Commentary on the Gospel of
Singular Altar
It is time we rediscovered the relevance of Maria Goretti. A young girl, with a heart set on God. “A spreading vine, rich in fruit,” as Hosea observes about Israel in today’s first reading. But unlike Israel, she did not build many altars to adorn with sacred stones for many gods. She had only one altar; there was space for only one God. Her body was the temple of the Spirit; and she would not let anyone desecrate it. Even if she had to pay with her life.
The gospel invites us to mediate on our call. The subject and the object of our call is God; no one else. This singular love of our heart is what chastity is all about: The call to subordinate and consecrate all our earthly loves to that primary love— of God. May Saint Maria Goretti inspire our young men and women.
