BarbTherese Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Lots of information on this website: http://www.mariagoretti.org/mariabio.htm [quote][b]Official Prayer to St. Maria Goretti[/b] Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen.[/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MargaretTeresa Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 I didn't know she's the patron of rape victims... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IgnatiusofLoyola Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 (edited) [quote name='BarbaraTherese' timestamp='1309929065' post='2263512'] Lots of information on this website: [url="http://www.mariagoretti.org/mariabio.htm"]http://www.mariagore...rg/mariabio.htm[/url] [/quote] I read the link, and found the story of St. Maria Goretti to be very sad, but also very interesting and applicable to life today, even though she was murdered more than 100 years ago. St. Maria Goretti was only 11, and a 20-year old supposed "friend of the family" attempted to rape her. When she resisted, the man stabbed her 20 times, and she died the next day (July 6, 1902). Before she died, she forgave her attacker and would-be rapist. I know I often think of the problem of sexual predators as a "modern" problem, one that children did not have to face 100 years ago. And, yet it happened. And, as so often happens today, her attacker was not a stranger, but the son of a family with whom her family shared a house. Although we need to continue to do our best to protect children, we can't ever sit back and think that we have solved the problem by the measures we've taken, because in many ways, human nature does not change, and certain problems will always be with us. Edited July 14, 2011 by IgnatiusofLoyola Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share Posted July 14, 2011 [quote name='MargaretTeresa' timestamp='1310597348' post='2267136'] I didn't know she's the patron of rape victims... [/quote] http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=78 She is also regarded as the patron saint of purity and of youth.[quote name='MargaretTeresa' timestamp='1310597348' post='2267136'] I didn't know she's the patron of rape victims... [/quote] http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=78 She is also regarded as the patron saint of purity and of youth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share Posted July 14, 2011 [quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' timestamp='1310615114' post='2267261'] I read the link, and found the story of St. Maria Goretti to be very sad, but also very interesting and applicable to life today, even though she was murdered more than 100 years ago. St. Maria Goretti was only 11, and a 20-year old supposed "friend of the family" attempted to rape her. When she resisted, the man stabbed her 20 times, and she died the next day (July 6, 1902). Before she died, she forgave her attacker and would-be rapist. I know I often think of the problem of sexual predators as a "modern" problem, one that children did not have to face 100 years ago. And, yet it happened. And, as so often happens today, her attacker was not a stranger, but the son of a family with whom her family shared a house. Although we need to continue to do our best to protect children, we can't ever sit back and think that we have solved the problem by the measures we've taken, because in many ways, human nature does not change, and certain problems will always be with us. [/quote] In the Old Testament, sexual predators are certainly not something born of recent times. I think probably in earlier times to our own, victims of sexual predators of any kind carried a burden of guilt and were even regarded as somewhat guilty - in our modern times we realize that while it is a rather normal phenomena for a victim of sexual attack of any kind to have a burden of guilt, it is illogical and unwarranted guilt and counselling often is needed to relieve this traumatic and terrible, unwarranted, burden - and sexual predators are regarded just for what they are - criminals who have preyed on the innocent vulnerable in some way. This, I think, has led to more reporting of sexual crimes in our day. Statistics apparently tend to reveal that most murders and sexual attacks are not committed by strangers. We need to take care of our children, the vulnerable and ourselves with prayerful prudent watchfulness since we are so aware nowadays of potential risk situations. God bless - Barb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MargaretTeresa Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 I was just surprised to learn of the patroness of rape victims. I've been looking to see if there was one... now I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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