About The Novena to Saint Maria Goretti
Maria Goretti died at the tender age of 11, making her the youngest canonized Saint. She was killed by a neighbor boy because she thwarted his attempts to rape her, saying it was a sin. Though considered a martyr for the manner in which she died, Maria is best known for her forgiveness of her killer.
A half million people attended Maria’s canonization in 1850, requiring the ceremony for the first time to be held outside in St. Peter’s square.
Maria Goretti is the patron saint for chastity, rape victims, girls, youth, teenage girls, poverty, purity, and forgiveness.
How to Pray The Novena to St. Maria Goretti
The word novena is derived from the Latin term novem, meaning nine. Novena is a nine day period of prayer to obtain special graces, to implore special favors, or make special petitions. Here you’ll find Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Novenas But Were Afraid to Ask
Pray the Novena to St. Maria Goretti anytime, but it’s especially appropriate in the 9 days leading up to her feast day on July 6th.
Use these links to quickly get to a specific day:
Day 1 + Day 2 + Day 3 + Day 4 + Day 5 + Day 6 + Day 7 + Day 8 + Day 9
Novena to Saint Maria Goretti
Day 1
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 heart: 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 say, “yes” to a life which will lead to eternity in Heaven with you and our Lord.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here). Amen.
The Our Father
Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Day 2
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 while you were dying. 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 also pray for (mention your intentions here). Amen.
The Our Father
Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Day 3
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 also pray for (mention your intentions here). Amen.
The Our Father
Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Day 4
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 also pray for (mention your intentions here).
The Our Father
Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Day 5
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 also pray for (mention your intentions here). Amen.
The Our Father
Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Day 6
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. Please pray that I may be selfless as you were, and that I can learn to deny my own desires so that I can fulfill our Lord’s will.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here). Amen.
The Our Father
Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Day 7
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 because you loved our Lord. Pray for me, St. Maria Goretti, that I will become better at carrying my cross. Pray that I will not complain about my cross, and that I will remember to offer it up to our Lord, for I know that He does not waste any ounce of suffering given to Him.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here). Amen.
The Our Father
Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Day 8
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. 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 also pray for (mention your intentions here). Amen.
The Our Father
Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Day 9
O St. Maria Goretti, patron of victims of rape, please pray for all those whose dignity has been attacked. 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 survivors of sexual assault. And please pray for justice for their attackers, but most of all, for their contrition and conversion.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here). Amen.
The Our Father
Hail Mary
The Glory Be
Saint Maria Goretti, Pray for us.
