St. Maria Goretti's Biography

Maria Teresa Goretti

In 1890, the sixteenth day of October, the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, Assunta gave birth to a girl she named Maria Teresa. She was baptized the very next day at Saint Peter's parish church in Corinaldo. Her godmother was a cousin of Luigi, Pasqualina Goretti.

Assunta taught her children to say the names of Jesus and Mary as soon as they began to speak, and when they were a little older, the children were also taught to make the Sign of the Cross. Next of course were the basic prayers: the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed. An important part of the day was the Rosary. This family prayer was always said before a special picture of Our Lady of Good Counsel, which had been given to Luigi and Assunta on their wedding day by Capuchin Fathers in Corinaldo. It remained in the family throughout their several moves and was very dear to Maria.

Marietta, (the affectionate name for Maria), especially benefited from the catechism taught her by Assunta as she became in turn the proficient teacher of her younger brothers and sisters. The Goretti family never ever considered the idea of exempting themselves from attending Sunday Mass, though it meant a seven mile hike. Maria would make the journey enjoyable by telling her younger brothers and sisters stories which she had been taught about the saints or from Scripture.