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St. Maria Goretti

Virgin and Martyr

Maria Goretti is remembered as a young virgin and martyr. Pius XII’s canonization documents recall her prayer, Holy Communion, family duties, forgiveness and steadfast faith.

Sources

This entry uses a separately sourced supplemental reading. Its citation is preserved below. Only information already documented in the library is shown in this profile.

Joint principal patron of: The Diocese of Albano, together with St Pancratius
Pius XII’s 1952 declaration names Maria Goretti equally principal with Pancratius. The diocesan scope and the equal rank of the two patrons are retained.
Forgiveness remembered: Forgave her killer
Pius XII’s address on the evening of the canonization expressly praises her heroic forgiveness alongside her prayer, family duties and desire for Holy Communion.

Supplemental reading sourcePius XII, canonization formula of June 24, 1950 and homily at the following day’s Mass, June 25, 1950, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 42 (1950), pp. 579-582; Vatican transcription at https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/la/homilies/documents/hf_p-xii_hom_19500624_maria-goretti.html. Also Pius XII, address to the faithful for Maria Goretti’s canonization, June 24, 1950, Discorsi e Radiomessaggi XII, pp. 121-123, at https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/it/speeches/1950/documents/hf_p-xii_spe_19500624_santa-maria-goretti.html.

Pius XII, Omnium studiis (1952)Pius XII, Omnium studiis, May 5, 1952, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 44 (1952), pp. 859-860; the concluding declaration on p. 860 names Maria Goretti a patron of the Diocese of Albano equally principal with St Pancratius.

Pius XII, canonization formula (1950)Pius XII, canonization formula for Maria Goretti, June 24, 1950, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 42 (1950), p. 579; the homily delivered at Mass the next day follows on pp. 580-582.

Pius XII, canonization address (1950)Pius XII, address at the canonization of Maria Goretti, June 24, 1950, Discorsi e Radiomessaggi XII, pp. 121-123; also Acta Apostolicae Sedis 42 (1950), pp. 597-599. The address praises her forgiveness and daily faith; the concluding prayer invokes her for children and young people in purity of heart and conduct.

The reading

ⓘ Supplemental reading source

Pius XII, canonization formula of June 24, 1950 and homily at the following day’s Mass, June 25, 1950, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 42 (1950), pp. 579-582; Vatican transcription at https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/la/homilies/documents/hf_p-xii_hom_19500624_maria-goretti.html. Also Pius XII, address to the faithful for Maria Goretti’s canonization, June 24, 1950, Discorsi e Radiomessaggi XII, pp. 121-123, at https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/it/speeches/1950/documents/hf_p-xii_spe_19500624_santa-maria-goretti.html.

Maria Goretti was a young Italian virgin and martyr whom Pius XII canonized on June 24, 1950. At the Mass the following day, he remembered a family that had moved in search of work and a child who helped her mother in the home. Her mother taught her the beginnings of the Catholic faith, and Maria eagerly sought further instruction.

Prayer and Holy Communion nourished her devotion. Pius XII recalled that she was not yet twelve when she was attacked and killed, and praised her constancy in the face of violence. His account joined her martyrdom to the faithfulness of the ordinary life that had preceded it.

In his address on the evening of the canonization, the pope also praised her forgiveness of her killer, her love for her parents, her daily work and her trust in Divine Providence. He remembered her desire for Our Lord in the Eucharist and her life of prayer. The canonization formula established her annual remembrance on July 6 among the holy virgins and martyrs.

Historical note

An original Novena Regina reading adapted and summarized from Pius XII’s 1950 canonization documents. This supplemental reading is not a transcription or a Butler text.

The Vatican page includes the June 24 canonization formula followed by the homily delivered at Mass the next day. The formula expressly assigns July 6 for her annual remembrance.

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