

                The Life of this virgin is for us today, a shining example especially as we experience a world were sexual immorality is enthroned, almost, as a normal way of life. Her life teaches us the importance of Chastity and that our purity is worth dying for. She died because she does not want to be defied. How many persons today, engage in sexual immoralities only to satisfy their sinful desires. Let us look on her and learn the value in Chastity. St. Paul warns us, “Keep away from sexual immorality. All other sins that people may commit are done outside the body; but sexual immoral person sins against his/her own body. Do you not realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you and whom you received from God? You are not your own property, then; you have been bought at a price. So use your body for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 6:18-20), and in another place, “The sexual immoral, …, adulterers, self-indulgent, sodomist, …, none of these will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10)

                It is, obviously, the fact that such a heroic act is not a fruit of one-day labour. The repeated resistance, the serenity at the face of death and the forgiveness she offered to her murderer are all signs of a heart fully dedicated to God in continuous prayer and extended practice of virtue.

What effort are you making to dedicate your entire life and heart to God?

What time do you give to God?

During her treatment, she woke up. The Pharmacist begged her, "Maria, think of me in heaven." She looked at him and said, "Well, who knows, which of us is going to be there first?" "You, Maria," he replied. "Then I will gladly think of you," she said. She would think of you, too, if only you can ask for her intercession especially against sexual immorality.