St.Maria Goretti

Yesterday I had the privilege to go to Nettuno to the Shrine of St. Maria Goretti. There is a nice church there that was originally and remains dedicated to Our Lady of Grace. There is a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Grace which, according to the account I read at the shrine, was transported from England in the 16th century during persucutions. While on board a ship, it ended up at Nettuno (not far South of Rome). After a few attempts to take it to another destination and being blown back into port at Nettuno, it was thought to be a sign that the statue ought to remain there. After leaving the statue, the ship left port without event. It reamins there to this day in the sanctuatry of the main church.

Our Lady of Grace:



In the lower chapel of the church are the mortal remains of St. Maria Goretti. She was a young woman who, similar to St. Agnes, died at the hand of someone who wanted to take her purity.

Alessandro, her attacker, was forgiven by her before she died and he converted. In 1950 at the canonization ceremony for St. Maria Goretti, he was there at St. Peter's in Rome with the Saint's own mother.

Let us remember the purity and fortitude of faith of this very young girl (11 yrs) whenever there are temptations from within and without in our own lives.

How appropriate for this church dedicated to Our Lady to be also the shrine of St. Maria Goretti. I think that she would not care in the least, being the humble girl she was. In one account of her life I read that she died while looking at a picture of Our Lady.

PRAYER TO ST. MARIA GORETTI

O Saint Maria Goretti, who, strengthened by God's Grace, did not hesitate, even at the age of twelve, to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, deign to look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially modern youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee anything that could offend Jesus and defile our souls with sin. Obtain for us from God a great horror of sin so that keeping our souls undefiled we may live holy lives on earth and win eternal glory in heaven. Amen.

Her Tomb (St. Maria Goretti's body is incorrupt, but what is displayed here does not appear to be her actual body):