Disclaimer: this contains some sensitive topics and themes which may be confronting for some readers.
At first, I didn’t know much about St Maria Goretti, other than that the parish I was then a part of was named after her. Growing up Catholic, I watched some Christian movies with my parents and to tell you the truth, I wasn’t very fond of them. I can recall two saint movies which I’m pretty sure I did not enjoy too much. One of these was Padre Pio, and I mean, all I remember was a priest who experienced the excruciating wounds of Christ. The other, Maria Goretti, who refused a guy who was sexually abusing her. Her refusal infuriated him to the point that he stabbed her several times. Despite this, she forgave that person before her last breath.
Although it has been many years, I will never forget advice I heard from a priest in the confessional. He told me that forgiveness is seeing the person for more than their sin. When put that way, it makes me feel like there is no reason to withhold forgiveness from anyone. After all, that’s how God is with us. We are not the sum of our sins. What we do does not define us. So, by holding anger towards people, it’s like we are labelling them by the sins they committed.
“Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21-22
If Jesus can forgive that many times, shouldn’t we? Sure, it is extremely hard, and it won’t happen in a day. But let us work towards seeing people for who they really are – a beloved son/daughter of God, and that includes you too, sister. St Maria Goretti is an amazing example of someone who truly placed God and His love at the centre of her life. Let us be inspired by her courage and try to see others as God sees them.
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