Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin, Martyr- Memoria
The Memoria of St Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr
Today is the memorial of Saint Maria Goretti, virgin and Martyr. A girl whose life and martyrdom remain for us an affirmation of purity and integrity. Her life reminds us of the truth that there is still a reward for purity of life as the book of wisdom 2:22 says, the foolish do not know the secret purpose of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls”.
Maria Goretti was born into a poor peasant family in Italy in 1890. Due to poverty her family shared a house with a man called Serenelli who had two sons. Maria was ten when his father died. But she impressed everyone with her radiant purity for she was naturally kind and pious. But because of her astonishing beauty, one of the Serenelli’s sons by name Alessandro was determined and attempted to defile her. Alessandro would threaten to kill her if she told anyone.
But Maria understood that her life was a gift from God. So, she couldn’t just do whatever she wanted with her life as today’s first reading from 1 Corinthians 6 tells us and said, “Our body is the temple of the holy Spirit. Therefore, we are not our own property, we have been bought and paid for”. As young as Maria was, this knowledge was not obscured in her mind. And this is a complete contrast to what our society has become today all in the name of knowledge and freedom. Our faith teaches us that true freedom does not consist in doing whatever we want with our lives. But rather in seeking the greatest Good which is God. In that way we discover the purpose of our being, the right ordering of our desires and so overcoming the uncontrollable gratification of the flesh which gives rise to the abuse of oneself and others. Maria’s love for the life of purity was so great that she could not allow Alessandro to defile her. One day, Alessandro tried to force himself on Her. Maria resisted, and out of rage, Alessandro stabbed her, not once, not twice but fourteen times. And Maria died at the age of 12, 6th July 1902.
Alessandro was sentenced to 30yrs penal servitude with hard labour. He later repented. Maria was beatified in 1927 and Alessandro released in 1928. When Maria was canonised a saint in 1950, Alessandro was there. After which he spent the rest of his life in a capuchin monastery.
No doubt, Maria’s life is an inspiration for a life of purity for our young people and a mirror for all of us to consider how far our societies have drifted away from God’s plan for human flourishing and true freedom. One might argue and say, well times have changed this sort of life is no longer attainable. But the truth is that, even then it was hard. Maria and Alessandro were both products of their time. But they acted differently. Maria acted for true freedom and happiness and Alessandro for false freedom that enslaves. Maria believed that there is a reward for blameless soul while the other did not. Maria recognised that her life was in God’s hands as today’s psalmist tells us. But the other served and worshiped the immediate gratification of his inordinate desires. So, it is about the choices we make. Today’s memoria invites us to choose the highest good which is God.
Maria, like Christ, died losing her life for the will of the Father. And now like Christ she has been crowned with the eternal glory of martyrdom. And this is what Jesus says in today’s gospel, like a grain Maria fell to the ground and died, and now she has yielded great harvest as she inspires us especially the young people in their resolve to resist the social constructs that try to destroy the innocence of our children and young people. Maria followed the Lord and now wherever Jesus is, his servant Maria will be as Jesus told us in today’s Gospel.
This is a cause of great joy because, once again we celebrate the triumph of grace in Maria’s life. As young as she was she knew the surpassing value of the purity of life.
Reflecting on Maria’s life, I was moved to pray for our young people today. We live in a very difficult time, when it has become very difficult for the young to find an encouraging environment to practice the Christians virtues. There seem to be an attempts to destroy their innocence as early as possible. And this could leave them empty, unfulfilled and craving for rest where there will never be any. We pray for healing and protection for our younger generation. That they may find peace and rest in God’s will for them.
We pray for all those who have suffered child sexual abuse and are having to live with that burden. That they may find rest and healing through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts. May God help them to find strength and grace someday to forgive their offenders. We also pray for people like Alessandro, that the lord will raise them up from the slavery to sin and grant them the freedom of God’s children. We pray for all of us, that in our journey of life, we may not despair in our resolve to live a virtuous life. Because there is a glorious reward for purity of life.
Let us pray
Eternal Father, through the intercession of St Maria, fill us with your love and strengthen our resolve to lead a life of purity and integrity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen
St Maria Goretti, pray for us
The Lord be with you
May almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
God in the peace of Christ.