You are never too young to make a stand for your principles or defend your faith. You are never too young to "fight the good fight," as St. Paul would say. In fact, St. Paul takes it one better: Don't let anyone belittle your young age.

Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Tim. 4:12)

One of the treasures of the Catholic Faith is the Communion of Saints, and in particular, the younger saints and blesseds who lived their faith passionately, refusing to be threatened by fear. That includes not letting one's sexual purity and integrity be shouted down or coerced by a noisy culture that has no respect for God or human dignity.

Consider this week's January 21 memorial for St. Agnes—a saint and martyr who typifies how young teens can courageously set the example. A young girl from a Christian family, Agnes died during the early religious persecutions in Rome, perhaps around 304.

Agnes is one of only seven women mentioned in the Martyrology that is prayed within the Roman Canon, otherwise known as Eucharistic Prayer I. (That Canon is one of the oldest prayers we find in the Mass short of the Lord's Prayer that dates back to Jesus himself.)

To us, your servants, who, though sinners, hope in your abundant mercies, graciously grant some share and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs: With John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia and all your Saints... (Eucharistic Prayer I)

St. Ambrose places Agnes's death at age 12, and St. Augustine places it age 13. Lively faith at such an age is remarkable, as was her determination to consecrate herself to Christ, alone; a beautiful girl of (given the times) marriageable age, she declared "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse."

The days leading up to her death involved her rejection of a persistent suitor with strong political connections in Rome. Her refusal led to her being publicly identified as a Christian, and she was thrown in prison. But her torture did not stop there.

Agnes was promised her freedom and many lovely gifts if only she would deny Christ and atone by offering incense at one of the Roman temples. She remained stalwart. She was further humiliated by being sent to a brothel where she was publicly stripped. It is said that an angel protected her. Not to be thwarted, the authorities led Agnes away to die.

At the end, Agnes bowed and prayed and was killed by a stroke of the sword that cut off her head. Her skull is preserved as a relic in St. Agnes Church, near Piazza Navona in Rome.