Blessed Pierina Morosini

Feast date: Apr 06

Pierina Morosini is the patron saint of rape victims and a martyr to chastity. She was born into a poor family of eight children in 1931 in the Diocese of Bergamo, Italy. She was trained to be a seamstress and began to work in a factory at 15 years of age.

Pierina had made a private vow to God to live a life of chastity. She taught catechism and considered religious life, but continued to live at home to help her mother care for their family. One day, as the 26-year-old Pierina returned home from work, she was attacked by a would-be rapist, however she fought against him for the purpose of protecting her chastity, and he stoned her to death for refusing to comply with him. Pope John Paul II beatified Pierina on October 4, 1987.