Memorial 6 July formerly 5 July

Profile Beautiful, pious farm girl, one of six children of Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. In 1896 the family moved to Ferriere di Conca. Soon after, Maria's father died of malaria, and the family was forced to move onto the Serenelli farm to survive. In 1902 at age twelve, Maria was attacked by 19-year-old farm-hand Alessandro Serenelli. He tried to rape the girl who fought, yelled that it was a sin, and that he would go to hell. He tried to choke her into submission, then stabbed her fourteen times. She survived in hospital for two days, forgave her attacker, asked God's forgiveness of him, and died holding a crucifix and medal of Our Lady. Counted as a martyr. While in prison for his crime, Allessandro had a vision of Maria. He saw a garden where a young girl, dressed in white, gathered lilies. She smiled, came near him, and encouraged him to accept an armful of the lilies. As he took them, each lily transformed into a still white flame. Maria then disappeared. This vision of Maria led to Alessandro's conversion, and he later testified at her cause for beatification.

Born 16 October 1890 at Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy

Died choked and stabbed to death during a rape attempt on 6 July 1902 at the age of 12

Beatified 1947 by Pope Pius XII

Canonized 1950 by Pope Pius XII the ceremony was attended by 250,000 including her mother, the only time a parent has witnessed her child's canonization

Patronage against impoverishment ,against poverty, children ,Children of Mary ,girls, loss of parents, martyrs, rape victims, World Youth Day, young people in general

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