The Major Relics of St. Maria Goretti, the youngest canonized saint in the Catholic Church, are coming to the United States this fall. St. Monica Catholic Church in Dallas is privileged to be one of the stops on the Pilgrimage of Mercy for the public to view and venerate the relics on Tuesday, November 3, 2015.

In March 2015, Pope Francis announced an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy to begin on December 8, 2015. The visit of the major relics of St. Maria Goretti is an effort on the part of the Holy See and Treasures of the Church to prepare and catechize the United States for the upcoming celebration in the life of the Church. St. Maria is known universally as the Patroness of Purity, but her greatest virtue was her unyielding forgiveness of her attacker even in the midst of her physical suffering. Her forgiveness led to his conversion and set him on a path to personal holiness.

St. Maria’s relics will be displayed in St. Monica from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. A 20-minute biography of St. Maria’s life will play at the top of every hour on projectors located inside the church, followed by 40 minutes of silence for prayer and veneration to the saint. Pilgrims will be permitted a maximum of 15 seconds at her relics and will receive two prayer cards each. Veneration of the saint will be suspended shortly prior to and during the celebration of the Mass at 7 p.m. Photography will not be permitted.

For more information, visit the Facebook Event hosted by St. Monica Parish or visit the website for the Pilgrimage of Mercy Tour at mariagoretti.com.