Feast of St. Maria Goretti July 6 Patron of the Youth Youngest Patron for World Youth Day 2008

St. Maria Goretti Patron of youth, young women, purity and victims of rape with lily and palm St. Maria was born in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, on October 16 1890; her farmworker father moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. Her father died of malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children. In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed her from her steps and tried to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather died than submit, Alexander began stabbing her with a knife. As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. Her death didn't end her forgivness, however. Alexander was captured and sentenced to thirty years. He was unrepentant until he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him 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 directly to Maria's mother to beg her forgiveness, which she gave. "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withold forgiveness," she said. When Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alexander was there in the St. Peter's crowd to celebrate her canonization. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950 for her purity as model for youth. She is called a martyr because she fought against Alexander's attempts at sexual assault. However, the most important aspect of her story is her forgiveness of her attacker -- her concern for her enemy extending even beyond death. http://www.mariagoretti.org/mariabio.htm

Flower of the Day White Lily "Annunciation Lily", Symbol of Mary's Immaculate Purity Two flowers, above all others, are emblematic of the Blessed Virgin. They are the rose and the lily. At the Feast of the Visitation (July 2), commemorating the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, the Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum) is a symbol of Mary's virginity, and almost all art depicting this visit has a vase of these lilies, usually with three blosso ms, included. The pure white sepals are said to represent Mary's body and the golden anthers her soul, sparkling with divine light.

The Annunciation The Angel Gabriel appearing to Mary with a lily asking her to be the Mother of God (Feast Day of the Annunciation is March 25) The Angelus - The Annunciation Prayer V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, etc. V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary, etc. V. And the Word was made flesh, R. And dwelt amongst us. Hail Mary, etc. V. Pray for us, O most holy Mother of God, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son by the message of an Angel, so by His Passion and Cross we may be brought to the glory of the Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Ave Maria!