Lives of the Saints St. Maria Teresa Goretti Martyr For Purity (1890-1902) Italy Died Age 11 To many, the story of Maria Goretti is already familiar as the story of a young girl who refused to acquiesce in a grave sin against chastity. Few realise that before the final dramatic refusal, Maria had also resisted blandishments and threats. The canonisation of Maria Goretti was not based on a single moment's struggle against sin but upon her practice of heroic virtue through her entire short life. To die rather than to sin was a far more natural choice...
