St. Maria Goretti's remains are touring the U.S. for the first time, and made their first stop in Newark.
St. Maria Goretti's remains are touring the U.S. for the first time, and made their first stop in Newark. File photo at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. (Daniel Hedden | For the Star-Ledger)NEWARK -- One day ahead of Pope Francis's visit to the United States, a New Jersey city was the first stop for the remains of a Catholic saint that are touring the country for the first time.
The Catholic Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Newark, was the first stop on Monday of a 16-state national tour of the relics of St. Maria Goretti, or "The Little Saint of Great Mercy."
Church officials confirmed that area Catholics gathered throughout the day Monday to see the relics, which consist of a wax statue of her body with her skeletal remains inside.
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Maria Goretti - the youngest saint to be canonized by the Catholic Church - died in 1902 at the age of 11. She was killed during an attempted rape. According to Church teachings, her last acts before and after death were to forgive the murderer.
"We are profoundly honored and blessed that the people of this Archdiocese, and indeed, all people in the state of New Jersey, have an opportunity to honor and draw near to this remarkable saint whose greatest virtue was her unyielding forgiveness," Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, said in a statement.
"The Archdiocese of Newark is doubly blessed to be the first stop on the pilgrimage of St. Maria's Relics."
The visit to New Jersey marks the first time the relics have traveled to the United States from Goretti's native Italy, Church officials said. The visit to Newark was especially meaningful because Maria's brothers immigrated to the area after her death, officials said.
According to a News 12 report, descendants of the saint's family members visited the relics Monday.
"It's an honor," Raymond Tiovaneetti, St. Maria's great nephew, told News 12. "I'm glad I (saw) her here."
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
