Better Dead than Sinning

"The teenage sisters, who loved in a special way by Jesus and by us all, say, would you determined-with the help of divine grace to firmly reject all kinds of temptations that could tarnish your holiness?"

(Homily of Pope Pius XII at the canonization ceremony St. Maria Goretti, 24 June 1950)

 Maria Goretti

Various kinds of thoughts and feelings together in self berkecambuk Assunta Goretti, the mother of St. Maria Goretti, when he listened to the homily delivered by Pope Pius XII at the canonization ceremony of his daughter. Assunta reverie brought back to those days ago ....

Goreti Mary was born on October 16, 1890 at Corinaldo, Italy. Luigi Goretti, his father, a poor farmer. In 1899, Luigi and Assunta Goretti couple and their four children are still small: Angelo, Maria, and baby Marino Allesandro, leaving Corinaldo in his search for a better livelihood.

Along the way they heard the news about the farm of the Count Mazzoleni in Ferriere who want to hire. They go down there and Luigi Goretti received work as sharecroppers on the farm. Agricultural land that has long been left abandoned, then Luigi must work hard to rebuild it. Working hard without stopping cause Luigi finally got sick and could not work at all. When harvest time comes to review and Count Mazzoleni, a new land that has been partially done. Mazzoleni very angry and want to listen without any explanation, he sent Giovanni Serenelli and Alessandro, his youngest son who was nineteen years old, to finish the job. Serenelli families live together in family home Goretti.

Giovanni was an alcoholic. He was quick-tempered and likes to impose his will. Alessandro behave badly, contentious and always scowling. He used to spend time in a locked room with a look of pornographic magazines. The walls of his room filled with pictures of immodestly dressed girl.

Meanwhile, Luigi suffered malaria worse. Every night the wife and her children knelt around his bed and prayed. Luigi regretted his move to Ferriere. He whispered the last message to the Assunta: "Go back to Corinaldo ..." The end of the month April 1902 Luigi Goretti died. Since then every night Maria would recite the Rosary for the salvation of his soul.

With the death of Luigi Goretti, the right to move home to Giovanni Serenelli. Giovanni allows Assunta and her children still live and work for him. Assunta want to get back home to Corinaldo. But it is not inconceivable to him a woman with seven children are still small and without the provision of money to travel back along the 200 miles. They therefore stay. Ordered Giovanni Maria, who is now eleven years old to do all the housework while Assunta had to work in the fields.

Heavy burden borne by Maria making mature and mature faster than other children his age. He has grown into a beautiful girl and devout believers, and pray. Her devotion to Jesus and obedience to her mother's incredible. Advice mother terpateri strong in his heart. "You must not commit sin, for whatever reason."

Although unable to read and write, Maria joined Catechumens lessons and a few months earlier, on June 16, 1901, he had received holy Communion the First. Moment of receiving Holy Communion at a nearby church two hours drive away leg was really very happy heart.

July 1902. Assunta noticed a change in the behavior of her daughter. The nature of his childhood had not left anymore. Eyes emit rays of sadness. Prayer time has become longer. His tiny body trembled and her tears flowed. Have some time observing Serenelli Alessandro, disturbed and chased by bad intentions. Alessandro threat still ringing in his ears, "If you told your mother, I'll kill you both!" Only the prayer of Mary gain strength and relief.

Saturday, July 5, 1902 at about half four in the afternoon. Alessandro called him, "Marietta (so the neighbors called Maria), my shirt torn and need stitches. I want to wear it to go to church tomorrow. I put in my bed. "Then the young man out to take care of his cows. Not long after, Alessandro asked Assunta to replace it. "Missed my handkerchief," he said, "I'll be right back." Meanwhile, Mary sat on the floor above to keep her baby sister, Teresa, as she sewed clothes Alessandro. Alessandro From the kitchen yelling, "Marietta, come here!" Maria did not want. So come Allesandro, gripping the arms of Mary, dragged him into the kitchen, emphasizing a knife blade to her neck and locked the door. Mary screamed for help, but his voice disappeared in naked wheat thrasher.

Alessandro Maria threatens to obey his will. Maria struggled desperately and yell, "No! Not Alessandro! That's sin. God forbid. You will go to hell, Alessandro. You will go to hell if you do it! "Because Mary rebelled, Alessandro become crazy. He menikamkan dagger into the body of Mary, once, twice, three times and continued to repeatedly without mercy. Seeing the little body and then fell with his face pale, Alessandro was very frightened. He threw the knife, went into her room and locked the door.

Maria Assunta later found lying on the kitchen floor bathed in blood. Pained scream that loud sound immediately. With tears Assunta asked his daughter,

"Who did this to you?"

"Alessandro, Mama ...."

"But, why son?", Assunta sobbed.

"Because he wanted me to do a terrible sin and I do not want to."

By train ambulance, Maria was rushed to hospital in Nettuno. The doctors get fourteen stab wounds and a lot of bruises on the little body. Because they operate without anesthesia, Maria suffered tremendous pain until it was unconscious. In the circumstances did not realize he repeatedly shouted, "Alessandro, release! No, no, you will go to hell! Mama, please! "

The next day a priest came to give the Last Sacraments. Father reminded Maria how Jesus has forgiven those who crucified him and he asked whether Mary is also willing to forgive Alessandro. Mary directs his gaze on the Cross hanging on the wall and quietly said,

"I also forgive him. I also hope that he would come and catch me in heaven. "

After confessing all his sins, Father give the Holy Communion, and tears of joy to meet her eyes welling. Maria looked at the statue of the Virgin Mary placed at the foot of her bed and that's when Jesus came to meet her little girl to enter into his eternal protection. Maria Goretti died at the age of 11 years on July 6, 1902, on the feast of Corpus Christi.

Forty-five years later, on April 27, 1947, Maria Goretti was beatified by the Catholic Church. Subsequently, on June 24, 1950 held at St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father Pope Pius XII canonization ceremony led St. Maria Goretti with more than 250,000 people attended.

In his homily Pope Pius XII emphasized the primacy of St. Maria Goretti is not only the purity of body and soul, but also virtues in "the interests of the spiritual over worldly interests, love and obedience to his parents, his willingness to berkorkan in distress, daily work, accepting poverty, a deep love and prayers to Jesus in the Eucharist, his generosity in forgiving (the killer).

Soon after the canonization ceremony ended, with all humility Assunta declared: "Lord, I do not deserve You gave me a saint!" Assunta, who was then already 82 years old, attended the canonization ceremony accompanied by his two sons and his daughter's killer. Feast of St. Maria Goretti is celebrated annually on July 6.

St. Maria Goreti, patron of youth, especially young women, still praying for us today, not only for youth, but for all people of all ages and all nations in all corners of the world. Love is a very brave choice was simple: Choose God and not sin; choose eternal happiness and eternal perdition instead. Choose life! Be a saint.


   Alessandro & his dream

Many miracles happened thanks for the prayers of St. Maria Goretti. However, the biggest of which is repentance Serenelli Alessandro, Maria killer.

Immediately after the heinous actions of Maria Goretti, Alessandro was arrested and put in custody in Nettuno, then he was transferred to a prison in Rome for trial. Alessandro pebuatannya absolutely no regrets. He is trying desperately to deny his actions, but because it did not work, he finally gave up. Alessandro was sentenced to prison for thirty years. A priest came to give him guidance. Alessandro uncontrollably angry and crying like crazy, and then attacked the priest.

"Soon, Alessandro, you'll need me," said the priest, "Marietta will tell."

"Never," cried Alessandro, "I'll never need a priest!"

The days that followed felt terrible for Alessandro. Lost her appetite and she felt uneasy. Eight years in prison made him lose hope.

On one day in 1910, Alessandro met with Mary in a dream. His dream was so life so difficult for him to distinguish it from reality. The bars and prison walls disappeared, Alessandro was in a park by the warm sunshine and full of blooming flowers. The smell of fragrant meet its surroundings. Then came to him a very pretty girl white dress clean. Alessandro said to himself: `What about this? Are not ordinary peasant girls dressed in dark colors? " But he saw that the future was Marietta. He walked among the flowers and smiles. Alessandro want to run away from him because he was very frightened, but could not. Maria picking white lilies (white lilies symbol of purity), Alessandro handed it to her, saying, `Alessandro, take this!" Alessandro receives lilies one by one, all totaled fourteen. But something magical happened. Once he receives flowers from Mary, the lilies were transformed into the burning fires. One lily transformed into an open fire to eliminate one of dihujamkan Alessandro stab him on that fateful day at Ferriere. Maria said with a smile, `Alessandro, such as promise, your soul will meet in heaven someday."

A sense of peace and quiet soon meet Alessandro liver. A beautiful sight it was gone. When Alessandro got up from his sleep, he felt that the feelings of hate and anger is strong and powerful who control has been lost from him.

"I see it," cried Alessandro, "call a priest!"

The prison guards mocking laugh and say harshly, "If you really want to talk, just write a letter to the priest."

Alessandro wrote his confession in a letter and begged for forgiveness and mercy of God.
Since then he was driven to improve her life.

Later Alessandro realize that the fragrant flowers are a sign to him that thanks to the prayers of Mary she might receive the grace to open the door of her heart and accept the light and Divine Mercy and thus reject the sin that led to eternal perdition.

Once imprisoned for 27 years, Alessandro released. He received leniency because of his 3-year worthy precedent for other detainees. Alessandro worked as a laborer for some time and finally decided to stay at the Capuchin monastery in Macareta all his life as a gardener. The Capuchin monks greeted him as "brother" and Alessandro is accepted as a member of the Third Order. In the chapel of the monastery he followed the celebration of Mass every day in order to find peace and inner peace.

Alssandro visit Assunta Goretti, who last met 31 years ago in court. He begged forgiveness from Assunta. Assunta laid his hand on Alessandro's head, wiped his face and softly said,

"Alessandro, Marietta has forgiven you, Christ has forgiven you, and why I do not forgive you. Of course I forgive you, my son! Why did I not see you earlier? Crime is the past, and to me, you are a child who has long suffered. "

The next day the villagers Corinaldo watched Assunta Goretti head high and tears flowed down her cheeks, holding hands Alessandro Serenelli like a mother holding her child, and guided him to the celebration of Masses. In front of the altar alongside his daughter Assunta and murderers receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Since then Alessandro Goretti received in a devout family as "Uncle Alessandro."

In the process of beatification of Maria Goretti, Alessandro was the only witness who can tell clearly what really happened in these heinous murders.

Alessandro Serenelli died on May 6, 1969 at the Capuchin Monastery at Macerata in the age of 87 years.

Source: 1. "A Saint to Emulate" - by Margaret Breiling. Originally published in "The Catholic Family's Magnificat", October 1994-January 1995;

2. "From Saint Maria Goretti - an inspiration for today's children" by Fr. John M. Martin, M.M.


   Alessandro wills

Before he died, Alessandro Serenelli left a letter: he advised us not to read magazines that are not good, see pictures or even watch movies that are not polite.

Dated May 5, 1961

"I am almost 80 years of age. Soon I will go.

Looking back at the past, I can see that in my youth I had chosen the wrong path that brought me to ruin my life.

My behavior was influenced by literature, print media and bad behavior adopted by the majority of young people without a thought. I also do it and I do not feel worried.

There are many pious and generous all around me, but I do not care about them because the forces of evil has blinded me and pushed me into the way of life is wrong.

When I was 20 years old, I committed a crime of passion. Now memories of it reminded me of something very horrible to me. Maria Goretti, now a saint, is a good angel. Because the power of Divine Organizing, he was sent to guide and save me. Still remains firmly planted in my heart the words of advice and forgiveness. He prayed for me, she prayed for her killer. Thirty-year prison term followed.

If only I could go back to the past, I would choose to remain in jail for the rest of my life. I deserve cursed because all that happened was my fault. "

"Marietta is a really bright my life, my guardian, with his help I was able to behave well during the period of 27 years in prison and tried to live sincere when I accepted back in the community. Priests of St. Francis, Capuchin from Marche received me with the generosity of the saints in their monastery as a brother, not as a servant. I have lived for 24 years in their communities, and now I patiently wait for time to look at God, to once again embrace him that I loved, and is next to my guardian angel and dear mother, Assunta.

I hope that I write this letter can be a useful lesson for other people to turn away from evil and always walk on the right path, like a child. I feel that religious teachings are not something that allows us to live without it, but religion is the true source of comfort, the real source of life force and the only way of salvation in all situations, even in the most miserable situation even in one's life .

Signed, Alessandro Serenelli


"Not all of us are expected to die as martyrs, but we are all called to seek and obtain the truth of Christianity."
(From the homily Venerable Pope Pius XII)

Note: For indonesian language klik Title of post