Jul 10 – 7 Holy Martyrs

Jul 10 – 7 Holy Martyrs

It's the Feast of Seven Holy Brothers, Martyrs, and Sts. Rufina and Secunda, Virgins, 3rd Class, with the color of Red. In this episode: the meditation: "The Value of the Blood of Jesus", today's news from the Church: "Invalid Punishments, Valid Sacraments", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "New Podcast Series: The Roman Catechism", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org SOURCES USED TODAY: * "The Value of the Blood of Jesus" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption * https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption [https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption] * "Invalid Punishments, Valid Sacraments" (FSSPX.news) * https://fsspx.news/en/news/invalid-punishments-valid-sacraments-59998 [https://fsspx.news/en/news/invalid-punishments-valid-sacraments-59998] * The SSPX Podcast: "New Podcast Series: The Roman Catechism" (SSPX Podcast) * View on YouTube * Listen & Subscribe on SSPXpodcast.com [https://sspxpodcast.com] * The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) * https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop [https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop] Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook! * Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o] * Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook [https://sspx.gifts/audiobook] The Seven Holy Brothers, Martyrs, are remembered as one of the Church's most moving examples of an entire family remaining faithful to God in the face of persecution. Their story takes us back to second-century Rome, when Christians still lived under the constant threat of imprisonment and death. While many details have been passed down through tradition, what has remained constant is the witness of a mother and her sons who chose Christ above everything else. The mother is known to history as Saint Felicity. After the death of her husband, she devoted herself to raising her seven sons in the Catholic faith. She understood that teaching them to pray and to love Christ was far more important than providing them with wealth or status. Those lessons would soon be put to the ultimate test. During the persecution under Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Felicity and her sons were arrested because they refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods. Authorities hoped that by threatening the children, the mother would lose her resolve. Instead, tradition tells us that Felicity encouraged each of her sons to remain faithful, reminding them that the sufferings of this life could not compare with the joy of eternal life. One by one, the brothers were condemned to death. Their names have been preserved for centuries: Januarius, Felix, Philip, Silvanus, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martial. According to the ancient accounts, each suffered a different form of martyrdom, while their mother witnessed their courage before eventually receiving the crown of martyrdom herself. Whether every detail of those early accounts can be historically verified, the Church has long honored this family as a powerful image of Christian fidelity. They remind us that the faith is first learned in the home. Before these seven brothers became martyrs, they were sons whose mother had taught them to trust Christ above all else. Their witness also inspired Christian families throughout the centuries. In the catacombs of Rome, early believers remembered them with great devotion, and churches were eventually dedicated in their honor. Even today, pilgrims visiting the ancient Christian sites of Rome encounter reminders of these martyrs whose family became a testimony to the power of faith. It's striking to think that when we speak of the "domestic church," we often imagine ordinary family life. The family of Saint Felicity shows just how powerful that idea can be. A faithful mother formed seven sons so well that, when the decisive moment came, every one of them chose heaven over earthly life. The story of the Seven Holy Brothers reminds us that the greatest inheritance parents can leave their children is not wealth or success, but a faith strong enough to endure every trial. Saints Januarius, Felix, Philip, Silvanus, Alexander, Vitalis, Martial, and their holy mother Felicity, courageous witnesses of Christ, pray for us. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS APOSTOLATE WITH 1-TIME OR MONTHLY DONATION >> [https://sspx.gifts/collections/frontpage/products/sspx-podcast] - - - - - - EXPLORE MORE: * Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional [https://us13.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=c98bae64255bbd7d863e838ec&id=7e99fe6b53]- it's a perfect companion! * Subscribe to this Podcast [https://sspx-podcast.captivate.fm/listen]to receive this and all our audio episodes * Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/c/SSPXNewsEnglish?sub_confirmation=1]for video versions of our podcast series and Sermons * FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news [https://fsspx.news/en] * Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ [https://sspx.org/] WHAT IS THE SSPX PODCAST? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press [https://angeluspress.org/pages/our-apostolate], which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition.   WHAT IS THE SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org [https://sspx.org/en]

Jul 9 – Feria / Martyrs of Gorkum

It's a Feria, 4th Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "The Precious Blood Today", today's news from the Church: "Michael Davies and the 1988 Consecrations", a preview of the Sermon: "Do Not Be Afraid", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org SOURCES USED TODAY: * "The Precious Blood Today" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption * https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption [https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption] * "Michael Davies and the 1988 Consecrations" (FSSPX.news) * https://fsspx.news/en/news/michael-davies-and-1988-consecrations-60008 [https://fsspx.news/en/news/michael-davies-and-1988-consecrations-60008] * "Do Not Be Afraid" (SSPX Sermons) * SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonegYXBrLbQh2Cjr0SU5x7WGNyMO25cw] * Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast [https://sspxpodcast.com/sermons] * The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) * https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop [https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop] Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook! * Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o] * Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook [https://sspx.gifts/audiobook] Saint John of Cologne and the Martyrs of Gorkum remind us that some of the greatest witnesses to the faith were not famous theologians or powerful bishops, but ordinary priests and religious who simply refused to deny what they knew to be true. Their story unfolds in the Netherlands during the turbulent years of the Protestant Reformation. In 1572, anti-Catholic violence swept through parts of the country as political rebellion and religious conflict became deeply intertwined. The small town of Gorkum found itself caught in the middle. When rebel forces known as the Water Beggars captured the town, they arrested the local Catholic clergy. Among them was John of Cologne, a Dominican friar originally from Germany. He was known as a gifted preacher and theologian, but once he became a prisoner, all of that faded into the background. He stood beside parish priests, Franciscans, Augustinians, and other religious. Some were elderly. Some were sick. A few had already been tortured. In all, there were nineteen of them. The captors repeatedly offered them their freedom on one condition: deny the Catholic teaching on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and reject the authority of the Pope. It would have been easy to justify giving in. After all, they could have reasoned that they might accomplish more alive than dead. But none of them accepted the offer. One by one, they remained firm. They insisted that Christ is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament and that the Church founded by Christ could not be separated from Peter and his successors. Eventually, the prisoners were taken to an abandoned monastery at Brielle. There, in the early hours of July 9, 1572, all nineteen were hanged. Their bodies were treated with great disrespect, yet news of their courage spread almost immediately. Catholics throughout the Low Countries began honoring them as martyrs, inspired not only by the way they died but by the remarkable peace they displayed in the face of death. Today, pilgrims can visit the Shrine of the Martyrs of Gorkum, built near the place of their execution. It stands as a quiet reminder that the Eucharist was not merely an abstract doctrine for these men. It was a truth worth giving their lives for. The Martyrs of Gorkum also remind us that the Church is built not only by famous saints whose names fill history books, but by ordinary pastors who quietly served their people until the moment they were asked to choose between comfort and Christ. Saint John of Cologne and the Holy Martyrs of Gorkum, fearless witnesses to the Eucharist and the unity of the Church, pray for us. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS APOSTOLATE WITH 1-TIME OR MONTHLY DONATION >> [https://sspx.gifts/collections/frontpage/products/sspx-podcast] - - - - - - EXPLORE MORE: * Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional [https://us13.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=c98bae64255bbd7d863e838ec&id=7e99fe6b53]- it's a perfect companion! * Subscribe to this Podcast [https://sspx-podcast.captivate.fm/listen]to receive this and all our audio episodes * Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/c/SSPXNewsEnglish?sub_confirmation=1]for video versions of our podcast series and Sermons * FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news [https://fsspx.news/en] * Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ [https://sspx.org/] WHAT IS THE SSPX PODCAST? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press [https://angeluspress.org/pages/our-apostolate], which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition.   WHAT IS THE SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org [https://sspx.org/en]

Jul 8 – S Elizabeth of Portugal / S Kilian

It's the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The Miracles of Lanciano", today's news from the Church: "The Good and the Bad Schismatics", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org SOURCES USED TODAY: * "The Miracles of Lanciano" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption * https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption [https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption] * "The Good and the Bad Schismatics" (FSSPX.news) * https://fsspx.news/en/news/good-and-bad-schismatics-59995 [https://fsspx.news/en/news/good-and-bad-schismatics-59995] * The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) * https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop [https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop] Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook! * Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o] * Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook [https://sspx.gifts/audiobook] Saint Kilian was an Irish missionary who left behind the comfort of his homeland to preach the Gospel in a land that barely knew Christ. He is remembered today as the Apostle of Franconia, but his story begins on the windswept shores of Ireland, where generations of monks had already developed a reputation for carrying the faith across Europe. Born in the seventh century, Kilian was educated as a monk and eventually ordained a bishop. Like many Irish missionaries of his time, he felt called to leave everything behind and become what the Irish called a "pilgrim for Christ." It meant setting out without knowing where the journey would end, trusting that God would lead the way. Kilian eventually arrived in what is now southern Germany, accompanied by two companions, Saints Colman and Totnan. They made their way to Würzburg, a region where Christianity had gained only a small foothold and many people still followed pagan customs. Before beginning their work, Kilian traveled to Rome to seek the blessing of the pope. That detail says a great deal about the man. He wasn't interested in creating his own mission or preaching his own ideas. He wanted his work to remain firmly united to the Church. Back in Franconia, the mission flourished. Kilian preached, baptized converts, and gradually won the respect of Duke Gozbert. The duke himself embraced Christianity and began trying to live according to the teachings of the Gospel. That's where things became complicated. Kilian eventually told the duke that one part of his personal life needed to change. His marriage violated Christian law because he had married his deceased brother's widow. It was a difficult conversation, but Kilian believed that preaching the Gospel meant proclaiming the whole truth, even when it was uncomfortable. The duke was willing to make the change. His wife was not. According to tradition, while the duke was away on campaign, she ordered the murder of Kilian and his two companions. They were quietly killed and buried in secret around the year 689. Their story might have ended there, but it didn't. Years later, their graves were rediscovered, and devotion to the three missionaries spread rapidly throughout the region. Würzburg became one of the great centers of Christianity in Germany, and to this day, the city's magnificent Würzburg Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Kilian. His relics remain there, and every July the city celebrates the Kiliani Festival, one of Bavaria's oldest and largest religious festivals, drawing pilgrims and visitors from across Germany. Kilian's life reminds us that charity and truth always belong together. He preached the Gospel with kindness, but he never softened it when it became difficult. Saint Kilian, courageous missionary and martyr of Franconia, pray for us. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS APOSTOLATE WITH 1-TIME OR MONTHLY DONATION >> [https://sspx.gifts/collections/frontpage/products/sspx-podcast] - - - - - - EXPLORE MORE: * Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional [https://us13.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=c98bae64255bbd7d863e838ec&id=7e99fe6b53]- it's a perfect companion! * Subscribe to this Podcast [https://sspx-podcast.captivate.fm/listen]to receive this and all our audio episodes * Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/c/SSPXNewsEnglish?sub_confirmation=1]for video versions of our podcast series and Sermons * FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news [https://fsspx.news/en] * Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ [https://sspx.org/] WHAT IS THE SSPX PODCAST? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press [https://angeluspress.org/pages/our-apostolate], which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition.   WHAT IS THE SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org [https://sspx.org/en]

Jul 7 – Ss Cyril & Methodius

It's the Feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Jesus, Our Drink", today's news from the Church: "InfoVaticana Salutes the Traditio Film", a preview of the Sermon: "Audiobook of Abp. Lefebvre - Episode 4", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org SOURCES USED TODAY: * "Jesus, Our Drink" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption * https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption [https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption] * "InfoVaticana Salutes the Traditio Film" (FSSPX.news) * https://fsspx.news/en/news/zaitzkofen-five-new-priests-church-59891 [https://fsspx.news/en/news/zaitzkofen-five-new-priests-church-59891] * "Audiobook of Abp. Lefebvre - Episode 4" (SSPX Sermons) * SSPX YouTube: Audiobook Playlist [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfhDfsRlhQTs] * Listen & Subscribe: Audiobook Playlist on SSPX Podcast [https://sspxpodcast.com/archbishop-lefebvre-audiobook/] * The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) * https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop [https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop] Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook! * Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o] * Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook [https://sspx.gifts/audiobook] Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers who changed the history of an entire region of the world, not with armies or politics, but with language. They were born in the ninth century in the city of Thessalonica, in present-day Greece. Their city was home to both Greek and Slavic peoples, so from childhood the brothers became familiar with different languages and cultures. That unexpected upbringing would later become one of God's greatest gifts to the Church. The older brother, Methodius, first pursued a career in public service before eventually becoming a monk. Cyril, whose original name was Constantine, was one of the finest scholars of his generation. He studied philosophy, theology, and languages in Constantinople and became known simply as "the Philosopher." Then came the mission that would define both of their lives. In 863, the ruler of Great Moravia asked for missionaries who could teach Christianity in the language of his people. Until then, much of the liturgy and religious instruction was conducted in Greek or Latin. The brothers did something revolutionary. Instead of expecting the people to learn a new language, they learned theirs. Even more remarkably, Cyril created an entirely new alphabet so the Slavic language could be written down. That alphabet, known today as Glagolitic, became the foundation from which the later Cyrillic alphabet would develop. For the first time, large portions of Scripture and the liturgy could be read and prayed in the language ordinary people actually spoke. It's difficult to overstate how important that was. Imagine hearing the Gospel proclaimed in your own language for the very first time. Not everyone approved. Some churchmen argued that worship should take place only in Hebrew, Greek, or Latin. Cyril and Methodius disagreed. They believed that every people should be able to praise God in the language of their own hearts. Eventually they traveled to Rome, where the pope approved their translations and personally blessed the Slavonic liturgical books. Cyril died in Rome in 869, but Methodius returned to continue the mission. Despite imprisonment, political opposition, and constant setbacks, he spent the rest of his life preaching, translating Scripture, and forming clergy until his death in 885. Their work shaped the future of Eastern Europe. Today, countless Christians in countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, Ukraine, and beyond can trace part of their Christian heritage to these two missionary brothers. They are also remembered as co-patrons of Europe, alongside Benedict of Nursia, a reminder that the Church breathes with both her Eastern and Western traditions. Saints Cyril and Methodius, Apostles to the Slavs and builders of Christian unity, pray for us. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS APOSTOLATE WITH 1-TIME OR MONTHLY DONATION >> [https://sspx.gifts/collections/frontpage/products/sspx-podcast] - - - - - - EXPLORE MORE: * Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional [https://us13.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=c98bae64255bbd7d863e838ec&id=7e99fe6b53]- it's a perfect companion! * Subscribe to this Podcast [https://sspx-podcast.captivate.fm/listen]to receive this and all our audio episodes * Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/c/SSPXNewsEnglish?sub_confirmation=1]for video versions of our podcast series and Sermons * FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news [https://fsspx.news/en] * Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ [https://sspx.org/] WHAT IS THE SSPX PODCAST? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press [https://angeluspress.org/pages/our-apostolate], which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition.   WHAT IS THE SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org [https://sspx.org/en]

Jul 6 – Feria / S Maria Goretti

It's a Feria, 4th Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "Temperance", today's news from the Church: "Zaitzkofen: Five New Priests for the Church", a preview of the Sermon: "Understanding Charity can Change your Life", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org SOURCES USED TODAY: * "Temperance" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption * https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption [https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption] * "Zaitzkofen: Five New Priests for the Church" (FSSPX.news) * https://fsspx.news/en/news/zaitzkofen-five-new-priests-church-59891 [https://fsspx.news/en/news/zaitzkofen-five-new-priests-church-59891] * "Understanding Charity can Change your Life" (SSPX Sermons) * SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonegYXBrLbQh2Cjr0SU5x7WGNyMO25cw] * Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast [https://sspxpodcast.com/sermons] * The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) * https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop [https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop] Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook! * Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o] * Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook [https://sspx.gifts/audiobook] Saint Maria Goretti is one of the youngest canonized saints in the Church, but her story is not childish. It is serious, heartbreaking, and deeply powerful. She was born in 1890 into a poor farming family in Italy. Life was hard from the beginning. Her father died when Maria was still young, leaving her mother to support the family through exhausting work in the fields. Maria helped at home, cared for her younger siblings, cooked, cleaned, and tried to keep the household together. She was only eleven years old. The tragedy of her life came in 1902, when a young man named Alessandro Serenelli attacked her. Maria resisted him, not out of hatred, but because she understood that what he wanted was a grave sin. In his rage, Alessandro stabbed her repeatedly. Maria was taken to the hospital, where she suffered terribly. Before she died, she forgave Alessandro and said she wanted him with her one day in heaven. That is the part of her story that stops you cold. Maria’s martyrdom is often described as a witness to purity, and it is. But it is also a witness to forgiveness. She did not pretend evil was harmless. She did not excuse the crime. But with extraordinary grace, she refused to let hatred have the final word. Alessandro was sentenced to prison. For years, he remained hardened and unrepentant. Then, according to his own account, Maria appeared to him in a dream, gathering flowers and offering them to him. That moment began his conversion. After his release, he went to Maria’s mother and begged forgiveness. She forgave him, too. Imagine that. The mother forgiving the man who killed her daughter. Alessandro eventually became a lay brother with the Capuchins and lived the rest of his life in penance. In 1950, when Maria Goretti was canonized in Saint Peter’s Square, her mother was present. So was Alessandro. That may be one of the most astonishing scenes in modern Catholic history. Today, pilgrims can visit the Sanctuary of Saint Maria Goretti in Nettuno, where her relics are venerated. Her life reminds us that holiness is not measured by age, education, or public importance. Sometimes a child sees clearly what adults forget: that sin destroys, grace restores, and forgiveness is stronger than vengeance. Saint Maria Goretti, young martyr of purity and mercy, pray for us. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS APOSTOLATE WITH 1-TIME OR MONTHLY DONATION >> [https://sspx.gifts/collections/frontpage/products/sspx-podcast] - - - - - - EXPLORE MORE: * Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional [https://us13.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=c98bae64255bbd7d863e838ec&id=7e99fe6b53]- it's a perfect companion! * Subscribe to this Podcast [https://sspx-podcast.captivate.fm/listen]to receive this and all our audio episodes * Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/c/SSPXNewsEnglish?sub_confirmation=1]for video versions of our podcast series and Sermons * FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news [https://fsspx.news/en] * Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ [https://sspx.org/] WHAT IS THE SSPX PODCAST? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press [https://angeluspress.org/pages/our-apostolate], which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition.   WHAT IS THE SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org [https://sspx.org/en]