|
|
|
Prayer to
St Maria Goretti
Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace,
did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation.
Teach us all, and especially youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven.
Amen.
Dedicated
In Loving Memory of
Ashley M. Scanlon-Smith
December 11, 1990 ~ November 14, 2008 |
Saint Maria Goretti
By: Ashley Scanlon-Smith
January 10, 2008
The life of Saint Maria Goretti:
Maria was born in Corinaldo,
Ancona,
Italy, on October 16, 1890. Her father died of malaria and her mother struggled to feed her and her siblings. When she was only twelve years old, her neighbor and family friend, eighteen year old Alessandro, grabbed her from her steps and attempted to rape her. When she refused and said she’d rather die, Alessandro began stabbing her with a knife. Twenty hours later, while she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alessandro, and then later was pronounced dead, on July 6, 1902. Maria, not only forgave Alessandro, but prayed for him, so that he would be forgiven from the father as well. As Maria lay there dead in the hospital, she was found holding a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Alessandro was captured soon after, and sentenced for thirty years. Refusing to repent, his mind soon changed one night as he had a dream he would never forget. Maria was present in this dream and she has brought him flowers. When he woke, he was changed to a new man. He started a new life, a new life with God and for God. On the day of Maria’s canonization he was present, as well as Maria’s mother. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII, on June 24, 1950.
St Maria Goretti is the Patron saint of: youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape.
I chose Maria Goretti as my confirmation saint, for a lot of different reasons. First and foremost, her dedication and love for God, is the one thing that stood out most to me when reading and researching about her. She is such a beautiful woman of God, and so faithful to our Lord. Her strength and maturity in the situation she was placed in, is an extraordinary example of great faith. She is a wonderful role model to me and many others.
Through my walk of faith and my journey through life, living for God, I can only hope one day I will understand and forgive, as Maria did. Her purity is something I look up to. I pray that I can be as strong-willed as her, and stand up for what I believe is right, no matter what the consequence might be. I also pray I would gain her bravery faith. A faith as strong as Maria’s, would definitely be something I would hope to one day have in common with her. St Maria Goretti, pray for us. |
