Thousands make pilgrimage to Plainfield to see St. Maria Goretti's relics

PLAINFIELD – Bonnie Goedert was in awe Thursday after she was in the presence of the relics of a Catholic saint.

Goedert, of Shorewood, grew up in the Catholic Church and had learned about the saints and their significance to her religion. So she knew she, and her parents, would make a pilgrimage to see the relics of St. Maria Goretti when they stopped in Plainfield for a day.

“It meant a lot to see her with my parents. It’s surreal that I saw the remains of a saint, and I’m in awe of the whole experience,” Goedert said.

The family was among the thousands who flocked Thursday to St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield for the once-in-a-lifetime experience. In conjunction with Pope Francis' declared Holy Year of Mercy, from September to November, the relics of Goretti – who was declared a saint in 1950 by Pope Pius XII – will take a "Pilgrimage of Mercy" tour for the first time in the United States.

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.

“Having this event means our church can fulfill its mission to pull people to Christ. [Goretti’s] faith, love-and-mercy story draws people in, and her work for the Lord continues,” Medows said.

At 10 a.m., the glass casket with a wax statue, which was cast to resemble the saint’s body and contains most of the skeletal remains of Goretti, was unloaded from the transport vehicle and carefully wheeled into the church sanctuary, while hundreds of people sat in pews, and hundreds more stood in line to view the relic.

Goretti, an Italian girl born in 1890 to laborers, cared for her five siblings as well as neighbors while her mother worked. At age 11, she was cornered in her home by a neighbor, 20-year-old Alessandro Serenelli, and he attempted to rape her. She used her right arm to fight off the attack to save her purity, which angered Serenelli. He stabbed her 14 times and fled.

Goretti died the next day of her wounds, but not before she uttered her last words, “I forgive Alessandro Serenelli, and I want him with me in Heaven forever,” according to the Pilgrimage of Mercy website.

Because Goretti is considered the saint of mercy, Martins told those in attendance to touch the relic and “give the names of everybody you have had a difficult time forgiving to St. Maria. Make a statement out of the love of Jesus and St. Maria to forgive those people and yourself.”

The story didn’t stop with Goretti forgiving her murderer. Goretti appeared to Serenelli six years into his 30-year prison sentence, showing him forgiveness and love, the Pilgrimage of Mercy website stated. He repented, finished his sentence in peace and joined the Capuchin Franciscans until his death in 1970.

Two lines formed down the center aisle of the sanctuary, and each person had 15 seconds to pray, touch and use cards, necklaces or whatever they chose to touch the relic, which would make it a “third-class relic,” which is higher than a blessed object, according to Martins.

The day included a public veneration, rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Mass and night prayer. Confession was offered throughout the day, and two priests were on hand at all times.

“It’s amazing to witness the healing of people’s hearts. This story of mercy and forgiveness comes together beautifully,” Medows said.

Pam Angelus, communication director for St. Mary Immaculate, said the staff watched videos and studied about Goretti in preparation for this event. She said one interesting fact she learned was that not all of the skeletal remains were under the wax body.

“She used her right arm to fight off the attack, so her mother donated her arm to the church in her hometown, and pieces of her broken ribs were given to various churches around the world,” Angelus said.

For many, Thursday was simply about being there for the historic moment for the Catholic faith – and to seek blessings from a saint. Juan Carlos Garcia said he left his Chicago home at 4 a.m. in order to make it down and get in line to see the saint.

“This is a great piece of history for us Catholics,” he said. “I touched the relic with my Our Lady of Guadalupe necklace and my car keys to have her blessing.”

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For information, visit www.mariagoretti.com.