MARIA GORETTI, saint, martyr. - B. at Corinaldo (Ancona) on 16 Oct. 1890, d. at Nettuno on 6 July 1902. Having lost her father at the age of 10, struck down by the fevers of the Roman Campagna at Ferriere di Conca, where he had moved in 1899 in search of sufficient work, M. had to take upon herself the care of four younger siblings and also of another family with whom they lived, in order to leave her mother free for agricultural work.
M. was able to fulfil these burdensome duties with prudence, watchfulness, and maturity of judgment. Now, a young man from the other family, seized by mad passion, had already twice sought to bend her to his desires; but in vain. Therefore, taking advantage of her mother's absence, on 5 July 1902 he returned to the attack; but, being vigorously repelled by the girl, he struck her with 14 knife wounds, leaving her lifeless. M. could still be taken to the clinic at Nettuno, where she died the following day, forgiving her murderer.
Beatified on 27 Apr. 1947; canonized on the evening of 24 June 1950, in St. Peter's Square, before thousands of faithful, in the presence of her aged mother and four of her brothers and sisters. Feast day: 6 July.
parezza, ivi 1947; 2nd ed. 1950; A. Gualandi, La b. M. G., martire della purità, ivi 1947; L. Novarese, Mamma Assunta racconta, ivi 1949; AAS, 42 (1950), pp. 579-82; 587-89; Pio XII, Discorsi e radiomessaggi, XII, Città del Vaticano 1951, pp. 119-23. Celestino Testore