ST.

MARIA GORETTI STORY

SCENE 1
NARRATOR 1: Maria Teresa Goretti was born on October 16, 1890 in Corinaldo, in the Province of
Ancona, Italy. His parents are Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. She is the third of seven children:
Antonio (who died in infancy), Angelo, Maria, Mariano (Marino), Alessandro (Sandrino), Ersilia, and
Teresa. Her family became so poor when she was five years old and they had to leave their farm
and find another place. They went to Colle Gianturco in 1896 which was fifty miles outside Rome. In
1899, they transferred to Le Ferriere. They lived in “La Cascina Antica” and they shared it with
another family which included Giovanni Serenelli and his son, Alessandro.

SCENE 2
NARRATOR 2: When she was nine years old, her father died because of malaria. Because of this,
her mother and other siblings worked in the fields while she takes care of Teresa. On July 5, 1902, it
was a humid day. Everyone went back to the field after lunch while Maria was left alone with her little
sister, Teresa, and with a neighbor’s baby girl. Maria sat sewing. On the other hand, Giovanni sat
down at the bottom of the stairs leading up to where they lived.

SCENE 3
NARRATOR 1: Alessandro was taken with Maria's beauty and had for some time tried to seduce
her. He spoke obscenely to her, made lewd suggestions and threatened to kill Maria and her mother
if she told anyone.
ALESSANDRO: Tell me you want me too, Maria. You are so beautiful.
MARIA: No, Alessandro! You must pray and repent for your sins.

SCENE 4
NARRATOR 1: Now Alessandro, in an ox-cart in the field going among the stacks of beans.
FARMER: Hey where are you going?
ALESSANDRO: I’ll just get something.

(He said nothing to Maria and went to his room. He came out and called to her but she did not
answer, going on with her sewing.)

ALESSANDRO: Maria! Come here, I’ll talk to you.

(This infuriated the hot-passioned youth and he grabbed the girl and dragged her into the kitchen
and kicked the door shut. )

MARIA: What are you doing Alessandro?!

ALESSANDRO: I want us to have an intercourse Maria! I am attracted to you!

MARIA: No. It's a sin. God does not want it.

(Alessandro grew even more angry at her resistance, raised an awl and threatened her.)

MARIA: No, no! It is a sin Alessandro! I will not submit myself to you even if you kill me!

(In a craze he struck her again and again with the knife.)

MARIA: Help me!

NARRATOR 1: She asked for help but the closed door was heavy and the noise of the threshing
was loud. No one heard her. (She fell to the floor, then dragged herself to the door. She opened it
as Alessandro ran for his room.)

MARIA: Help me, please! (She screamed and this made him turn back. In a frenzy, he stabbed the
girl six more times. Dropping the knife he rushed to his room and locked the door.)

NARRATOR 1: Alessandro's father, asleep, did not hear Maria's shriek, but he woke up to the loud
crying of the babies. He jumped up, found Maria in a pool of blood, and yelled wildly to the
threshers.

GIOVANNI: Assunta! Maria is fighting for her life! Help me!

OTHER FARMERS: What happened to Maria?!

NARRATOR 2: Maria's body was horribly mangled. It was a miracle that she was still alive. She
could hardly breathe. Her mother fainted. When she was asked who did this to her, she replied:

MARIA: It was Alessandro. He tried to make me do something that was a sin. But he couldn't make
me do it. He couldn't. I wouldn't let him.

SCENE 5

NARRATOR 1: She was taken to the hospital in a nearby town. Then, the police came to get the
defiant Alessandro. A crowd of angry farmers surrounded the house. The police sent for more
guards to take him away. The mob wanted to lynch him on the spot.

ANGRY FARMERS: You are sinful Alessandro! You did a terrible thing!

SCENE 6

NARRATOR 2: The doctors were astonished that the girl was still alive. Her pain-racked body was
covered with blood. They said it was hopeless. They called for the priest. Someone said, "She is
an angel." Maria was burning with fever and suffering but she said, "I'm all right." Her mother, in
tears, gave her the crucifix to kiss and that comforted her. The chaplain enrolled her in the Children
of Mary and the blessed medal was hung around her neck on a green ribbon. She kissed the medal
often.
MARIA: I forgive Alessandro for what he did. I hope that I will see him again in heaven. And It is
Jesus, whom I shall soon seen in heaven.

NARRATOR 2: The pain grew worse. When her dear mother asked her to pray for all of them, she
could no longer speak but her eyes said that she would gladly do so. And then Maria Goretti died.
At the funeral, praying for her, almost all asked her to pray for them.

SCENE 7

NARRATOR 1: Alessandro admitted that he attempted to rape Maria several times in the past. He
was sentenced to 30 years in jail and remained unapologetic about what he did. But one night, Maria
came to his dream.

MARIA: Please accept these lilies Alessandro.

NARRATOR 1: However, it was burned upon reaching his hands.

ALESSANDRO: No!!! Please forgive me God for I have sinned. Please forgive me for what I did.

NARRATOR 2: He was released 3 years early because of his tranquil behavior inside the prison, he
then immediately directed to Maria’s mother and begged for forgiveness.

ALESSANDRO: Please forgive me for what I did. It was not right. I should’ve never done that.

ASSUNTA: If my daughter has already forgiven you, then who am I to withhold forgiveness?

NARRATOR 2: He eventually joined the Capuchin Franciscans and, as a lay brother, worked as a
gardener, porter, and general laborer. He died in the peace of Christ, with the love and admiration of
those that knew him, at the Cappuchin convent at Macerata, Italy, on May 6, 1970.

NARRATOR 1: Maria Goretti was beatified by Pope Pius XII last April 27, 1947 in a ceremony at St.
Peter’s Basilica. 3 years later, she was declared a saint by the same pope and Alessandro was also
present in her canonization. After that, he lived his life under the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin,
where he worked as a receptionist and gardener until his death.