“Why is Saint Philomena
making such a powerful
spiritual return in our own
times? I believe one reason is
that the youth of today need an
example of heroic Christian
purity, even when they do not
find support for purity from
their society, their friends,
even at times from their own
parents. Many of today’s youth
are being exposed to numerous
occasions of blasphemy and
impurity through pornography,
immodest clothing, obscene
movies, and oftentimes, most
tragically, with the consent of
their parents.
Today’s youth need a young
heroic witness for the upholding
of Christian purity even if their
peers and their own parents are
not encouraging them. They face
situations very similar to those
which Philomena had to contend
with. Both the Emperor and her
parents encouraged her to
become the Empress of Rome—
the highest position of power
and fame the world could offer
any woman. Similarly, our young
people are continually tempted
by the allure of power and pride
and illicit pleasures. Because
Philomena said yes to Christ and
to His Kingdom, it is little
wonder that Jesus is making her
well known again as the
Patroness of Purity, for the
young people of the twenty-first
century.”
Dr. Mark Miravalle, Professor of
Theology, Franciscan University of
Steubenville, Ohio, United States
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