Thousands turn out to view youngest saint’s remains

Maria Goretti is the patron saint of Catholic youth.

Mary Visitation Catholic Church told Relevant Radio on October. 15 that they were “deeply honored” to have the relics.

Goretti’s glass-sided casket was on display for 22 hours in Madison at St. Maria Goretti Parish, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. A worker on a neighboring farm forced himself on her, attempting to rape her. She prevented the sexual assault, but was brutally stabbed.

The Rev. David Medows of St. Mary Immaculate said a year ago he and the tour director, the Rev. Carlos Martins, began talks about bringing the relics of Goretti to the area, and planning began in early summer. The young saint has ties to the U.S. as three of her siblings emigrated to the country and settled in New Jersey. “It’s surreal that I saw the remains of a saint, and I’m in awe of the whole experience”, Goedert said. Goretti’s next scheduled tour stop after Elm Grove is in Illinois.

“The outpour(ing) of support and emotion from the pilgrims has been overwhelming”, Martins said.

There is still time to see Goretti’s relics this weekend.

Most of the faithful in Chicago view the arrival of the relics as timely and meaningful as the city has seen more than its fair share of violence. Public veneration of the relics began at 7 a.m. and concluded at 11:30 p.m. Third-class relic cards were distributed to attendees. “I don’t think I’ve ever done something like that before, and it was kind of like just seeing something that holy and that important made me feel pretty special and pretty cool”.