Body of Italian saint to be displayed at Elm Grove, Madison churches

Madison — The body of an 11-year-old Italian girl killed more than a century ago and declared a saint will be on display this week at two Wisconsin churches: a Madison church that bears her name and St. Mary's Visitation in Elm Grove.

Maria Goretti was stabbed in 1902 by a neighbor during a sexual assault. She forgave her attacker on her deathbed and said she hoped she would be with him forever in heaven.

In 1950, the Roman Catholic Church declared Maria Goretti a saint. Starting Friday morning, the body of the young saint is scheduled to be available for public veneration at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Madison for 22 hours. The church will remain open for people to file by her glass-sided casket.

After that, the body of Goretti is scheduled for veneration at St. Mary's Visitation Church on Saturday and Sunday.

Thousands are expected at the Madison church, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. Each person will be limited to 15 seconds in front of her casket.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our church," said Monsignor Michael Burke, parish priest.

Although none of her remains will be visible, her wax-encased skeleton is largely complete, according to the Catholic Church. Touching the casket is said to bring healing.

"Healing, to me, can be as much emotional as physical," said longtime church member Ed Felten, 77. "I believe with all my heart that this is going to change people's lives."

This is the first time the saint's body has traveled to the United States from Italy. The tour, which began last month in New Jersey, promotes the Holy Year of Mercy, as proclaimed by Pope Francis and set to begin Dec. 8.

Friday marks the 125th anniversary of Maria Goretti's birth.

After Madison, the body will travel to St. Mary's Visitation Church, 1260 Church St., Elm Grove. There, veneration is planned from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday. A Mass in Maria Goretti's honor is planned for 9 a.m. Saturday.

Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.