WEBSTER'S ENTRY 5

PURE HEART, PURE LOVE

St Maria Goretti was born to a very poor family.  Although they were poor, they were very happy. They considered themselves rich because they had a great treasure which was their strong Catholic faith. 

Maria was generous and thoughtful.  Once, when she was shopping, a kind grocer gave her an apple.  She thanked him and put it in her pocket, saying that her little brother loved apples.  Then he gave her a cookie.  Once again, she put it in her pocket and said that she would give it to her sister.  So the grocer gave her another cookie, saying that he would be very offended if she did not eat it herself, so she ate it.

Maria had a pure heart.  Whenever her siblings needed help, she would help them.  At mealtimes, she always served others before herself, and she always gave herself the smallest portion of food, knowing that her brothers worked hard, and her younger siblings were growing.

Maria wanted to receive Jesus in Holy Communion.  She had longed to welcome Him into her heart from a young age.  After receiving the Eucharist for the first time, she was always looking forward to reuniting with Jesus again, so she kept her heart pure and clean, because she wanted to receive Him worthily.  Since she always went to communion with a pure heart, Jesus made Maria stronger each time, to resist temptation.  Because of this, she was able to live a holy life, according to her motto:  "Death, but not sin."

After Mr Goretti died, her family needed help, so they prayed hard.  Soon, their neighbours - the Sernellis - started helping them.  They even let the Gorettis live with them in their house.  Mr Sernelli had a 19-year old son called Alessandro.  Once, when Maria was sitting at the doorstep, sewing, Alessandro called her inside the house.  When she refused, he dragged her inside and tried to make her commit a sin.  She shouted, "Alessandro, don't touch me!  It is a sin!"  As Maria said this,  Alessandro pulled out a dagger that he had gotten ready, stabbed her 14 times, and left her on the floor.  Then he locked himself in his room. 

Later, in the hospital, after the priest gave Maria her last rites, he asked her if she forgave her murderer, and she said "Yes."  Soon after, she passed away.  Maria died at the age of 12 with a pure heart that was able to forgive, even the person who tried to take away her life.

For us, St Maria Goretti is a great example of purity, love and forgiveness.  If we keep our hearts pure, receive communion worthily, and pray regularly, Jesus will give us the strength we need to conquer temptation and love others with a pure love, maybe even our enemies.  Saint Maria Goretti, pray for us!

(Grade 5,
Creative Writing,
2011, Term 1 Week 5 )