Homily #100706 ( 11min) Play – The people realized that our Lord was greater than the prophets in that the demons obeyed Him. We celebrate the feast of St. Maria Goretti, a saint that lived and witnessed to the sanctity of virginity at the beginning of our record-breaking decadent century.
Ave Maria! Mass readings

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Maria Goretti died a martyr before her twelfth birthday. Young as she was, she made a choice, a choice based on her faith. The Church holds up to the world the life, death and the faith of Maria Goretti.

The story of a young holy life:

October 16, 1890: Maria Goretti is born in Corinaldo, Italy to Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini.

October 17, 1890: Maria Goretti is born in Corinaldo, Italy to Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini.

October 4, 1896:Maria is baptized in the Church of San Francesco in Corinaldo.

June 16, 1901: Maria receives her First Holy Communion

July 5, 1902: Maria is mortally wounded at 15.30 by her neighbor, Alessandro Serenelli, who attacked her with intent to sexually abuse her. He was 20 years old

July 6, 1902: Maria dies at the age of 11 years, 9 months and 21 days, after forgiving Alessandro.

May 31, 1935: Commencement of the informative process at Albano

April 27, 1947: Maria is beatified by the Roman Catholic Church.

June 24, 1950: Maria Goretti is declared Saint in St. Peter’s Square by Pope. Both her mother and her killer, who had converted to the Catholic faith, were in attendance.

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Maria quickly matured in grace and holiness in the eyes of friends and other acquaintances. After losing her father to malaria, she developed great strength and maturity. Her charming modesty, cheerful obedience and the serious, but free acceptance of a hundred thankless home chores distinguished her from the other children who would play in the dusty streets of Ferriere. Perhaps the highlight of her life was her First Holy Communion, which she dutifully prepared for and awaited with great anticipation. She truly seemed to be advancing “in wisdom, and age and grace before God and men.”

Lured by the passions of his day and nurturing the dark side of his soul with impious reading and thoughts, Alessandro Serenelli had been a thorn in lovely Maria’s side. He propositioned her on several occasions and harassed her with impure suggestions. On July 5, 1902, he would be denied no longer. As she once again rebuffed his sexual advance, shouting, “No! It is a sin! God does not want it!”, Alexander lunged to the deed, stabbing Maria 14 times.

Doctors in Nettuno tried to save Maria’s life to no avail. After 20 painful hours of suffering during which she forgave and prayed for Alessandro, Maria entered Heaven fortified with the Last Sacraments. Her last earthly gaze rested upon a picture of the Blessed Mother. It was July 6, 1902.

Almost fifty years later on June 24, 1950, Pope Pius XII stood on the steps of St. Peter’s in Rome and pronounced Maria Goretti a Saint and Martyr of the Universal Church to half a million people. He proposed her as the Patroness of Modern Youth and set July 6th as her feast Day. Her mother, and her murderer, attended the canonization ceremony together.

This was the triumph of the little girl who loved God and hated sin

The post A Young Martyr for Purity: St. Maria Goretti first appeared on AirMaria.com.

 to ST. MARIA GORETTI (Feast day is July 6th):

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Homily #120706 ( 06min) Play – God’s grace can turn a most horrible event into something beautiful, like the attack on St. Maria Goretti by Alessandro Serenelli, a young man filled with lust.

Serenelli later became a laybrother of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, living in a friary and working as its porter and gardener until death peacefully in 1970.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Maria Goretti – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Friday 13th Week of Ordinary Time
1st: amo 8:4-6, 9-12
Resp: psa 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131
Gsp: mat 9:9-13

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The post Jul 06 – Homily – Fr Ignatius: Horror Turned Beautiful By Grace first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #130706b ( 11min) Play – Fr. Elias on this first Saturday preaches on the life of St. Maria Goretti and the importance of purity. Even on a natural level we should be able to see the need for it. However, in order to embrace and live by the standards that we all know we must, we need the grace of God. Let us ask Mary with her Immaculately pure Heart to pray for each of us and all our modern culture.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Maria Goretti – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Saturday 13th Week of Ordinary Time
1st: gen 27:1-5, 15-29
Resp: psa 135:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gsp: mat 9:14-17

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The post Jul 06 – Homily – Fr Elias: Maria Goretti and Purity first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Oh 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, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen.

from the site and for more information see: http://www.mariagoretti.org/

Maria Goretti died a martyr before her twelfth birthday. Young as she was, she made a choice for purity, a choice based on her faith. The Church holds up to the world the life, death and the faith of Maria Goretti

The post St. Maria Goretti: Pray for Us! first appeared on AirMaria.com.

A Day With Mary #112 – St Maria Goretti and the Eucharist ( 14min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fr. Giles speaks on the Eucharist during the “Day With Mary” held at St. Patrick’s Basilica in Fremantle, Western Australia on 5 July 2014.

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Homily #150227 ( 10min) Play – The prophet Ezekiel tells us that God does not desire the death of the wicked, neither did St. Maria Goretti.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Friday 1st Week of Lent – Wkdy – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: eze 18:21-28
Resp: psa 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Gsp: mat 5:20-26

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The post Feb 27 – Homily – Fr Ignatius: Ezekiel & Alessandro Serenelli first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #150706b ( 12min) Play – Fr. Alan on the heroic death of St. Maria Goretti who witnessed to the importance of preserving her purity and concern for the salvation of others even those who are intending to do her great harm and forgiving him after that harm is done. Father exhorts us to follow her example.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Maria Goretti – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Monday 14th Week of Ordinary Time
1st: gen 28:10-22
Resp: psa 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15
Gsp: mat 9:18-26

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The post Jul 06 – Homily – Fr Alan: St. Maria Goretti, Witness to Purity first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #150706 ( 07min) Play – Ven. Pius XII, drawing from the life and martyrdom of St. Maria Goretti, has good counsel for parents, youth and all Christians in general.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Maria Goretti – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Monday 14th Week of Ordinary Time
1st: gen 28:10-22
Resp: psa 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15
Gsp: mat 9:18-26

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The post Jul 06 – Homily – Fr Ignatius: St. Maria Goretti first appeared on AirMaria.com.