St. Francis Youth Group

July 6th - Today is the Feast Day of Saint Maria Goretti

St. Maria Goretti...where do you even begin...Such a model of purity!  She always lived a pure and chaste life, even when her eighteen year old neighbor, Alexander, tried to rape her when she was 12. He had often tried to convince her to act in impure ways, but she always resisted, reminding him of the sinful nature of those actions.  Even when he tried to rape her, she said she would rather die than submit to him. This angered Alexander, who grabbed a knife and stabber St. Maria 14 times.  She died shortly after, but not before forgiving Alexander.

Alexander was put in prison for 30 years, still not sorry for his actions.  Until...he had a dream that he was standing in a garden with St Maria, who gave him flowers to show her forgiveness.  The next day, he was a changed man who strived to reform his life. Upon being released from prison years later, he went straight to St Maria's mother to seek forgiveness.  She responded - ""If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness," she said.


When St Maria Goretti, was canonized, Alexander was right there to see it happen. Praise the Lord!


She is a patron Saint of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape. 
Saint Maria Goretti, pray for us!  (Find this info and more HERE!)




Previously this week, we had another Feast Day of one of the patrons of Youth:


July 4th - Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati!

“The faith given to me in baptism suggests to me surely: by yourself you will do nothing, but if you have God as the center of all your action, then you will reach the goal.”

Although not yet declared a Saint, Pier Giorgio lived a very joyful, holy life.  His youth was filled with hiking, games, mountain climbing, hanging out with friends, and just having a good time! He also studied hard and did well in school.  In addition to this very "normal" behavior, Pier Giorgio was also a very devout young Catholic.


He would attend daily Mass, pray every day, and constantly try to get his friends to go with him.  One common practice would be to challenge his friends in a game of pool...If they won, he would pay money, if he won, they would come to Eucharistic Adoration with him! He also served the poor selflessly, often selling his own possessions to be able to provide for them.  He died at the age of 24, after catching polio from one of the people he was serving.


Truly a model of joy and youthfulness...a man who desired to love God with all his heart, and to live that love with everyone he met!


Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us! Find much more about Blessed Pier HERE!




Be imitators of these two! Be holy! Be Saints!!