The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown celebrated the feast day of Saint Maria Goretti on Wednesday, calling her an example of chastity.

“Before she had even turned 12, she was senselessly martyred by a neighbor in her own home,” the diocese posted on Facebook. “Even on her deathbed, Maria radiated overwhelming compassion, both for her family and for her murderer, and openly desired Holy Communion before she passed.” 

St. Maria Goretti was 11 when an 18-year-old man tried to rape her, a report on Catholic.org said. Maria resisted him and cried out, "No! It is a sin! God does not want it!" 

She told her attacker she would rather die than give in, and he stabbed her 14 times. Maria's family found her and rushed her to the hospital, but the doctors were unable to save her. Before she succumbed to her wounds, Maria forgave her attacker. 

The man, whose name was Alessandro, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. While he was incarcerated, Maria appeared to him in a dream, and when he awoke, he converted. When Alessandro was released from prison, he went straightaway to Maria's mother to beg her forgiveness. 

Maria's feast day is celebrated on July 6, a report from Franciscan Media said. Many people became devoted to her, and many miracles reportedly have taken place with her intercession. When she was canonized in 1950, a quarter of a million people gathered to celebrate the occasion, including Alessandro her attacker, who was then 66. He knelt and wept during the event. 

After Alessandro's death, a letter he had written was discovered, which said, in part: "Maria Goretti, now a Saint, was my good Angel, sent to me through Providence to guide and save me. I still have impressed upon my heart her words of rebuke and of pardon. She prayed for me, she interceded for her murderer. Thirty years of prison followed. If I had been of age, I would have spent all my life in prison. I accepted to be condemned because it was my own fault. Little Maria was really my light, my protectress; with her help, I behaved well during the 27 years of prison and tried to live honestly when I was again accepted among the members of society. … I hope this letter that I wrote can teach others the happy lesson of avoiding evil and of always following the right path, like little children. I feel that religion with its precepts is not something we can live without, but rather it is the real comfort, the real strength in life and the only safe way in every circumstance, even the most painful ones of life.” 

The diocese paid its respects to her, writing, “Maria’s memory serves as an example of chastity and purity of heart and soul, desiring so much good in the world despite never having the means or the chance to advance it.”

Maria is the patron saint of rape victims, girls, teenagers and Catholic youth.