Maria Goretti was not yet twelve years old when, in July 1902, she was forced to fight to preserve her purity and safeguard her soul from the attacks of Alessendro Serenelli. Saint Maria Goretti is known for her unyielding mercy towards Alessandro. When his evil intent became clear to her, she even petitioned him on account of his own soul, saying, “No! No! It is a sin! God does not want this!” Alessandro stabbed Maria fourteen times, and little Maria became another virgin martyr in the line of St. Agnes and St. Cecilia.
Here is the beautiful true story of Maria’s virtuous life that led to her heroic choice, of the Goretti family’s terrible poverty, Maria’s First Holy Communion, her great maturity in shouldering adult responsibilities, her forgiveness of her murderer, her lingering death, then finally her public elevation to sainthood in 1950—in the presence of her mother, her family, and the largest crowd ever before seen at a canonization (over half a million people). Alessandro later repented and asked forgiveness of God and St. Maria’s mother because of Maria’s mercy toward him.
St. Maria Goretti—In Garments All Red has already gone through several editions and is becoming a contemporary classic. Young people, especially, are deeply affected by it. But this is truly a book for all—because people of any age will be inspired by St. Maria Goretti’s purity, mercy towards her enemies, and love of God—which triumphed over her love for life and even over the anonymity of death.
