Italian girl who died in 1902 at age 11 resisting assault, forgiving her attacker before she died.
Life
Maria Goretti was born in 1890 to a poor farming family in Corinaldo, Italy. The family moved in search of work to the marshlands south of Rome, and when her father died of illness there, young Maria helped her mother by caring for her younger siblings and running the household.
In 1902, eleven-year-old Maria resisted the violent advances of Alessandro Serenelli, a young man from the family who shared their home, and he stabbed her repeatedly. The next day in the hospital she said she forgave him, and then she died. In prison Alessandro later repented deeply, and after his release he asked Maria's mother for forgiveness. Maria was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
Spirituality
Maria Goretti's spirituality is purity and forgiveness. Though very young, she sought to keep what was right before God, and just before death she forgave the one who had harmed her. That forgiveness finally bore fruit in her attacker's conversion. Her short life shows that suffering can be transformed by love.
Reflection
Maria Goretti's forgiveness changed a man's life. Forgiveness gives birth to miracles. Could I offer a short prayer today for someone I have not yet been able to forgive?