St. Maria Goretti: In Garments All Red

by Godfrey Robert Poage

The beautiful, true story of the 12-year-old girl who in 1902 died a martyr to preserve her purity. Describes her virtuous life, poverty, holiness, valiant resistance, heroic and lingering death, conversion of her murderer and canonization in 1950 with her mother, her murderer and over 500,000 present. This is the famous, popular, classic biography! This is a good book to read to children, so they have someone worthwhile to imitate. By having Maria put before them as a model, they will learn to appreciate the virtue of purity. For a child to imitate the saints, he or she must first love them -- which in turn requires knowing them. Get your children acquainted with one of the greatest saints of the twentieth century!

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Biography, Nonfiction, Christian, Faith, Spirituality

86 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

Reviews

[7jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short biography, released soon after her canonization in 1950 (48 years after her death), is a pretty decent one of a saint who died when not quite 12, stabbed to death when she refused the advances of an older boy, Alessandro.

Included besides the biography is the 1947 beatification address of Pope Pius XII, some black and white pictures, the canonization homily, plus a novena (from 1951) and some other prayers that fit not just the youth of her age, but even more older people. The biographer found some people still living that knew her, and some of the story has no doubt been taken from these conversations, while some are from canonization etc. interviews, including that of Alessandro (who repented and was forgiven by Maria's other) so we get a view of what really happened during his attack on her.

It's not only about the struggles of sexual temptation, and the keeping of purity, but also a view on how two young people can be raised so differently, and what the result of those diffrent ways can be, destructive in diffrent ways, meeting at the same point. Many miracles are connected to the saint, but it is the miracle that the killer experienced that really moved people towards pushing her sainthood on, and changed Alessandro for good (he became a Capuchin layperson and a gardener in a monastery until his death, which tells you how deep his repentance went).

I found the book written well, without that much sweetness as I thought it could be, and the story moved quickly. The novena and the prayers are good, and usable to all, and the other writings connected to the biography were also placed nicely. The book did make me think of many things and many improvements one can have in one's practice of virtues, and I think that says a lot about this slim book's strengths.

[Halo Phạm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thà chết còn hơn phạm tội.



Là câu chuyện về thánh nữ 12 tuổi mà lúc nhỏ xem film mình rất thích. Bây giờ nghe audiobook cảm thấy hay hơn lúc trước, đúng thật là sách lúc nào cũng đưa cảm xúc ta lên cao.



Lớn lên trong một gia đình đạo đức, sau ngày làm việc vất vả nhưng không bao giờ bỏ qua những giờ kinh, những giờ lần chuỗi cuối ngày để cảm tạ Thiên Chúa. Qua đây cho mình thấy rằng đời sống đạo của một đứa trẻ sẽ ra sao, ảnh hưởng rất lớn từ gia đình.
Như Khổng Tử nói "Nhân chi sơ, tính bản thiện: 人之初，性本善.
Và sau này cũng dễ hiểu sao lại sinh ra con người như Alessandro, và trong đó không có lỗi của gia đình!



Một tâm hồn đạo hạnh, can đảm, vui nhận lãnh cái chết để bảo toàn bông huệ đức khiết tịnh. Với thế hệ của chúng ta ngày này, thì thật khó nhưng không phải không thể, nhờ ơn Chúa thì mọi việc đều có thể!



Vì nhận ra cô chắc chắn sẽ thành một vị thánh, cha sở đã hỏi cô về sự tha thứ và cô đã đáp: Thưa cha, con tha. Con phải tha thứ, con tha vì tình yêu Chúa Giê-su, và nói với anh trai, anh cũng sẽ tha chứ cho Alessandro nhé!

"Tôi tha thứ cho anh ta; tôi muốn có anh ta bên cạnh tôi trên Thiên Đàng."

Nhiều lúc chỉ một hành động của ai đó làm phật lòng, mình đã nóng mặt lên rồi. Nghĩ hay nói đều dễ nhưng để tha thứ, tha thứ cho chính kẻ làm hại đến mình thật không dễ chút nào!



Là mẫu gương quý trọng bí tích thánh, cô có một tấm lòng ao ước được rước Chúa, để Chúa ngự trọn nơi tâm hồn cô, và không để bất cứ sự dữ nào nào.



Giáo hoàng Pius XII tấn phong Thánh Maria Goretti là thánh đồng trinh và tử đạo của Giáo hội Công giáo Rôma. Mẹ của Maria hiện diện trong buổi lễ - bà là người mẹ đầu tiên từ trước đến nay hiện diện trong lễ tấn phong của con. Alessandro Serenelli cũng có mặt.

Ngày lễ kính Thánh Maria Goretti là 6 tháng 7 hằng năm.

Một tiểu sử thật đẹp, cứu rỗi được nhiều người, và nhất là Alessandro. Như các vị thánh khác, tính phổ quát của một con người nên thánh đã cứu rồi nhiều tâm hôn.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud with girls.

[Erin Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose Saint Maria Gorreti to be my Saint of the year for many reasons, but I wanted to read more on her life and this book was an easy, but excellent read. Godfrey Poage showcased her purity and how she provided us with a great example of reachable faith that we all can obtain, even at a young age. She is more than an obedient, young girl who was murdered during an attempted rape. She is a young girl who was faithful to Christ, her family, and her beliefs by loving everyone around her. She created such a great witness of how to forgive and how to choose goodness within every moment, especially within suffering throughout her life. She by no means had an easy life, but chose to suffer with joy, peace, and by being present to those around her. I definitely recommend reading this if you want to read more on the life of Saint Maria Goretti.

[Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read half of this on the night of her feast day, and the rest a day later.
The purity of virgin saints always make me cry; perhaps the tears wash my eyes at the same time as my soul is cleansed when i see with my heart the strength of their love for Christ.

Maria Goretti was an alter Agnes, and just ask St. Agnes returned sight to her blinded would-be assailant, dearest Maria loved and prayed for her murderer Alessando from heaven after her death unto his repentance. Alessando worked as a 3rd order Franciscan well into old age, and tended to the garden. His favorite flowers were lilies.

"I'm nearly 80 years old. I'm about to depart.
Looking back at my past, I can see that in my early youth, I chose a bad path which led me to ruin myself.
My behavior was influenced by print, mass-media and bad examples which are followed by the majority of young people without even thinking. And I did the same. I was not worried.
There were a lot of generous and devoted people who surrounded me, but I paid no attention to them because a violent force blinded me and pushed me toward a wrong way of life.
When I was 20 years-old, I committed a crime of passion. Now, that memory represents something horrible for me. Maria Goretti, now a Saint, was my good Angel, sent to me through Providence to guide and save me. I still have impressed upon my heart her words of rebuke and of pardon. She prayed for me, she interceded for her murderer. Thirty years of prison followed.
If I had been of age, I would have spent all my life in prison. I accepted to be condemned because it was my own fault.
Little Maria was really my light, my protectress; with her help, I behaved well during the 27 years of prison and tried to live honestly when I was again accepted among the members of society. The Brothers of St. Francis, Capuchins from Marche, welcomed me with angelic charity into their monastery as a brother, not as a servant. I've been living with their community for 24 years, and now I am serenely waiting to witness the vision of God, to hug my loved ones again, and to be next to my Guardian Angel and her dear mother, Assunta.
I hope this letter that I wrote can teach others the happy lesson of avoiding evil and of always following the right path, like little children. I feel that religion with its precepts is not something we can live without, but rather it is the real comfort, the real strength in life and the only safe way in every circumstance, even the most painful ones of life."

Alessandro Serenelli, May 5, 1961

It is so sad how we live today. How much sorrow do we prepare for the youth when we encourage and allow indecency and impurity. I too have murdered purity. Maria Goretti is a good saint to love.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
St. Maria Goretti, pray for us and our youth to love purity and to prefer death over sin.

[Scott Nvenue · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Maria Goretti was an 11 year old Italian girl who was viciously murdered during an attempted rape. She was canonized by Pope Plus XII in 1950. She is esteemed and venerated for defending her virginity and for forgiving her murderer. She is an example for all who struggle with temptation or unforgiveness. She is especially relevant for today's society where sexual immodesty and pornography are everywhere. Today's Christian must face a continuous temptation. Also, too many people today are more interested in revenge and retribution than they are in forgiveness. St. Maria Goretti is a most suitable help for these times.

The book is very short and is divided into a few parts. At the beginning is a foreword that shows how she is so relevant today. That is followed by the beatification address given by Pope Pius XII. This is folowed by her hagiography - the majority of the book. At the end is a homily given by the Pope at her canonization mass. The book concludes with a Novena to St. Maria Goretti and several other prayers.

The book is an easy read. I started and finished it on Sunday. I highly recommend this book for any Catholic, for any Christian interested in canonized saints and for anyone trying to resist pornography, temptation or unforgiveness.

[Jenna Goldsack · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of St. Maria Goretti is one that is so incredibly beautiful, for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. This story was so impactful for me, a young Catholic. St. Maria Goretti had such a deep faith at the young age of 12, and would rather die than offend God. She was so willing to forgive the man that left her to die: “Yes, for the love of Jesus I too pardon him to be with me in heaven.”

We can learn so much through this lovely Saint.

St. Maria Goretti, pray for us❤️

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maria Goretti is truly an example of faith to young people in the world today. Although her story is sad, she will forever be remembered as a model of purity and forgiveness. St. Maria Goretti, pray for us!

[Arianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful insight into the life of the young saint!

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the best biography I have read on Saint Maria. I find the narration rather sparse, drab, and severely lacking in dialogue. There is very little said about Maria's siblings (I can recall several interesting facts that could have been added), and the actual text of the story only spans about 60 pages. In general the book has a very dark mood to it, and it leaves me feeling depressed rather than inspired. I wouldn't say it is not worth reading, but unfortunately the best books on Maria Goretti are no longer readily available.

I would suggest reading Saint Maria Goretti by Marie Cecilia Buehrle or The Penitent by Pietro Didonato.

[Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an uplifting account of the life of St. Maria Goretti. She died at a young age, resisting a sexual assault and forgave her attacker on her death bed. I found her story to be an uplifting tale of purity, innocence and forgiveness.

[Gary Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hagiography from a Simpler Time

This short book offers an almost fictionalized account of the brief 11-year life and horrific murder of Maria Goretti. The account of her life reads like a story, one its author took many liberties in telling. Fr. Poage imagines the thoughts and motivations of Maria and those in her family. This book is not biography as we know and expect it in the 21st century. It is biography as a springboard to lessons on piety and courage and love for Christ above all else--even one's life. It is a compelling story, and one well told by Fr. Poage, but it did leave me yearning for an authentic biography of this admirable young woman and saint.

I bought this book at the Treasures of the Church exhibit when it passed through my city in June. The presenter of that extraordinary exhibit of relics was Fr. Carlos Martins, who penned the introduction to this 2015 edition of the book (boasting the Soffredini portrait on its cover). In his presentation, Martins gave details not found in this book, such as Alessandro murdering Maria in two stages, stabbing her and then fleeing, then returning a little while later for a second round of stabbings.

Alessandro Serenelli is a fascinating character in himself. He brought to my mind the serial killer Ted Bundy. Each man lost the reins of his sexual appetites, addicted to pornography. One doesn't think of pornography circa 1902, but Poage discreetly describes the "bundle of lurid magazines" Alessandro would bring home and pore through behind the closed door of his room, and the "immodest pictures" from which he pinned up on his wall. These images fueled his disordered lust and drove him to attempt raping an 11-year-old girl, just as Bundy was driven by his porn-fueled fantasies to murder upwards of 30 women. Alessandro's story of redemption merited a short book of its own, Alessandro Serenelli: A Story of Forgiveness, which I recently bought and plan to read for the rest of the St. Maria Goretti saga.

Also on the docket is The Life and Witness of St. Maria Goretti: Our Little Saint of the Beatitudes, which appears more devotional than biographical, but which promises to be a complement to the other books in creating a fuller picture and appreciation of this virgin martyr.

Fr. Poage's slight book is padded out with supplementary material. I especially appreciated having the texts of two of Pope Pius XII's addresses. The first on the occasion of the April 27, 1947 beatification of Maria, and the second from Maria's canonization on June 24, 1950. The inspiring words and exhortations of yesteryear's pope are prescient in envisioning the decline of morals in the West, and especially the corruption of youth, "even among those of the tenderest years, in whom the possession of virtue is a natural inheritance" (p. 67).

There are 13 pages of black-and-white photographs, the Novena to St. Maria Goretti, and additional prayers (such as a "Prayer Before a Dance or Party," which betray its 1950's origins). It's a slim volume but a substantive one well worth reading.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, this book and this saint are absolutely essential. Her testimony is a witness of so many things...the pursuit of holiness, the safeguarding of one's own innocence and purity, and most of all forgiveness.
I grew up in the toxic purity culture of Southern Baptist circles and cringed at this girl's love for purity before I had ever known her true story. In reality, she was not obsessed with maintaining a toxic purity, sustained by superiority and a false sense of self-worth, but the true purity that comes from entrusting oneself and sinful choices to the Lord, knowing that His forgiveness and mercies make everything new!
And not only was she a champion of pure holiness for those she loved and the other girls in her village, but even as she was being assaulted by her abuser, her concern was not just for herself but for HIS own purity, his own soul's destiny for committing such a sin--"No, Alessandro, it is a sin, YOU will go to Hell!"
As he inflicted the fatal wounds on her resisting body, her thoughts were turned toward her abuser's salvation.
This is a hard lesson for me, as both a sexual abuse survivor and a devout Catholic. But this child's witness to forgiveness is undeniable and unforgettable.
Jesus, help me to forgive, and St. Maria Goretti, pray for me!

[Lilly Pittman · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW/TW: sexual assault, toxic masculinity







This book was painful to read. On one hand, there is much to be said about Maria's devotion to God. However, on the other hand, this book equates rape and sexual assault with sin in ways that condemns victims of sexual assault and rape. This is so incredibly dangerous. Furthermore, it is this association that is used to leverage purity culture and implore it's readers to be pure. This book also reeks of patriarchy, seen in it's praise of women who are "docile," "obliging," "serving," "pleasing," and "good" (23). It goes even farther to define charity, another way of talking about love, in terms of subservience and a lack of boundaries (34). This book made me angry. It made me cringe. It made me weep. It made me want to throw up. This is an example of how the Church has invoked toxic masculinity, using the story of a young woman, to further their agenda. I weep for Maria, as I weep for all persons who have experienced sexual assault. And I ask, what does justice look like? Is sainthood really justice?

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this easy to read life of the young Martyr from the early 1900s. My edition had a slightly different cover and more pages than the edition picked for Goodreads. I had requested a librarian add a new edition to match the copy I have.

Here is edition that needed adding that I read:

Title: In Garments All Red. The Life Story of St Maria Goretti

Author: CP Fr. Godfrey Poage

ISBN (or ASIN): BX4700M368P6

Publication date: 1977

Format: Paperback

Page count: 120 pages

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Book...

https://pictures.abebooks.com/invento...

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a terribly sad story. As a mother, I wept and had to put the book down after reading about her attack. It’s hard to fathom the atrocities some humans are capable of committing. Someone told me that Alessandro is possibly getting canonized himself. After reading St. Maria Goretti’s story, it’s hard to imagine such sins being forgiven and allowing such a man as he was to become a saint. But I suppose we’re all God’s children and he’s always willing to welcome us back with open arms.

[Gabriel Monton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book that chronicles the life of St. Maria Goretti and the conversion of Alessandro. The book includes the miracles associated with St. Maria Goretti and her saintly characteristics that she displayed throughout her life. Gives the complete picture of her family and the events leading up to June 1902. Very good read and made me remember the importance of forgiving everybody no matter what they have done to you.

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book and a quick read. I was expecting it to be a tad dry, but the way the author wrote it in story form made it enticing and exciting to read. I knew St. Maria’s story before picking up this book, but it was fun to read it all with details. Bonus is the novena and prayers to St. Maria at the end!

[Arina · Rating 5 out of 5]

St Maria Goretti is a great role model for people of all ages. She showed so much dedication when it came to not offending Our Lord, and ultimately chose to sacrifice herself in order to keep her virtue because she realized the sacredness of it. She is defiantly an inspiration when it comes to valuing purity and chastity. A must read.

[Christian Engler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fr. Poage's short biography on the life and times of St. Maria Goretti is a remarkably in-depth work, maybe even more so, because the book does not even comprise 100 pages. It is written in a clear and matter-of-fact style. And the literary eloquence of the language is not at all compromised due the bluntness of the fact telling. This little biography will give a reader as thorough a look into the life and actions of this brave little girl that no such voluminous collections of hagiography could probably come close to adequately conveying. At least it would not be able to do so without including unnecessarily pious and sanctimonious overtones that can be off putting to readers who are also striving to God themselves but feel extremely limited due to their own weaknesses. That is what is so refreshing about how Fr. Poage tells Maria Goretti's fascinating story. It is done so with earthiness and genuine interest. Yet, it is an interest that is kept at bay. He let's Maria Goretti's story speak for itself, and thankfully, he does not incorporate into his writing trite gushing platitudes.

It seems that in every generation lust is a dangerous evil that stalks humanity. It does so with an intensity that never quits, and when off guard, can become quite consuming for the individual who falls victim to its prey. It was no different in Maria Goretti's time. She and her very devout family did not have an easy time of it, certainly not in respects to finances and economics. They were itinerant farmers, so-to-speak, who were just looking for a break and a place to settle and make roots. When they left the mountainous region of Corinaldo for the swamplands of Ferriere near Nettuno in Italy, they hoped that it would be their final destination. But things only worsened after they settled. While Maria Goretti's family always had a degree of upheaval to it, the stabilizing force that overshadowed their tumultuousness was their deep Catholic faith; it was the bedrock that made everything tolerable and sometimes even joyful. And Maria's mother, Assunta, educated her daughter and her siblings well in a manner that was respectful, grounded and honest. While Assunta could neither read nor write, she led by example, as did the father, Luigi, who died of malaria when Maria was just nine.

As a family they were prayerful, and those traits shone through. They prayed the Rosary and had other devotions that centered on the Holy Eucharist, the true presence of Jesus Christ. They had a down-to-earth humility and goodness about them, and they accepted their lot without many incessant complaints. Yet, it was not easy for them either, especially when the Goretti's shared their living quarters, known as La Cascina Antica or The Cascina Ancient, with an aged widower named Giovanni Serenelli and his wayward son Alessandro, a young man whose mind was perverted with images of pornography and fused with fantasies of violence. The lack of love, warmth and compassion in his own life were certainly the building blocks that hardened his heart. Living in such close confines, Alessando quickly turned his gaze upon the industrious and pious Maria, primarily because she was the exact opposite of everything that he was. There was an aura of inherent goodness and love about her, and in his contaminated thinking, holiness just wasn't in the scene. But that is what she, in her humility, possessed, for she wasn't made a saint solely on the fact that she was a virgin martyr; she had the other hallmark virtues of holiness, characteristics that made many take notice of her, and for Alessandro, that was exactly what he wanted to defile. He made numerous advances on her and badgered her with fowl language and inappropriate remarks, all this under the radar of Maria's family. But Maria simply prayed and tried to make the best of her situation without upsetting the necessary living dynamics. Yet, Alessandro would progress the tensions to an unheard of level, and it is in these specific circumstances where Maria Goretti's mettle, and her ultimate forgiveness of Alessandro, would be severely tested and where her heroic virtue would be universally acknowledged with sainthood.

This was a real gripping read that certainly does have the power to inspire; it is an in-depth biography (with novena prayers at the end) that is a stellar companion piece to the documentary Fourteen Flowers of Pardon (the number of times St. Maria Goretti was brutally stabbed), of which Fr. Poage is also a commentator. I recommend this work to parents, especially to those who have daughters and are concerned about this lust riddled age. But it is truly a work for all. Stories like this, however, are not limited solely to St. Maria Goretti, for others are on the path to sainthood, too, who have followed her example. They are certainly worth mentioning and studying up on. They are in no chronological order: Blessed Albertina Berkenbrock, Blessed Karolina Kozkowna (the Polish Maria Goretti), Blessed Teresa Bracco, Blessed Antonia Mesina, Blessed Laura Vicuna, Blessed Pierina Morosini (who incredibly attended St. Maria Goretti's canonization in 1950), Servant of God Santa Scorese, Servant of God Josephina Vilaseca and Servant of God Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos.

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful biography of a saint I have a great appreciation for. I read it in a day. I appreciate the author's engaging and personal style. This book has helped me have a deeper love and appreciation for St. Maria Goretti. St. Maria Goretti, pray for us!

[Kara ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read on Good Friday, 2021 during the first hour Our Lord suffered on the cross.

A simple and brief recounting of St. Maria’s life and death and martyrdom. I wish it had gone into more depth, but it did what it sought to do.

[Kasey Toney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just so beautiful. St.Maria is my favorite saint and she has taught me to love every person. This story is just amazing and i love this so much. If you want to learn more about this beautiful saint then this is just for you. Oh and it made me cry.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a wonderful young saint with a timeless message. It tells of the struggles faced by the family and the responsibilities and pressures Maria faced. Ultimately she is martyred rather than allow herself to betray her love of God and neighbor.

[Andy Lind · Rating 3 out of 5]

What made the book great for me were the pictures inside and the prayers in the back of the book. Most of the information in the short book, I already knew about this great Saint.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tale of the extraordinary, short life of a shining example of faith and trust in God -and the power of foregiveness

[Elizabeth Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good documentation of Maria's story. Inspiring for any catholic

[AudreyMM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I’ve always loved this saint, however, this books makes her even more inspirational!

[Miss K · Rating 5 out of 5]

*rtc*

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and heartbreaking…