by Manya Brachear Pashman

The remains of the youngest saint canonized by the Roman Catholic Church are expected to arrive in Chicago at dawn Monday as part of a 16-state tour during her first visit to the U.S.

St. Maria Goretti, an 11-year-old Italian girl stabbed to death while resisting a sexual assault more than a century ago, will be on display for 24 hours at St. John Cantius Church in the Goose Island neighborhood before moving on to St. John Vianney in Northlake, St. Francis of Assisi in Orland Park and St. Mary Immaculate in Plainfield. Revered as a model of mercy, St. Maria Goretti is believed to have forgiven her killer and appeared to him later as an apparition, inspiring his conversion.

Read more

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/