St Thomas of Villanova Augustinian Parish Church Villanova, PA
VIRTUES SHINE FORTH in the Life of Saint Maria Goretti...especially Trust, Faith
& Purity. Her Father died when she was 9 years old. Maria helped with the
younger children & the housework...while her Mother ran the farm....a large
Estate outside of Rome.
THE GORETTI FAMILY shared the house with their Father’s partner...& his son
Alexander who made sinful advances towards Maria. She repelled him...but
said nothing...because he threatened to kill her....& her Mother if she did.
FINALLY HE STABBED 12 year old Maria fourteen times. She was rushed to the
Hospital...but nothing could save her. She forgave her attacker...received Holy
Communion....& said she hoped to see him in heaven. She was Canonized a
Saint by Pope Pius XII...with her Mother, Brothers & Sisters present in St Peter’s
Basilica on July 25....& thousands more outside in St Peter’s Square.
AFTER SPENDING 27 YEARS in prison Alexander was released. He begged forgive-
ness from the Saint’s Mother...& lived to see her Canonized. Now, let us
consider all of the above....& look at our Modern World.
TOO MANY HAVE LOST the “Sense of the Sacred”....because of their false attitudes
of God, Church, Sex & Objective Reality & Truth. Consequently, many have become
weak in the Love & Practice of their Faith.. Some have even lost it entirely. Youngsters
tell their Parents...”Everybody’s doing it.”...as the reason for their justification.
THE PARENTS REPLY should be: “NO... not everybody is saying this.” “RIGHT
would still be RIGHT....even if NOBODY did it”....& WRONG would still
+
+ be wrong
even if everybody did it. Moral Right & Wrong...or MORALITY...(Sin or no Sin).
...have NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the Numbers game! ON TODAY’S TALK
S-HOWS....the question is asked...”how many think a certain action is sinful?”.
...& up go the hands.
ADS, BOOKS, Newspapers, Magazines...TV...& now the INTERNET...all glorify the VICES
with fancy, clever clichés....& so Ugly Vices become false Virtues. We should note that
Truth & Morality have their Origin IN God....& flow FROM God. Their very Existence
& Validity do NOT depend upon the Knowledge, Consent, Agreement or Opinions of Man.
12 year OLD MARIA had a True sense of Judgment, Values & Morality.
PLEASE PRAY THAT ALL MAY FOLLOW
HER IDEALS OF COURAGE, MODESTY, PURITY & FAITH.