SAINT MARIA GORETTI (1890-1902)
July 6
	Does anything match a mother’s pride in her children? First Communions, confirmations, graduations, weddings: how these delight a mother’s heart! Imagine, then, Assunta Goretti, the only mother ever to attend her child’s canonization! In poverty-stricken rural Italy, widowed Assunta tended fields for the Serenelli family, whose eighteen-year old son Alessandro propositioned her barely twelve-year old Maria; then, when she resisted, crying, “It is a sin! God forbids it!” he stabbed her fourteen times. As she lay dying, Maria assured the attending priest, “Yes, I forgive Alessandro! I want him to be in Paradise with me someday.” Imprisoned, unrepentant, Alessandro changed after dreaming that a radiant Maria had offered him fourteen lilies. “I’ve kept my promise,” she smiled. “You’ll be here with me someday.” Upon release, he rushed to beg Assunta’s forgiveness. “Jesus has forgiven you,” she replied, “my Maria too. How can I refuse?” Next morning, mother and murderer walked arm in arm to church and knelt side by side for Communion. 
—Peter Scagnelli