ST MARIA GORETTI

St Maria Goretti was born on October 16th 1890 in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy.  Her father moved the family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio, due to increased poverty.  When Maria was nine years old, her father died of malaria and the family had to share a house with another family (The Serenellis family).
Maria had to take over household duties from her mother, while her mother and the rest of her family worked in the fields.
On a hot afternoon in July 1902 Maria was sitting at the top of the stairs in the cottage, mending a shirt, she was not yet quite 12 years old.  A cart stopped outside and Alessandro Serenellis a young man of 18 years ran up the stairs. He beckoned Maria into the adjoining bedroom but she refused to go Alessandro seized hold of her, pulled her in and shut the door. Maria struggled and tried to call for help, but she was being half-strangled and could only protest hoarsely, gasping that she would be killed rather than submit to him because that would be a mortal sin.  He stabbed her 14 times and ran away. An ambulance fetched Maria to hospital, where it was seen at once she would not live.

Her last hours were most touching - her concern for where her mother was going to sleep, her forgiveness of her murderer (and she now disclosed that she had long been going in fear of him but did not like to say anything lest she cause trouble with his family), after receiving Holy Communion 24 hours after the assault Maria Goretti died. Her mother, the parish priest of Nettuno, a spanish noblewoman and two nuns had watched by her bed all night.
Alessandro was sentenced to 30 years penal servitude. For a long time he was surly, brutal and unrepentant. Then one night he had a dream or vision in which he saw Maria gathering flowers and offering them to him.  From then on he was a changed man, and so exemplary a prisoner that at the end of 27 years he was released. His first act when free was to visit Maria' mother to beg her forgiveness, Maria's mother did forgive him.
Meanwhile the memory of his victim had become more and more revered. People prayed for her intercession in Heaven, answers even miracles, were attributed to her and the cause of her beatification was introduced.  On 27th April 1947 Maria Goretti was declared blessed by Pope Pius X11 when he afterwards appeared on the balcony of St Peters' he was accompanied by Maria's mother Assunta who was then 82 years old.
Three years later the same pope canonized St Maria Goretti in the piazza of St Peter's before the biggest crowd ever assembled for a canonization.  Her murderer was still alive, he had become a lay brother in a monastery eventually dying peacefully in 1970.

SAINT OLIVER PLUNKETT

The last catholic to die for his faith at Tyburn, Oliver Plunkett was born in 1629 at Loughcrew, in County Meath.  In 1647, he went to study for the priesthood in the Irish College in Rome.  On January 1st 1654 he was ordained priest. Due to religious persecution in his native land, it was not possible for him to return to Ireland.  St Oliver taught in Rome until 1669, when he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh and primate of Ireland.  Archbishop Plunkett soon established himself as a man of peace and, with religious fervor, set about visiting his people establishing schools, ordaining priests and confirming thousands.
1673 brought a renewal of religious persecution and bishops were banned by edict.  Archbishop Plunkett went into hiding, suffering a great deal from cold and hunger.  His many letters show his determination not to abandon his flock but to remain a faithful shepherd.  He thanked God "Who gave us the grace to suffer for the chair of Peter".  The persecution eased a little and he was able to move more openly among his people.

In December 1679 he was arrested and falsely charged with conspiring against the state.  St Oliver was imprisoned in Dublin Castle, where he remained until October 1680 when he was transferred to Newgate prison in London.  His time in Newgate was one of immense suffering.  From October 1680 until May 1681 he was kept in solitary confinement. It proved to be a time of purification, from which he emerged with new strength and courage. The charge against him was high treason.

His trial started on 8th June 1681.  It was a travesty of justice. He was accused of being a key player in the Popish Plot to stir up rebellion in Ireland.  The chief prosecution witnesses were three priests Hugh Duffy and John McMoyer(Franciscans) and Edmund Murphy a priest of his own diocese.  Oliver was found guilty on perjured evidence and sentenced to death.

A trusted friend of Oliver's, Father Taurus Corker wrote movingly of Oliver's last days:
   "He certainly knew God Almighty had chosen him for the crown and dignity of martyrdom, he continually studied how to divest himself of himself, and become more and more an entire pleasing and perfect holocaust"
Oliver went peacefully to the place of his execution, where he delivered a most moving speech.  He professed his innocence of all the charges against him, and forgave his enemies, especially the priests who had testified against him.
The sentence was carried out at Tyburn on 1st July 1681.  St Oliver Plunkett was beatified on 23rd May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV and canonized on October 12th 1975  by  Pope  Paul  V1.

      (Skull of St Oliver Plunkett)