Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County was honored to host the major relics of St. Maria Goretti on Friday, October 9 at their offices in Ann Arbor.
While St. Maria is universally known as the Patroness of Purity, her greatest virtue was her unyielding forgiveness of her attacker even in the midst of horrendous physical suffering, a forgiveness that would completely convert him and set him on a path to personal holiness. In March His Holiness, Pope Francis, announced an Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy beginning December 8. This visit of the major relics of St. Maria Goretti is an effort on the part of her Basilica Shrine, the Congregation of the Causes of Saints, and Treasures of the Church, to prepare and catechize the United States for this great celebration in the life of the Church.
Saint Maria Goretti, pray for the people of the Diocese of Lansing to inspire us to share the love of God through doing the Corporal and the Spiritual Works of Mercy to support all in need.
For more information, visit the website of the Pilgrimage of Mercy Tour of the Major Relics of Saint Maria Goretti at http://mariagoretti.com/