I muse over the good old days we played together in our neighbourhood with our colleagues no distinction whatsoever with whom we fool around. Different and unique were the local village games the young, teens and children enjoyed. We knew when to take advantage of the good opportunity. Opportunities to laugh and giggle without embarrassing! But one thing was sure, never ever did anything of bad repute. Something that would bring shame and disgrace or damage to persons, things or life! We knew our limits! No issues were reported! Nowadays it’s so painful to know that taking advantage of a situation, cannot imagine how the innocent become a victim of infatuated and uncontrolled desires and wants, the inordinate urges to the extent of taking away – life – without remorse and moral responsibility.
We might have heard of (saint) Maria Goretti. Yes, on July 5, 1902, twelve year-old Goretti was sitting on the outside steps of her home, sewing one of Alessandro’s shirts and watching Teresa, while Alessandro was threshing beans in the barnyard. Knowing she would be alone, he returned to the house and threatened to stab her if she did not do what he said; he was intending to rape her. She would not submit, however, protesting that what he wanted to do was a mortal sin and warning him that he would go to Hell. She fought desperately and kept screaming, “No! It is a sin! God does not want it!” He first choked her, but when she insisted she would rather die than submit to him, he stabbed her eleven times. She tried to reach the door, but he stopped her by stabbing her three more times before running away. The following day, 24 hours after the attack, having expressed forgiveness for Alessandro and stating that she wanted to have him in Heaven with her, she died of her injuries.
These days celibacy, purity, chastity is become a joke. Oophs! Respect for the human body is an ante! Yes, it’s at stake! Because it is treated as a commodity and its by-product found in garbage bins! The ‘revealing clothes’ that we wear, It’s alarming! In this situation, a twelve year old sets an example to the growing teens and youth! By her simple living, she is an inspiration to live a pure, just and holy life.
A great model indeed, to emulate who stands tall to fight against the desires of the flesh and to live pure, chaste and holy life! Today the celebrities from Filmdom, Cricketers, and Football Icons have young blood followers and are imitated for their style and charisma. How about following this great model with great charisma and fortitude! To rise and shine in the world being warriors of and for Christ?
Maria Goretti was beatified on April 27, 1947. Three years later, on June 24, 1950, Pope Pius XII canonized her as a saint. She is the patron saint of chastity, rape victims, girls, youth, teenage girls, poverty, purity and forgiveness. Some 500,000 people, among them a majority of youth, had come from around the world. The Pope asked them: “Young people, pleasure of the eyes of Jesus, are you determined to resist any attack on your chastity with the help of grace of God?” A resounding “yes” was the answer.
The Pope Francis in his latest Apostolic Exhortation encourages the young to grow in holiness and in commitment to the personal vocation.
