Homily – July 6, 2009 – St. Maria Goretti

Today we celebrate the feast of a remarkable saint and martyr: Maria Goretti. She was born in Italy in 1890. In 1902 an eighteen year old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed attempted to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather die than submit, Alexander began to stab her with a knife. As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. But even her death did not end her forgiveness. In jail, Alexander was still unrepentant until one night Maria appeared to him in a dream and gave her some flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime and living a reformed life. When he was released after 27 years he went to Maria's mother to ask forgiveness, to which she said: "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness?" Maria was declared a saint in 1950.

Even though she was a young person Maria knew what St. Paul meant when he wrote to the Corinthians that the only reason we have a body is to glorify God. It is itself a temple of his Spirit. And therefore, it ought to be treated with extreme respect and dignity – taken care of by only giving it food and drink that will be truly helpful to its well-being; and not using it for vain purposes, or for any kind of inappropriate activities that are outside of God's plan for it!

And as for Maria's death: Jesus prophesied the death of his beloved martyrs by saying that the grain of wheat must fall to the earth and die to produce much fruit: the death of Maria Goretti is still bearing fruit today – because on this day the church preaches forgiveness for one's attacker – that extends even beyond death! This is amazing proof of the power of God's grace working through us very poor and weak human beings! Blessed are they who persevere in temptation for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life!