MARIA GORETTI, Saint, Martyr. — Born at Corinaldo (Ancona) on 16 Oct. 1890; died at Nettuno on 6 July 1902. Having lost her father at the age of ten—he had succumbed to fever contracted in the Roman countryside at Ferriere di Conca, where the family had moved in 1899 in search of sufficient work—Maria was obliged to take charge of four younger siblings and also of another family with whom they lived, so that her mother might be free to work in the fields.
Maria fulfilled these heavy duties with prudence, vigilance, and mature judgment. Now, a young man from the other family, seized by ungovernable passion, had already twice attempted to bend her to his will; but in vain. Therefore, taking advantage of the mother’s absence, on 5 July 1902 he renewed his assault; but the girl resisted him vigorously, whereupon he struck her with fourteen knife wounds, leaving her lifeless. Maria was still able to be taken to the clinic at Nettuno, where she died the following day, having forgiven her murderer.
Beatified on 27 Apr. 1947; canonized on the evening of 24 June 1950 in St Peter’s Square before thousands of the faithful, in the presence of her aged mother and four of her brothers and sisters. Feast day, 6 July.