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Maria was born in the year of Our Lord 1890 to a farming family in Italy. After her father died, Maria and her family lived and worked on the farm of the Serenelli family. When Maria was nearly twelve, nineteen-year-old Alessandro Serenelli became obsessed with her, and one day cornered her in the farmhouse and threatened to kill her if she would not submit to his desires. The pious and chaste Maria refused, not only in defense of her own virginity, but to prevent Alessandro from committing mortal sin and going to hell. Alessandro choked her, then stabbed her over a dozen times before fleeing. Maria died in a hospital the next day, while expressing forgiveness for her killer. Alessandro remained unrepentant in prison, until he received a vision of Maria, dressed in white, smiling and handing him pure white lilies. The young man converted, and after his release he begged forgiveness from Maria’s mother, which she granted. Alessandro testified for Maria’s beatification, became a lay brother of the Capuchin friars, and was present with Maria’s family at her canonization. Also honored on this day are the Holy Prophet Isaiah; St. Romulus; St. Goar, patron of innkeepers; the birthday into heaven of St. Thomas More; St. Sisoes the Great; St. Palladius, Apostle of the Scots; and many other martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
THE Octave of the holy apostles Peter and Paul.
In Judea, the holy prophet Isaias. In the reign of king Manasses he was put to death by being sawed in two and was buried beneath the oak Rogel, near a running stream.
At Rome, the birthday of St. Tranquillinus, martyr, father of the Saints Mark and Marcellian, who were converted to Christ by the preaching of the martyr St. Sebastian. Baptized by the blessed priest Polycarp, he was ordained priest by pope St. Caius. He was arrested while praying at the tomb of blessed Paul on the Octave of the Apostles, and stoned to death by the Pagans, and thus consummated his martyrdom.
At Fiesoli, in Tuscany, St. Romulus, bishop and martyr, disciple of the blessed apostle Peter, who commissioned him to preach the Gospel. After announcing Christ in many parts of Italy, he returned to Fiesoli, and was crowned with martyrdom with other Christians in the reign of Domitian.
In Campania, St. Dominica, virgin and martyr, in the time of the emperor Diocletian. For having destroyed idols, she was condemned to the beasts, but being uninjured by them, she was beheaded and departed for heaven. Her body is kept with great veneration at Tropea, in Calabria.
The same day, St. Lucia, martyr, a native of Campania. Being arrested and severely tortured by the lieutenant-governor Rictiovarus, she converted him to Christ. To them were added Antoninus, Severinus, Diodorus, Dion, and seventeen others, who shared their sufferings and their crowns.
In the vicinity of Treves, St. Goar, priest and confessor.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.