solicited by a boy several years older and much stronger than her to consent to his shameful advances, firmly rejected them, telling him: “No, you will go to Hell!” She paid dearly for her heroic virtue. Beside himself with passion, he stabbed her again and again with a knife, leaving her half dead. She would agonise for two full days before rendering her pure soul to God, but not before forgiving her assassin, Alessandro Serenelli, who would do penance and eventually be present in Rome when she was canonised fifty years later. Alessandro would write a beautiful letter of testimony on his conversion due to St Maria’s intercession, in which we can read these words: “My behaviour 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.” This episode shows both the lethal power of lust and lustful propaganda by the press, but also the superior power of the Holy Spirit who strengthens weak and fragile souls to offer their lives for purity. May St Maria Goretti share with you her love for modesty and purity, even unto death were it to lead there. Such is the power of the Holy Spirit, my Daughter, at work in His saints. All He asks for is a bit of good will, and a great desire to save souls. If you have those and give yourself to Him, one step at a time you will progress to true sanctity, and in so doing you will influence many more women and girls than you can imagine. These examples and many others also show us that we are indeed engaged in a fierce battle. The enemy of our human nature does not hesitate to use violence and death, just as he did against Christ Our Lord. And yet, we know that it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Fear nothing. Fear no one. You may be opposed by your family or closest friends. You might even be put to scorn by priests or nuns. Fear not, but stand firm! If you do, we have every reason to be optimistic about the future. You will continue to reconquer the lost ground, one step at a time. What we need is a new crusade for purity and Christian modesty…. My Dear Daughter, will you take up the challenge? With my blessing, Your Father in Christ 96
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