Jan. 30, 2009
Sarah's story about St. Maria Goretti
We just started using CHC's Stories of the Saints for reading comprehension. The assignment after the first story was to write and illustrate a book about St. Maria Goretti. Of course, Sarah jumped at the chance to do some writing. Here's her version of the story of St. Maria Goretti.
Even when you’re poor you can be happy, like Maria’s family. They also had a special treasure. It was their Catholic faith. Mrs. Goretti did not know how to read or write and Mr. Goretti was a poor farmer. Maria and the other kids had no toys, they were too poor to buy any. But they didn’t mind, outside was all they needed.
When Maria was eight they moved to the Pontine Marshes, a very unhealthy place to grow food. They became partners with Mr. Serenelli. He was not a nice man. He had a son, named Alessandro, who was a little older than Maria.
Maria was a very good girl. If she was given a treat, she would give it to her brother or sister, and she would eat the smallest amount of food at meals.
Alessandro was bad! He read bad newspapers about killing and other bad stuff that God does not want you to do.
One day, Maria went to her mother and said, “Mother, I want to have First Communion.”
Her mother smiled and said sadly, “You need special classes for that.”
“I know, but somehow, God will provide,” answered Maria. She was right! A catechist was found! But she still didn’t get a dress.
“God will provide,” is what she said. On the day of her First Communion the neighbors came. They had a dress, a veil and shoes! After her communion, she said,
“I can no longer live without Jesus. How soon shall I receive Him again?”
One day, Alessandro came and grabbed Maria.
“Stop!” she cried. “You’ll go to hell!”
He grabbed a sharp knife and stabbed her fourteen times! Doctors came and bandaged her. They asked her if she forgave him.
“Yes, I do, for the love of Jesus, forgive him, and I want him to be with me in Paradise. May God forgive him, because I have already forgiven him.”
Then, she died.
Alessandro was in prison for killing Maria. But he dreamed of her, holding flowers for him. He was sorry for his sin. He was out of prison soon after that. He talked to Maria’s mother and they attended Midnight Mass!
Maria was canonized as a saint on June 25, 1950. She teaches us to forgive our enemies.
The Life of Saint Maria Goretti
Even when you’re poor you can be happy, like Maria’s family. They also had a special treasure. It was their Catholic faith. Mrs. Goretti did not know how to read or write and Mr. Goretti was a poor farmer. Maria and the other kids had no toys, they were too poor to buy any. But they didn’t mind, outside was all they needed.
When Maria was eight they moved to the Pontine Marshes, a very unhealthy place to grow food. They became partners with Mr. Serenelli. He was not a nice man. He had a son, named Alessandro, who was a little older than Maria.
Maria was a very good girl. If she was given a treat, she would give it to her brother or sister, and she would eat the smallest amount of food at meals.
Alessandro was bad! He read bad newspapers about killing and other bad stuff that God does not want you to do.
One day, Maria went to her mother and said, “Mother, I want to have First Communion.”
Her mother smiled and said sadly, “You need special classes for that.”
“I know, but somehow, God will provide,” answered Maria. She was right! A catechist was found! But she still didn’t get a dress.
“God will provide,” is what she said. On the day of her First Communion the neighbors came. They had a dress, a veil and shoes! After her communion, she said,
“I can no longer live without Jesus. How soon shall I receive Him again?”
One day, Alessandro came and grabbed Maria.
“Stop!” she cried. “You’ll go to hell!”
He grabbed a sharp knife and stabbed her fourteen times! Doctors came and bandaged her. They asked her if she forgave him.
“Yes, I do, for the love of Jesus, forgive him, and I want him to be with me in Paradise. May God forgive him, because I have already forgiven him.”
Then, she died.
Alessandro was in prison for killing Maria. But he dreamed of her, holding flowers for him. He was sorry for his sin. He was out of prison soon after that. He talked to Maria’s mother and they attended Midnight Mass!
Maria was canonized as a saint on June 25, 1950. She teaches us to forgive our enemies.