BIG C CATHOLICS

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She was born in 1656, in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon. Her name, Kateri, is the Mohawk form of Catherine, which she took from St. Catherine of Siena. At four years old Kateri contracted smallpox which scarred her skin. The scars were a source of humiliation. Her entire family died during the outbreak. Kateri was subsequently raised by her uncle, the chief of a Mohawk clan. At nineteen, Kateri converted to Catholicism, taking a vow of chastity and pledging to marry only Jesus Christ. Her decision was very unpopular within her tribe. To avoid persecution, she traveled to the Christian native community of Caughnawaga near Montreal. Known as "Lily of the Mohawks," Kateri was especially devoted to the Eucharist, and to Jesus Crucified. She was also very sickly. Her practices of self-mortification and denial did not help her health. She died five years after her conversion on April

On July 6th, the Church celebrates the feast of its youngest canonized saint. Saint Maria Goretti (1890-1902) was born in Corinaldi, Italy, the third of seven children to a poor peasant family. Known for her cheerful piety, Maria grew in many virtues. When she was nine, her father, Luigi Goretti, died from malaria. To make ends meet, the Gorettis shared a house with Giovanni Serenelli and his son, Alessandro. Maria took over household responsibilities while her mother, brothers, and sister worked in the fields. Dispensing her duties, Maria was a source of encouragement, never complaining about her chores. Alessandro Serenelli noticed Maria's beauty and began to have impure thoughts. He would speak cruelly and make sexual advances toward her often. Maria always rebuked him saying, "No, never, that is a sin! God forbids that and we would go to hell!" The harassment continued for months. On July 5, 1902, Alessandro approached Maria and demanded she submit to him. Maria

July 5, 2016 Years after Maria's death, when Alessandro (her attacker) was in prison, Maria appeared to Alessandro in a dream, and forgave him once more. From that day forward, Alessandro experienced a conversion, repented of his sins, and went on to live a holy life, eventually becoming a Franciscan lay brother. Today we pray for the healing of those who have been sexually assaulted as well as for the contrition and conversion of their attackers. Day 9 - The St. Maria Goretti Novena O St. Maria Goretti, patron of victims of rape, please pray for all those who have been sexually assaulted. Please pray for their healing, for comfort, and for peace for them. Please pray that we, as a society, may be able to better protect those who are victimized. Please pray for justice for their attackers, but most of all, for their contrition and conversion. Please pray also for (mention your intentions here). Amen. O God, author of innocence and chastity, who bestowed the g

July 4, 2016 Maria was a pious child. She couldn't read or write, but she learned her Catechism and received her First Communion just one year before she died. She attended Mass as often as she could. Today we pray that St. Maria will intercede for all children, that their faith may grow and prosper as hers did. Day 8 - The St. Maria Goretti Novena O St. Maria Goretti, patron of youth, please pray for the children in my life and the youth across the world. Please pray that their faith may be as strong as yours was when you were 11 years old. Please pray that I may do what I can to support children in their faith, and to encourage them to love our Lord, to put Him first in their lives, and to follow His commandments Please pray also for (mention your intentions here). Amen. O God, author of innocence and chastity, who bestowed the grace of martyrdom on your handmaid, the Virgin Saint Maria Goretti, in her youth, grant, we pray, through her intercession, that,

July 3, 2016 Shortly after being attacked, Maria was taken to the hospital where doctors tried to save her. She was badly dehydrated due loss of blood, and she begged for water. They were unable to give her any because doing so would have made her condition worse. Before surgery, a parish priest was called to administer Last Rites. The priest showed Maria a crucifix and told her that Jesus was also very thirsty as he suffered on the cross. He asked Maria if she would offer up her thirst to Jesus for the salvation of sinners. Maria agreed, and didn't ask for water again. Today we pray today that St. Maria will intercede for us to offer up our sufferings for the greater glory of God. Day 7 - The St. Maria Goretti Novena O St. Maria Goretti, beautiful model of christian suffering, pray for me. You carried your cross so courageously while you suffered through surgery without anesthesia. You thirsted and were not able to be given water, and you accepted that cross bec

July 2, 2016 Maria was born to a poor farming family in Italy. She was one of six children. Her father died when she was only 9 years old. After his death, Maria had to begin taking care of the rest of the children in the family while her mother worked. Maria also had to cook and clean for their neighbors. Alessandro, her attacker, was her neighbor's son. In spite of having to take care of the children, cook and clean for her family and neighbors, it's said that she did all of this joyfully and with faith that God would provide. Today we pray that St. Maria will intercede for us to have faith and to live a holy life. Day 6 - The St. Maria Goretti Novena O St. Maria Goretti, beautiful model of living a holy, everyday life, pray for me. I often feel as though my life must be extraordinary if I am to be a saint, but you show me another way. You show me that I can be a saint if I love our Lord with all my heart, and if I serve my family and put them before me. Pl

July 1, 2016 It's said that St. Maria's greatest virtue was her forgiveness of her attacker, even in the midst of terrible physical suffering. That's why she is called the, "little saint of great mercy." St. Maria modeled Christ's mercy. We ask her today to help us to do the same. Day 5 - The St. Maria Goretti Novena O St. Maria Goretti, beautiful model of mercy, pray for me. God’s mercy is the only hope for mankind. I know we are called to imitate our Father’s mercy to those around us, but it is hard, and I often fail. But you, even at the age of 11, were strong and courageous enough to offer mercy to your attacker, the one who hurt you the very most. Please pray that I will be able to do the same to those who hurt me. Please pray that I will not consider their unworthiness, but that I may consider our Lord, as you did. Please pray also for (mention your intentions here). Amen. O God, author of innocence and chastity, who bestowed the

June 30, 2016 Today we pray for chastity. It's something we are all called to practice, regardless of our vocation. The Catechism states that chastity allows us to imitate Jesus Christ in selfless love.  Day 4 - The St. Maria Goretti Novena O St. Maria Goretti, beautiful model of chastity, you guarded your virginity with such fervor. Even at the age of 11, you knew the value of the virtue of chastity. Please pray that I will become better at practicing chastity in my own life. Pray that I will learn to live a life in which desire is subservient to reason. Please pray that I will be able to love as Jesus does: selflessly. Please pray also for (mention your intentions here). Amen. O God, author of innocence and chastity, who bestowed the grace of martyrdom on your handmaid, the Virgin Saint Maria Goretti, in her youth, grant, we pray, through her intercession, that, as you gave her a crown for her steadfastness, so we, too, may be firm in obeying your command

June 29, 2016 Today we pray that St. Maria Goretti will intercede for us to forgive those who sin against us. When Maria lay dying in the hospital, these were her last words: "I forgive Alessandro Serenelli (her attacker) and I want him with me in heaven forever." St. Maria forgave the man who killed her. May we, likewise, forgive those who have wronged us. Day 3 - The St. Maria Goretti Novena O St. Maria Goretti, beautiful model of forgiveness, pray for me. Even at the age of 11, you did not withhold forgiveness from your attacker. You didn’t wish him unwell. On the contrary, you wanted Heaven for him. You loved him in that way. Pray for me that I, too, will be able to love my enemies like you did. Pray that I will want Heaven for them. Please pray that it will become easier and easier to forgive those who have hurt me and those who will hurt me. Please pray for my own healing from these past hurts so that I can move forward and offer forgiveness. Please

June 28, 2016 Today we pray that St. Maria Goretti will intercede for us to grow in our love of the Lord, our neighbor, and even our enemies. Maria's neighbor attacked her when she was only 11 years old. It was he who tried to rape her, and who ended up killing her. Yet, because she loved the Lord so greatly, Maria forgave him.  Read about the Life of  St. Maria Goretti .  Day 2 - The St. Maria Goretti Novena O St. Maria Goretti, beautiful model of love, your love for God was so clear in how you cared for your family during such hardships and in how you loved your enemies — even unto death. Even at the age of 11, you understood what it meant to love the Lord and to love your neighbor as yourself. Pray for me that I may be able to do the same. Please pray that I will truly be able to serve my family joyfully, and others who need my help and love. And most of all, pray that our Lord will come first in my heart. Please pray also for (mention your intentions here).

June 27, 2016 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Today, we pray for purity. The Catechism states that purity of heart enables one to see according to God and to accept others as our brothers & sisters in Christ. Read about the Life of  St. Maria Goretti .  Day 1 - The St. Maria Goretti Novena O St. Maria Goretti, beautiful model of purity, you defended your virginity unto your death. Even at the age of 11, you held dear to your heart what is dear to our Lord's: your purity. Pray for me that I may do the same, especially when I am tempted. Please pray that God will give me the strength to avoid sin and yes to a life which will lead to eternity in Heaven with you and our Lord. Please pray also for (mention your intentions here). Amen. O God, author of innocence and chastity, who bestowed the grace of martyrdom on your handmaid, the Virgin Saint Maria Goretti, in her youth, grant, we pray, through her intercession, that, as y

Saint Maria Goretti is the Church's youngest canonized saint. She was born near Ancona, Italy into a poor peasant family. Known for her cheerfulness and piety, Maria attended Mass often and loved God completely. She was also beautiful. At age 11, she was assaulted by her neighbor's son. Marie chose to die rather than lose her virginity. Enraged by her refusal, Maria's attacker stabbed her nine times. Before dying, she forgave her assailant. Her mother was present at her canonization in 1950, the first time a parent witnessed their child's canonization. Over one half million souls attended St. Maria's canonization Mass, the largest of any canonization up to that time. St. Maria Goretti is patron: Against impoverishment; against poverty; children; children of Mary; girls; loss of parents; martyrs; rape victims; young people in general. Novena  to St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr The Novena to St. Maria Goretti Begins June 27th in anticipation of her feas