Vigilance and prayer are the safeguards of chastity. You should pray
often and fervently to be preserved from temptations against purity, and for the grace to overcome them.
– St. John Baptist de la Salle
Today is the feast day pf St. Maria Goretti, the little 12 year old girl who was stabbed to death for refusing the sexual advances of an older man. While he was making his way towards her she kept shouting that he must stop, becuase it offends God, and he is risking his soul......totally selfless.
The man was so furious he stabbed her multiple times, and as she was dying she said she forgives her attacker, and unites her sufferings to those that of Jesus.
While in prison for his terrible crime, her attacker had a vision of little Maria holding an armful of lillies and she offered them to him...and this triggered his increadible conversion.
In fact, he was present at Maria's cannonization some 60 year later....isn't that increadible?
St. Maria Goretti is the patron saint of purity, a grace we can never have too much of, given our fallen human nature.
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2 comments:
Wonderful saint of purity...nice post..
What a way to go. That girl had the right idea. It'd be nice if she could be a role-model to present day young girls, instead of whatever half-dressed pop band is being promoted in the day. Some person of substance, like St. Maria Goretti, would be a much better model. Great post, Antonia, I'd never heard of that saint before. Thanks for the education.
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