St. Maria Goretti

Today is the feast day of St. Maria Goretti. St. Maria died very young, at the age of twelve. Her attacker was 18 year old Alessandro Serenelli who began stabbing her with a dagger when she struggled against his attempt to ravage her. Right before she died at the hospital, she forgave her attacker, who was taken to jail. For years Alessandro remained unrepentant, until he had a dream, or vision of the young Maria, gathering flowers and offering them to him. His life changed drastically, and upon his release, he begged the forgiveness of her mother.

When she was cannonized in 1950, Alessandro was among the crowd who came to celebrate.

This young woman's story is an amazing account of forgivness and love. When Christ commanded us to love our enemies, He must have meant something like this. Through her selfless ability to forgive, despite suffering terrible wrongs, she obtained the salvation of Alessandro's soul. Her profound insight helped her to look past the pains suffered in this world to think of the life to come, not only for her, but for her attacker as well. In light of such breathtaking courage, forgiving those who hurt us seems a little bit easier, doesn't it? Amen.

Vincent Chrisitan