The Little Saint of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not an easy feat for many of us, especially when we have been severely burned by someone who is close to us, perhaps a friend, family member, or even a former novice mistress, for those of us who have been hurt in the religious life.
The act of pardoning is a complex virtue that poses a challenge for many individuals, including us Catholics. When someone wrongs us, causing distress and agony, the suffering we endure from such torment can blind us, preventing us from seeking peace and love. If we succumb to anger, resentment, and animosity, these emotions can overpower us, occupying a space in our hearts that should be reserved exclusively for the love of Christ. Surrendering to these feelings creates an obstacle that hinders us from choosing forgiveness and finding freedom from the hurt and pain that has consumed our souls.
This month we celebrated the feast day of St. Maria Goretti, the youngest saint to be canonized and known as the patron saint of young people, chastity, and purity, who is also recognized for her embodiment of forgiveness. Despite being a mere child, she exhibited remarkable spiritual maturity. Faced with violence and mortal wounds inflicted by her attacker, she forgave him before drawing her final breath. At the tender age of eleven, St. Maria Goretti was stabbed fourteen times by her assailant, Alessandro Serenelli. Yet, she chose forgiveness over hatred, refusing to let hatred harden her heart. Her last words, spoken before her passing, were, “I forgive Alessandro Serenelli…and I want him in heaven with me forever.” How many of us could find it within ourselves to forgive as St. Maria Goretti forgave the man who not only stole the remainder of her childhood but also her very life?
