10 Catholic Things that Caught My Eye Today on Maria Goretti’s Feast Day

Last updated on: July 6, 2015 at 2:06 pm by Kathryn Jean Lopez

10 Catholic Things that Caught My Eye Today on Maria Goretti’s Feast Day 2015-07-06T14:06:45-05:00 Kathryn Jean Lopez

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Show us, Lord, the light of your mercy. #lauds

— Fr. Patrick Brennan (@Pathound) July 6, 2015

"It is no compliment to God to treat what he had made out of nothing as if it were little better than nothing". Frank Sheed

— FrSteveGrunow (@FrSteveGrunow) July 6, 2015

You can be a hero for #Jesus, you can do great things for God— by just living your #Christian faith with joy and love and confidence.

— Archbishop Gomez (@ArchbishopGomez) July 6, 2015

4. Maria Goretti and the human person and the awesome abode of God.

St. Maria Goretti: One of the largest crowds ever assembled for a canonization—250,000—symbolized the… http://t.co/QFXgfic3ZJ #catholic

— Saint of the Day (@SaintOfTheDay) July 6, 2015

6. From her canonization Mass, from Venerable Pope Pius XII:

It is well known how this young girl had to face a bitter struggle with no way to defend herself. Without warning a vicious stranger burst upon her, bent on raping her and destroying her childlike purity. In that moment of crisis she could have spoken to her Redeemer in the words of that classic, The Imitation of Christ: “Though tested and plagued by a host of misfortunes, I have no fear so long as your grace is with me. It is my strength, stronger than any adversary; it helps me and gives me guidance.” With splendid courage she surrendered herself to God and his grace and so gave her life to protect her virginity.

The life of this simple girl—I shall concern myself only with highlights—we can see as worthy of heaven. Even today people can look upon it with admiration and respect. Parents can learn from her story how to raise their God-given children in virtue, courage and holiness; they can learn to train them in the Catholic faith so that, when put to the test, God’s grace will support them and they will come through undefeated, unscathed and untarnished.

From Maria’s story carefree children and young people with their zest for life can learn not to be led astray by attractive pleasures which are not only ephemeral and empty but also sinful. Instead they can fix their sight on achieving Christian moral perfection, however difficult and hazardous that course may prove. With determination and God’s help all of us can attain that goal by persistent effort and prayer.

Not all of us are expected to die a martyr’s death, but we are all called to the pursuit of Christian virtue. This demands strength of character though it may not match that of this innocent girl. Still, a constant, persistent and relentless effort is asked of us right up to the moment of our death. This may be conceived as a slow steady martyrdom which Christ urged upon us when he said: The kingdom of heaven is set upon and laid waste by violent forces.

So let us all, with God’s grace, strive to reach the goal that the example of the virgin martyr, Saint Maria Goretti, sets before us. Through her prayers to the Redeemer may all of us, each in his own way, joyfully try to follow the inspiration example of Maria Goretti who now enjoys eternal happiness in heaven.

Let's never assume if we live good lives we'll be w/o sin; our lives should be praised only when we continue to beg for pardon~StAugustine

— Fr. Kevin Grimditch (@FrgrimXcp) July 5, 2015

Today's sermon contemplates how Christ makes a Bethel of each of us… https://t.co/zEsBOPCK7U

— Fr Lawrence Lew OP (@LawrenceOP) July 6, 2015

One of the jewels of #Guayaquil #Ecuador : Divine Mercy Sanctuary stained glass window pic.twitter.com/pU3JQALzVe

— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) July 6, 2015

10.

Don't forget to pray today! https://t.co/t8kKm7qc4G

— CatholicNH (@CatholicNH) July 6, 2015

PLUS: Archbishop Kurtz helped me write my syndicated column this week.

ONE MORE: In Magnificat today, it mentioned that Maria forgave Alessandro “for the love of Jesus.” Wouldn’t that be wonderful if that were the reason we could honestly give for everything we do today?

WAIT, there’s more: Diana von Glahn takes you on pilgrimage at your computer.

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