Saint Maria Goretti’s Story One of the largest crowds ever assembled for a canonization—250,000—symbolized the reaction of millions touched by the simple story of Maria Goretti. She was the daughter of a poor Italian tenant farmer, had no chance to go to school, never learned to read or write. When Maria made her First Communion not long before her death, she was one of the larger and somewhat backward members of the class. On a hot afternoon in July, Maria was sitting at the top of the stairs o

At not even 12 years old, St. Maria Goretti died heroically as a martyr. Watch and learn more about her incredible story. Read more here: Maria Goretti didn’t die for her virginity http://bit.ly/Aleteia_FBGoretti #MariaGoretti #faith #martyr | Aleteia English