Years after Maria's death, when her assailant Alessandro was still in prison, she appeared to him in a dream, and forgave him once more. From that day forward, Alessandro experienced a conversion, repented of his sins, and went on to live a holy life, eventually becoming a Franciscan lay brother. St. Maria led him to God.

Today we pray for the healing of those who have been sexually assaulted as well as for the contrition and conversion of their offenders.

St. Maria Goretti Novena Prayers - Day 9

Who is God? What is God? How can we know God?

Who is God? - The Fact
The fact of God’s existence is so conspicuous, both through creation and through man’s conscience, that the Bible calls the atheist a “fool” (Psalm 14:1). Accordingly, the Bible never attempts to prove the existence of God; rather, it assumes His existence from the very beginning (Genesis 1:1). What the Bible does is reveal the nature, character, and work of God.

Indonesia hosts an event with many interreligious meanings: Christians support the government in the struggle against Islamic radicalism.

Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, governor of Yogyakarta, playing the othok-othok - a Javanese traditional musical instrument - officially opens the event; this poignant picture is embedded with all the meaning of the Asian Youth Day, an event organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences which, for a week, brings together young Catholics from twenty-two Asian nations on the streets of Yogyakarta, a town on the Indonesian island of Java.

Saint Maria was a deeply pious child. She couldn't read or write, but she learned her Catechism and received her First Communion just one year before she died. She attended Mass as often as she could. Today we pray that St. Maria will intercede for all children, that their faith may grow and prosper as hers did.

St. Maria Goretti Novena Prayers - Day 8

What does it mean that Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)?"

In Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah, he says:

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O St. Maria Goretti, beautiful model of christian suffering, pray for me.

You carried your cross so courageously while you suffered through surgery without anesthesia. You thirsted and were not able to be given water, and you accepted that cross because you loved our Lord.

Pray for me, St. Maria Goretti, that I will become better at carrying my cross.

Following is the Story of the Dedication of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels:

Francis rebuilt this chapel with his own hands and died less than 50 feet away from it.

The chapel of Our Lady of the Angels, down the hill from the walled city of Assisi, was built out of devotion but had deteriorated by the time of Francis’ conversion. Although it belonged to the Benedictine monks on nearby Mount Subasio, few people then lived close to the Portiuncula, “Mary’s little portion.”

Sometimes we take a single Bible verse and use it out of context, but what’s the danger in that?

The Whole Bible

Maria was born to a poor farming family in Italy, one of six children. Her father died when she was only 9 years old. After his death, Maria had to taking care of the rest of the children in the family while her mother worked. Maria also cooked and cleaned for their neighbors. Alessandro, her attacker, was her neighbor's son.

In spite of having to take care of the children, cook and clean for her family and neighbors, it's said that she did so joyfully and with faith that God would provide.

At the Transfiguration, Moses was there representing the law and Elijah was there representing the prophets. But why were Peter, James, and John present? And what does this event mean to us today?

St. Thomas Aquinas devotes an entire section in his Summa theologiae to this event. His treatment sums up much of the wisdom of the Fathers, so looking at his reflections may give us some answers.