{"id":921,"date":"2020-07-06T19:47:07","date_gmt":"2020-07-06T23:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/?p=921"},"modified":"2020-07-06T19:50:30","modified_gmt":"2020-07-06T23:50:30","slug":"for-me-to-live-is-christ-to-die-is-gain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/mercy\/for-me-to-live-is-christ-to-die-is-gain\/","title":{"rendered":"To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From a homily at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti \u00a0by Pope Pius XII <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is well known how this young girl had to face a bitter struggle with no way to defend herself. Without warning a vicious stranger burst upon her, bent on raping her and destroying her childlike purity. In that moment of crisis she could have spoken to her Redeemer in the words of that classic, The Imitation of Christ: \u201cThough tested and plagued by a host of misfortunes, I have no fear so long as your grace is with me. It is my strength, stronger than any adversary; it helps me and gives me guidance.\u201d With splendid courage she surrendered herself to God and his grace and so gave her life to protect her virginity. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The life of this simple girl\u2014I shall concern myself only with highlights\u2014we can see as worthy of heaven. Even today people can look upon it with admiration and respect. Parents can learn from her story how to raise their God-given children in virtue, courage, and holiness; they can learn to train them in the Catholic faith so that, when put to the test, God\u2019s grace will support them and they will come through undefeated, unscathed, and untarnished. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Maria\u2019s story carefree children and young people with their zest for life can learn not to be led astray by attractive pleasures which are not only ephemeral and empty but also sinful. Instead they can fix their sights on achieving Christian moral perfection, however difficult and hazardous that course may prove. With determination and God\u2019s help all of us can attain that goal by persistent effort and prayer. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all of us are expected to die a martyr\u2019s death, but we are all called to the pursuit of Christian virtue. This demands strength of character though it may not match that of this innocent girl. Still, a constant, persistent, and relentless effort is asked of us right up to the moment of our death. This may be conceived as a slow, steady martyrdom which Christ urged upon us when he said: The kingdom of heaven is set upon and laid waste by violent forces.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let us all, with God\u2019s grace, strive to reach the goal that the example of the virgin martyr, Saint Maria Goretti, sets before us. Through her prayers to the Redeemer may all of us, each in his own way, joyfully try to follow the inspiring example of Maria Goretti who now enjoys eternal happiness in heaven.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be faithful till the death, God will fight for you, alleluia! Do not be afraid of murderers: they kill bodies because they cannot do anything else. The winner is who believes in Me. He will never know a second death.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trust in God, be faithful, and trust in God!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My God, you are the source of innocence, of purity, and you have given young Maria Goretti the grace of martyrdom; please give us, thanks to her intercession, the courage for respecting your commandments like that girl who received the right reward to have defended her virginity till the death.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pious XII – Rome, June 24, 1950<\/strong>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From a homily at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti \u00a0by Pope Pius XII It is well known how this young girl had to face a bitter struggle with no way to defend herself. Without warning a vicious stranger burst upon her, bent on raping her and destroying her childlike purity. In that moment of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2,44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mercy","category-saints-and-blesseds"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7bfMR-eR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8892,"url":"https:\/\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/spiritual-practices\/the-presentation-of-mary-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":921,"position":0},"title":"the Presentation of Mary","author":"monks4christ","date":"November 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"God inspired in the heart of the pure Virgin Mary His own intense love for humility, and abhorrence of pride. She possessed, even from her infancy, a far greater horror of pride and ambition, and a far deeper love for humility than all the saints together. 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On the Feast Day of St Mary Magdalene When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and did not find the Lord\u2019s body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Saints and Blesseds"","block_context":{"text":"Saints and Blesseds","link":"https:\/\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/category\/saints-and-blesseds\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Basilica-of-San-Marco-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Basilica-of-San-Marco-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Basilica-of-San-Marco-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Basilica-of-San-Marco-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Basilica-of-San-Marco-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":477,"url":"https:\/\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/spiritual-practices\/marian-consecration\/day-30-knowledge-of-jesus-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":921,"position":2},"title":"Day 30 – Knowledge of Jesus Christ","author":"fatherboniface@gmail.com","date":"April 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Day 30 - Mary, the Eucharist and the Incarnation A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke: And Mary said to the angel, \u201cHow can this be, since I have no husband?\u201d And the angel said to her, \u201cThe Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Marian Consecration"","block_context":{"text":"Marian Consecration","link":"https:\/\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/category\/spiritual-practices\/marian-consecration\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/img_2500.jpg?fit=865%2C1015&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/img_2500.jpg?fit=865%2C1015&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/img_2500.jpg?fit=865%2C1015&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/img_2500.jpg?fit=865%2C1015&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2391,"url":"https:\/\/www.fatherboniface.org\/wordpresshome\/spiritual-practices\/2391\/","url_meta":{"origin":921,"position":3},"title":"the Assumption of Mary into Heaven","author":"monks4christ","date":"August 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Beloved Young People and Dear Friends in Christ, Today the Church finds herself, with Mary, on the threshold of the house of Zechariah in Ain\u2013Karim. 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