BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

july 6, Tuesday, 14th Week in Ordinary Time

ST. MARIA GORETTI (Italy, 1890-1902), Virgin and Martyr
Daughter of a poor farming family near Ancona, central eastern Italy, Maria never learned to read and write. The family migrated to a community near Rome. She was not yet 12 and had only recently made her First Communion when she was assaulted by an 18-year-old neighbor, Alessandro Serinelli, who stabbed her several times when she defended her virginity, telling him it was a sin and Jesus forbade sin. She died from her wounds the following day, but before dying, she received Extreme Unction and forgave her assailant. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Years later, he had a vision of Maria in heaven, which led him to repent. When he was released afte 27 years, he begged forgiveness from Maria's family and became devoted to her memory. Many miracles were attributed to Maria after her death. When shen was beatified in 1947, her 82-year-old mother and three surviving siblings joined Pius XII on the loggia of St. Peter's. Her canonization in 1950 brought half a million people to Rome, and for the first time, a canonization Mass was celebrated in St. Peter's Square. Pius XII held her out to the young people of the world as an example. Among the pilgrims was Serenelli, who was 66. (He had became a Capuchin lay brother, working as a gardener until he died at age 70). The main shrine to Maria Goretti is in Nettuno, 60 kms south of Rome.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/nab/readings/070610.shtml


OR for 7/5-7/6/07:


In Sulmona, Benedict XVI reaffirms the fascination of holiness, saying
'Light and strength come from the faith'
The issue presents a complete account of the Pope's pastoral visit to Sulmona on Sunday, honoring Pope St. Peter Celestine V on the 80tth anniversary year of his birth, with an editorial on 'The Pope's realism'; and a story on the blessing by the Pope yesterdya of the newest fountain in the Vatican Gardens named for St. Joseph and dedicated to the Pope. Page 1 international news: Former prime Minister Bronislaw Komorowski narrowly beats the late President's twin brother in elections to replace President Kaczynski who was killed with his wife and more than 80 Polish officials in a plane crash in Russia last April; a new report projects that by 2015, more than half of China's population will be found in urban areas.


No events scheduled for the Pope today.