"For the love of Jesus I forgive him, and I want him to be with me in heaven" Feast Day: 6 July

Maria Goretti was the Italian teenager who refused to compromise her sexual purity to a lustful acquaintance of her family, a man who eventually brutally murdered her. He eventually converted to Christianity by her witness, and amazingly stood by Maria's mother at the canonisation. As a martyr or "witness" to chastity in the 20th century she provides a wonderful example of the simple and powerful victory of Christ in a world that is so much in need of such testimony.

A patroness of youth, Maria Teresa Goretti was born in Corinaldo, Italy, in 1890. She was the second child of Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini; simple country folk struggling in financial poverty. In 1899, Luigi Goretti moved his family to le Ferriere di Conca, near modern Latina, where they lived in a building they shared with another family ' Signor Giovanni Serenelli and his teenage son, Alessandro.

After losing her father to malaria when she was just nine, Maria quickly developed great strength and maturity. She looked after the household and cared for her five younger siblings whilst her mother worked in the fields. Her iron-will became a key aspect contributing to her saintly martyrdom, as was the advice from her mother which she treasured in her soul, 'never commit sin at any cost'.

On 5 July, 1902, 19-year-old Alessandro Serenelli found 11 year-old Maria sewing alone watching over her sleeping baby sister, Teresa. After numerous failed attempts, Serenelli tried again to subdue Maria into a sexual relationship, threatening to kill her if she did not submit. Maria pleaded with Alessandro that he was risking eternal damnation.

Alessandro began choking Maria, who refused to surrender to him, insisting that she would rather die. Enraged, Alessandro stabbed little Maria 11 times. Barely alive, Maria crawled to the door as the assailant launched one more attack, stabbing her three more times.

Maria underwent surgery, but her injuries proved fatal. The following day, the parish priest of Nettuno brought her Viaticum (Holy Communion at the hour of death) and asked whether she forgave Alessandro. "Yes! Yes!" she replied, "For the love of Jesus I forgive him, and I want him to be with me in heaven!"

On 6 July, after 20 hours of painful suffering, Maria died.

Alessandro Serenelli received 30 years in jail, living the first eight showing no signs of remorse for his crime. On 10 October, 1910 Alessandro revealed that, as he lay on his prison bunk, Maria Goretti appeared to him in a dream and handed him white lilies which turned into flames in his arms. Soon after, he admitted his guilt and his victim's innocence and virtue.

Declared a saint on 24 June, 1950 by Pope Pius XII, both Maria's mother and murderer were present at her canonisation.

Though only young, St Maria Goretti exhibited the gifts of right judgement and fear of the Lord. WYD08 pilgrims can pray to this young girl for the grace to live modestly, with pure affection and love in your relationships.

Saint Maria Goretti, witness to chastity and forgiveness - pray for us