St. Maria Goretti

St. Maria Goretti: Small but Mighty For little kids, they have a sense of innocence to them. Not really knowing between right and wrong. Not realizing that there is bad in the world. Kids are kept sheltered until they eventually learn to discover the real world. There comes a time when they know that the world is not all good, because it has taken advantage of his or her innocence. Sometimes they don’t understand it, sometimes they try to understand it but just can’t, sometimes they just have to accept it with no answers. St. Maria Goretti’s life was cut short; she had been taken advantage of, yet begin so young, so refused to give into sin.

According to The Book of Saints, published by The Regina Press, St. Maria Goretti was born in Corinaldo, Italy on October 16, 1890 to Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. Her father was a farm l and her laborer and her family was very poor. Her father moved his wife and five kids to Ferriere de Conca in hopes of better work. There he died of malaria, and Maria was only 9 years old. A mother with 6 kids, and struggling to survive, the family moved onto the Serenelli farm where they worked. On July 5, 1902, an 18 year old named Alessandro Serenelli attacked Maria trying to rape her.

Telling him she’s rather die than give into his commands, angrily he stabbed her 14 times with a long dagger. Maria’s family found her and rushed her to the hospital. She lived for another 24 hours and died holding a crucifix, a medal of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and had forgiven her attacker and asked God to forgive him too. Instead of being filled with anger, she prayer for Alexandro to find peace and for her family to be provided for. She had died before even turning 12 (Hoagland & Angelini). Even though she had died very young she was a great influence after she died.

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Catholic Online states, Alexandro was sentenced to thirty years in prison. He was unrepentant and did not find peace; he could not find remorse for himself or for Maria’s family. Up until he had a dream, in which Maria had appeared to him. He was in a garden, where Maria has came to him and gave him a bouquet of lilies. He woke up a changed man. He turned his life around and began repenting. Twenty seven years after Maria appeared to him he was released. He had gone directly to Maria's mother and begged for her forgiveness. This was not easy for her, but she eventually she forgave him, and said which she gave. If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness” (Catholic Online). According to American Catholic, In 1947, present at her beatification was her mother, two sisters and a brother who all stood with Pope Pius XII on the balcony of St. Peter’s Square. Three years later, at her canonization, in less than half a century after Maria’s death she was canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 25, 1950. Alexandro Serenelli was 66 years old and knelt among the quarter-million people and cried tears of joy. For being so young, she moved the many people of Italy. (American Catholic). St.

Maria Goretti is the ultimate example of moral fidelity and goodness. She’d rather die than give into Alexandro’s commands. Not to mention that she was only 11 years old, and made a strong and exemplary decision. She knew the actions were wrong, and came against what she believed in and she stood up for it. She knew she could have given into Alexandro’s demands in order for her to service, but she didn’t. She had such a strong faith in God and trusted him enough to give up her own life for the greater glory of God. Even though she ended up a martyr she is an example for all people, especially young teenage girls.

She is an example of stand for one’s morals and forgiving those who have wronged against us. Being a teenage girl, St. Maria Goretti is definitely someone I would go to and ask for advice. Hopefully I will never be in a situation like St. Maria Goretti, but girls like she and I face the very same problem every day. Since society and the media these days are suggesting teenage girls should look a certain way, or dress like this or that, wear certain clothes, and girls should act a certain way. If not, they don’t belong, they’re not considered beautiful the way they are, and they’re considered outcasts.

Society and the media constantly shove the idea that sex can get you anywhere, such as by the way you look. Media constantly shows potential “role models” that girls and women should strive to be like. The saying, “sex sells” is very true in our time. Being a teenage girl I feel the pressure for all teenagers is that in order to get a guy to like them they have to lower their morals and standards but raise their shirts and completely change themselves. St. Maria Goretti would be an excellent advice giver on how to stand and stay strong for who you are and not giving in to he demands of sex, or even just advice to not give into peer pressure so easily. I was so shocked to have found out that St. Maria Goretti had died at such a young age, yet she faced the scariest thing any girl could dream of. With such innocence she stayed so strong in her faith, and forgave so easily, at her death bed all she was concerned about was the well being of her family and her attacker, which I find very admirable. To me St. Maria Goretti’s life represents all the everyday actions in my life. Her sacrifice ties in with my decision making.

Her sort life makes me want to life my life to the fullest, but to live it right. I know growing up in this society is hard and confusing; this world has good people and bad people. Like St. Maria Goretti I want to have the courage to choose good and stand up against evil, and not only that, but have my own strength to forgive those who have wronged me. I want to keep my morals and beliefs straight and life my life the way God has called me to live. St. Maria Goretti’s life will help my life and moral journey by remembering to stay strong and do what is right, no matter what the cost may be.

St. Maria Goretti Biography says, “She led a very ordinary life. But in spite of herof her simplicity, her great faith and love for God made her truly extraordinary” (St. Maria Goretti) Kids have this special intuition. They know when something is wrong and when something is right. They know, and no words would have to be spoken. They themselves might not understand the whole situation themselves. But they know a difference between a good and bad feeling. St. Maria Goretti died at a very young age, in a horrible way.

She was too young to understand why Alexandro wanted to harm her, but she knew it was the right thing to do not to give into his orders. She knew it was right to trust God. Works Cited Hoagland, Victor, and George Angelini. The book of saints: the lives of the saints according to the Liturgical calendar. Farmingdale, NY: Regina Press, 1986. Print. "St. Maria Goretti. " The American Catholic,Web. 17 Nov. 2011. "St. Maria Goretti... Pray For Us!. " St. Maria Goretti... Pray For Us!. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. "St. Maria Goretti - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online. " Catholic Online. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.

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