Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr

14“Therefore behold, I will allure her,

and bring her into the wilderness,

and speak tenderly to her.

15I will give her vineyards from there,

and the valley of Achor for a door of hope;

and she will respond there

as in the days of her youth,

and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

16It will be in that day,” says the LORD,

“that you will call me ‘my husband,’

and no longer call me ‘my master.’

…

19I will betroth you to me forever.

Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in loving kindness, and in compassion.

20I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness;

and you shall know the LORD.

2Every day I will praise you.

I will extol your name forever and ever.

3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised!

His greatness is unsearchable.

4One generation will commend your works to another,

and will declare your mighty acts.

5I will meditate on the glorious majesty of your honor,

on your wondrous works.

6Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts.

I will declare your greatness.

7They will utter the memory of your great goodness,

and will sing of your righteousness.

8The LORD is gracious, merciful,

slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.

9The LORD is good to all.

His tender mercies are over all his works.

18While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples. 20Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; 21for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. 23When Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 24he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him. 25But when the crowd was sent out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26The report of this went out into all that land.