Who Do You Think You Are?

Today's feast is important for many reasons. St Maria Goretti offers to the Church and the world a striking example of goodness, purity and forgiveness.  Today's Gospel introduced us to the twelve apostles, how appropriate it was given that Maria merits to be numbered among them for her fidelity to Christ. 

Sadly devotion to St Maria has waned in recent years, I think the sexual revolution of the 1960's and the dissent in the Church are to blame for the most part.  The sexual revolution tells us that it is OK to have sex whenever you want with whoever you want as long as you're being "responsible".  Maria's message of purity and integrity does not go down too well in a promiscuous society.  The dissent in the Church has also alienated Maria and her message - modern Catholics who want to engage with the world and be mature/sophisticated/real (delete as appropriate) see the young martyr as an embarrassment - the whole notion of purity is just too pious.

But all said, Maria is indeed an important teacher for our times - a teacher of the nations, if you like.  She defended her chastity not only because she did not want to be violated, but also because it was morally wrong.  She asked her attacker to stop so as not to endanger his soul.  There was certainly something different about this young girl. 

Purity is a necessary part of being human - it is intimately related to our integrity - of who we think we are.  As we seek to be men and woman of integrity, our sexual behaviour contributes to that.  Now that is great in theory, but all of us struggle in this area, and some fall, some falling very badly.  Confession is there to deal with that, and unless the fall includes criminal behaviour, after absolution we get up and start again with confidence in God's grace - and we, as Christians, must always allow people the space for this recovery: after all, Maria forgave and sought heaven for her killer.  If the fall constitutes a crime that is another matter - but forgiveness and the hope of turning one's life around cannot be excluded, though there is a serious debt which must be paid and justice must take its course. 

Another reason why purity and sexual integrity is important concerns relationships.  The sexual chaos of the last few decades has led to all sorts of problems, including widespread confusion around who we think we are, who we are related to.  Here is an interesting article on this confusion of relationships.    There is a very good programme on TV called Who Do You Think You Are? In the programme various personalities do some research into their family tree and make interesting discoveries. Imagine an episode of that in the future.  God help us the family tree will end up looking like a Monkey Puzzle:

"Now Maisie, your grandfather was the son and uncle of your great aunt Lucy, who in turn was married to your fifth cousin twice removed who was also your nephew.  Now he is now a she and he/she is also your great uncle/aunt and was married to both your ninth cousin four times removed - Cedric, and your granddaughter Lizzie, and before that to the daughter of the milkman down the road who, incidentally is not related to you at all even though she is your mother's daughter and your uncle's fiance.  Now, when it comes to the milkman........"  You get the idea!

St Maria Goretti, please, pray for us, for as the song says....it's a mad world.  Here is a wonderful documentary with reference to original witnesses: