I knelt in prayer less than a foot away from the relics of St. Maria Goretti, overwhelmed by the immensity of mercy from such a small child.
I’ve gone on my share of pilgrimages — some tinged with a little sadness, others so joyful I could barely stand it, but this pilgrimage to visit St. Maria Goretti touched me deeply in an unexpected way. I think it stirred my heart and challenged me unexpectedly.
Maria died a martyr’s death, murdered violently by a young man, Alessandro, who attempted to rape her. Her cries appealed to his soul, “It is a sin! God does not want it!” While the rape was thwarted, he fatally wounded her, stabbing eleven-year-old Maria over a dozen times. She survived into the next day, long enough to describe the scene with her assailant, Alessandro Serenelli, and to forgive him.
Alessandro served a thirty-year prison sentence for the murder. Upon his release, he sought Maria’s mother, Assunta, to beg for forgiveness. She forgave him, explaining that she could not withhold what Maria had already freely given him. So many feels this morning as I knelt close to St. Maria’s remains!
How could Alessandro face Assunta? How could Assunta offer her forgiveness? It is, for me, the action of the Divine Mercy, Christ Himself, who forgives us and asks us to do the same.
A growing devotion to the Divine Mercy in recent years, a visit to Cuba and meeting Pope Francis, Missionary of Mercy, and now, venerating the relics of St Maria Goretti, on this Pilgrimage of Mercy, well…I am certain that I will be entering into the Year of Mercy with an open heart.
Read her entire story, including the amazing account of how both her mother, Assunta, and her assailant, Alessandro, attended her canonization: Pilgrimage of Mercy: St. Maria Goretti.
If you have a chance to visit this moving display, you owe it to yourself to go. If it didn’t come to your town or you missed it, I’d like to offer one of my readers the pair of holy cards distributed at the church. One card is a prayer for Alessandro Serenelli, and was touched to the letter he wrote to the world. The other card, of St. Maria Goretti, has a prayer and was touched to her relics, making it a third class relic.
Leave a comment if you’d like a chance to receive this lovely reminder of the gift of mercy. I’ll select the recipient on November 2nd with a random drawing.
She was up in New Hampshire and I missed it……what an amazing saint! The wisdom of one so young.
Yes. To see how tiny she was, a mere child, blew me away.
I missed it–found out too late to be able to go. I am also struck by her youth. I volunteer at a grade school each Friday and spend half the morning with kids that age. Little children! Seeing these hoots really brings that home to me.
Oh, autocorrect, you will be the death of me, PHOTOS, not “hoots”!
Yes — it was amazing. I don’t quite know how I’d talk to small children about her — carefully, I’m sure — and yet — it’s children closest to this purity!
Wish I lived closer, would have been an awe inspiring visit. Thanks for sharing, Maria. Would love to have her holy card. I love getting your posts,makes my day. Hugs and love and to John.
Thanks Judy 🙂
Hugs all around for you and the King!
I just couldn’t get there! I would love a set of the prayer cards. Thank you for the great perspective of your pilgrimage.
It’s beautiful to see how she continues to demonstrate her example to the world. Good luck.
I don’t live in the area; I’m in California. I did see film on EWTN News Nightly. I’ve always been a huge fan of this pure child. She’s a great model for our children. You just don’t see that type of virtue anymore.
Oh yes! I agree.
Thank you so much for bestowing upon me the card of St. Maris. I have placed it near my husband, praying for Mercy and Healing!
God bless you both