Faith Has no Age Limit

A few days ago, February 10th, was the feast day of St. José Sánchez del Río.  Reading his story, I’m always struck by what this saint experienced for his love of Jesus.  There were many efforts by others to make him renounce his faith and in each opportunity to do so, he stood strong.  He endured immense torture and suffered greatly, as he refused to deny his faith in Christ.  The one part that stands out the most is the fact that he was just 14 years old when he was martyred.  The depth of faith he had at such a young age is something that should inspire us all in our own faith.  As this saint, and many others demonstrate, age should never be an obstacle to having great faith.
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A lot of times, I hear members of the church and parents say things like, “they will come back to the church later” or “they will start practicing their faith once they are older and have a family.”  While these kinds of thoughts and sentiments are likely well-meaning and come from a place of hope, they do not encourage the importance of faith in young people.  These thoughts and statements make the claim that having faith doesn’t really matter until one is older and at a different point in life.  This could not be further from the truth.

People sometimes say things like faith can be prioritized once sports are over, once extracurricular activities are done, once school is finished, once there is more time,once someone figures out who they are, or once they are established as an adult in the real world.  But having faith and taking opportunities to grow in it in the midst of all these events is vital.  Faith must be the foundation for whatever point someone is going through, and not an afterthought for a later time.

The idea that the church doesn’t need young people and that young people don’t need faith and the church is a lie.  No matter what age we are, each and every one of us are called to follow Jesus and live a life of faith and discipleship.  That will look different throughout various stages and parts of life, but we all have the ability to be part of a faith community to support and pray for each other, inspire each other and learn from each other, and grow closer to Jesus.  We are all called to be saints, regardless of how young or old we are.

Someone’s age should not be an obstacle to being a powerful witness of faith.  St. José Sánchez del Río, along with countless other young saints, have inspiring stories that are an example of great courage, deep faith, and a strong love for Christ.  May their lives inspire in us a deeper faith and greater love for Jesus.