United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

33 THE NINTH

COMMANDMENT: PRACTICE PURITY OF HEART

YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S WIFE —CCC, NOS. 2514-2533

MARIA GORETTI: A MODEL OF PURITY

Maria Goretti was born in Corinaldo, Italy, on October 16, 1890. She was one of six children born to Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. In 1896, the family moved to Ferriere di Conca, where the Gorettis became sharecroppers for Count Mazzolini. The Goretti family lived in an old cheese factory building on the estate, where Assunta worked hard to make a home for her family. Due to the hard labor of draining the flooded estate, Luigi soon contracted malaria and was

unable to adequately manage the land for which he was responsible. On account of this, Count Mazzolini sent Giovanni Serenelli and his son Alessandro to share half the work, half the profits, and half of the building which the Goretti family had made into a home. The Goretti parents soon became aware that the Serenellis were not people of high moral character. As Luigi’s malaria became more severe, Luigi and Assunta regretted their leaving Corinaldo. The position of the Goretti family took a tragic turn upon Luigi’s death in 1902. Since Assunta was now forced to work in the fields to provide for the family, she put Maria in charge of the duties at home. Maria had