St. Maria Goretti: A Model of Forgiveness
July 6th Readings Reflection: Optional Memorial of Saint Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr
“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.”
With these beautiful words in today’s Gospel reading, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Maria Goretti, an eleven year old girl who died defending her purity. When a neighbour tried to rape Maria, she resisted, declaring that such an act would be a mortal sin. Her aggressor, Alessandro, grew violent, but Maria remained steadfast, telling the young man that she would rather die than sin. At this, Alessandro stabbed the girl fourteen times before fleeing. The next day, knowing that she was about to die from her wounds, Maria forgave Alessandro and expressed her desire to see him in Heaven one day. These were her last words before she died a holy death.
Despite being imprisoned, Alessandro remained unrepentant. After six years in prison, he experienced a vision of Maria. She was surrounded by lilies, the symbol of purity. Maria handed Alessandro fourteen lilies, one for each of the times he stabbed her. When the young man took the lilies from the saint, they burned his hand.
After awakening from this vision-dream, Alessandro repented. He received the Sacrament of Penance and asked Maria’s mother to forgive him; the holy woman heroically forgave him immediately, saying that she should not refuse forgiveness when her daughter so readily forgave. After his release from prison twenty-seven years after his murderous act, Alessandro became a lay Franciscan and lived and worked at a monastery until his death.
St. Maria Goretti understood the meaning of Christ’s words in today’s Gospel, and she was not afraid to die rather than commit a mortal sin. She knew that eternal life is more important than the present life on earth and that any suffering she might endure on earth would be far better than an eternity in the fires of Hell without the light of God’s love. So great was her understanding of God’s love that she was able to forgive her murderer as she lay dying in agony.
Forgiveness is not something that comes easily to us, and it is edifying to hear of young Maria Goretti forgiving her aggressor so easily. May St. Maria Goretti pray for us, that we may grow in our understanding of the infinite love God has for each of us, so that we may forgive others as quickly and wholeheartedly as she did.
St. Maria Goretti, ora pro nobis!
