this week's feasts
St. Maria Goretti
This Monday, July 6, is the feast of St. Maria Goretti. Maria was a young girl in Italy, who at age 12, was sitting on her front porch. A young man named Allesandro saw her, went up on the porch, and grabbed her, dragged her into the house, and tried to rape her. She resisted, so he stabbed her, and left. When she was found, she was still alive but was dying from her wounds.
Maria received the Sacraments and prayed for Allesandro’s salvation. After she died, her love and holiness became well known, and the cause of her canonization was taken up.
Allesandro was sent to prison for 30 years. At first he was unrepentant. But eventually he was converted, and after he was released, he went to Maria’s mother to express his sorrow. She and the rest of her family took him to themselves as one of their own. He became a lay member of the Capuchin Order and worked as a receptionist and gardener for them. He prayed to Maria every day and referred to her as his “little saint.”
Maria’s canonization was one of the largest gatherings for a canonization in history. Over 500,000 people gathered in St. Peter Square for the ceremony. In the gathering was Allesandro, with Maria’s brothers.
St. Maria is one of the patron saints of young people.
Maria received the Sacraments and prayed for Allesandro’s salvation. After she died, her love and holiness became well known, and the cause of her canonization was taken up.
Allesandro was sent to prison for 30 years. At first he was unrepentant. But eventually he was converted, and after he was released, he went to Maria’s mother to express his sorrow. She and the rest of her family took him to themselves as one of their own. He became a lay member of the Capuchin Order and worked as a receptionist and gardener for them. He prayed to Maria every day and referred to her as his “little saint.”
Maria’s canonization was one of the largest gatherings for a canonization in history. Over 500,000 people gathered in St. Peter Square for the ceremony. In the gathering was Allesandro, with Maria’s brothers.
St. Maria is one of the patron saints of young people.
St. Benedict, Abbot
St. Benedict is one of the greatest figures in the history of the Church. As a young man he felt called to a life of deep prayer, silence and solitary life. He went to Mount Subiaco, about an hour south of Rome, and lived in a cave on the mountain. Sometime later, his presence became known, and other men seeking the same kind of life came to him. They began living in other caves, under his guidance, and formed one of the first monasteries on Mount Subiaco. The monastery is known as Monte Casino.
Benedict founded 12 monasteries, which became the beginnings of the Order of St. Benedict. The Rule of St. Benedict, that he wrote, is the foundation of most of the religious rules in the world.
Sometime later, his younger sister, Scholastica, embraced the Benedictine life and was the first of the female branch of the Benedictine Order, which we know from the Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Walburg Monastery, here in the Diocese of Covington. The Benedictines also founded St. Benedict Church, our neighbor here in Covington. Until almost 10 years ago, Sisters of St. Benedict were serving here at Mother of God, including Sr. Kathleen Ryan, OSB, who died on April 23.
The feast day of St. Benedict, Abbot, is Saturday, July 11.
Benedict founded 12 monasteries, which became the beginnings of the Order of St. Benedict. The Rule of St. Benedict, that he wrote, is the foundation of most of the religious rules in the world.
Sometime later, his younger sister, Scholastica, embraced the Benedictine life and was the first of the female branch of the Benedictine Order, which we know from the Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Walburg Monastery, here in the Diocese of Covington. The Benedictines also founded St. Benedict Church, our neighbor here in Covington. Until almost 10 years ago, Sisters of St. Benedict were serving here at Mother of God, including Sr. Kathleen Ryan, OSB, who died on April 23.
The feast day of St. Benedict, Abbot, is Saturday, July 11.
