On April 27, 1947, Pope Pius XII beatified Maria Goretti, an 11-year-old Italian girl who was murdered.
Maria Goretti was born in 1890 in a poor family in the Marche region of Italy. She was the eldest of six children and, despite their difficult situation, her family was very close-knit and deeply religious. Maria herself had a great devotion to the Virgin Mary.
In 1902, when she was 11 years old, Maria Goretti was sexually assaulted by a neighbor, a 20-year-old man named Alessandro Serenelli. When she refused his advances, he stabbed her 14 times. Maria succumbed to her injuries the following day.
Despite the seriousness of her injuries, Maria forgave her attacker before she died. She had even expressed the wish that he be present at her canonization.
The beatification of Maria Goretti in 1947 was widely hailed by Catholics around the world. She became a symbol of Christian virtue and purity. Alessandro Serenelli, on the other hand, eventually repented and became a devout Catholic. He even attended Maria Goretti's canonization in 1950.
Maria Goretti was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, who emphasized her example of courage and forgiveness towards her attacker. She is now venerated as the patron saint of young girls and victims of rape.
The beatification of Maria Goretti is a reminder of the strength of faith and forgiveness, even in the most difficult situations. Her life and martyrdom continue to inspire Catholics around the world.
Torvindus~commonswiki, Public domain, https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Goretti#/media/Fichier:Maria_Goretti.jpg
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