St. Maria Goretti

Saint Maria Goretti was an Italian girl who is venerated as a virgin martyr in the Catholic Church. She was born into a poor family and was known for her piety and devotion to God from a young age. Maria was fatally stabbed at the age of 11 while resisting a rape attempt by a young man named Alessandro Serenelli. Before she died, Maria forgave Alessandro and expressed her desire for him to be with her in heaven. Alessandro later repented of his crime and was present at Maria's canonization in 1950. Saint Maria Goretti is revered as a model of purity, forgiveness, and mercy.

Feast Day is on July 6
Patronage: Youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape