St. Maria Goretti

Maria Goretti was born in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, on October 16, 1890.

In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed her from her steps and tried to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather die than submit, Alexander began stabbing her with a knife.

As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. Alexander was captured and sentenced to thirty years in prison. He was unrepentant until he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime and living a reformed life. When Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alexander was there in the St. Peter's crowd to celebrate her canonization. She is called a martyr because she fought against Alexander's attempts at sexual assault. However, the most important aspect of her story is her forgiveness of her attacker -- her concern for her enemy extending even beyond death.

St. Maria Goretti is a patroness of youth and of the victims of rape. Her Feast Day is July 6.