Author: Dominick Flarey

How Health Information Technology Is Improving Healthcare

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

How Health Information Technology Is Improving Healthcare

Health Information Technology (HIT) is an array of technologies that store, share and analyze organized health information through the internet between healthcare providers, consumers, government agencies, and insurers.

It can be the primary means of providing continuity of care for each patient, between the primary care physician and supplementary care from other doctors. If a patient were admitted to the hospital, all hospital caregivers and the primary care doctor would have easy access to the patient’s same medical records, lab results, vital signs and medical orders. This accurate report reduces medical errors through omission, illegible notations, and misplaced records.

Costs

The internet can simplify the administrative healthcare system by eliminating unnecessary procedures and reducing myriads of paperwork, which is often duplicative. Internet technology can limit medical errors that increase consumer costs and engender mistrust in the changing healthcare industry.

Improved Care and Treatment

Medical personnel can instantly check a patient’s medical records for allergies, adverse drug interactions. Doctors can ascertain whether a patient’s insurance covers a prescribed drug, then email the prescription to the pharmacy. New medicines and advanced treatments may reduce pain and suffering as well as recovery time.

All clinical data is organized and analyzed, in case an unexpected health crisis should arise. Surgeons and physicians can transmit this data to skilled specialists anywhere in the world, who will consult and supplement the patient’s care.

Benefits to Consumers

Health Information technology enables today’s consumers to be well-informed and interactive participants in their health care. According to Paula Kane, who works with online health information management programs, those who suffer from a chronic illness stand to gain valuable understanding of their condition with improvements in health information technology. This knowledge can initiate a candid conversation with the patient’s doctor by addressing his concerns about medications, symptoms or treatment options.

More Productive Research

Medical groups can learn from each other and incorporate the most recent and innovative treatment methods. Research encourages and produces better diagnostic tools and strategies. Research fosters progressive surgical and procedural techniques. Access to available sophisticated medical equipment and communication with trusted colleagues worldwide, reduces disparities in health care. Health Information Technology promotes the early detection of infectious diseases, and improves the tracking of chronic illnesses.

Conclusion

If Health Information Technology remains an effectual tool, health care is sure to improve. The sharing of medical information between specialists via information technology promotes better standardized treatment for all patients. Focusing on quality comprehensive health care prevents subtle abuses of this technology and helps identify disparities in patient care.

While this decade has seen widespread implementation of HIT, there remain some drawbacks which prevent it from being universally embraced by all healthcare providers. Cybervulnerability and “HIT fatigue”, a symptom of constant alerts and confusing user interfaces, need to be addressed before the full potential of HIT can be realized.

About the Author: Marlena Stoddard is a freelance writer who received her BA from the University of Georgia.

 

If you are interested in Healthcare Certification Programs, then please review our programs as well

 

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Bereavement Counseling Education: 2015 Without You

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Bereavement Counseling Education: 2015 Without You

The beginning of a New Year without a loved one can leave one pessimistic about the future and New Year.  The previous year took something very special that can never be replaced and leaves the New Year and future years with many questions marks and uncertainties.

The following year is a pivotal time of healing and adaptation for the grieving.  It brings along many ‘first” anniversaries.  In some cases a first Christmas or first Thanksgiving without a loved one, depending on the time of year the deceased passed.  Some anniversaries may also include birthdays, or special anniversaries that will cause the scab of grief to bleed freshly.    Ultimately, the most dreaded day of the New Year is the anniversary of the loved one’s death.

So for those of us who lost a loved in 2014, how can we honestly look forward to 2015?  We can be optimistic but also realistic.  We do not want to harm ourselves by not expressing grief and allowing ourselves to mourn.  So while these days and anniversaries will bring grief, we should see the grief as something therapeutic that allows us to heal and express our love in our healthy way.

The optimism for the New Year should be us adapting to the loss in a healthy way that allows us to love the deceased in different spiritual ways.  The love and bond never dies but exists in eternity and can never be broken.  It is through our grief that we learn to better continue that bond in this life and into the next one.

The optimism for the New Year also means we are still alive and must continue to exist for others as well as ourselves.   Good things can still happen and new bonds will be formed.  They can never replace the old bonds but they continue our life story.  In any story, the previous chapters are critical, but without the following the chapters the story has no meaning.  We need to understand this concept and continue to write future chapters in our life.

So realistically how will 2015 be?  It will be happy, it will be sad and there will be times of optimism and times of pessimism.  Grief is not linear but is wavelike, oscillating back and forth as we gradually move forward.   Yet, as we progress, we cannot forget the bonds that exist with others and the new bonds that still must be formed.   In our continued bond with the deceased, let us remember that they want us to be happy and appreciate our love that will be again consummated in the next life.

If you are interested in learning more about Grief and Bereavement Counseling Training then please review our program.  Our courses offer Bereavement Counseling Education for qualified professionals who hope to achieve certification in Grief Counseling.

In the meantime, please realize that your grief is not something to throw to the side but to embrace because the gift of love between you and the loved one lost is beautiful and not something to be taken lightly.  Try in this New Year to see that this bond still exists but in a different way as you travel this tough road of grief.

The American Academy of Grief Counseling

 

Certified in Christian Counseling: A New Year’s Resolution in Christ

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

A New Year’s Resolution in Christ

The secular world focuses on material growth and gain.  This is why the many resolutions we see proclaimed every year circle around physical appearance, diets, exercise, or relationships.   Rarely, does the secular person look to examine one’s conscience and seek to uproot a vice that is detrimental to the soul.

The Pope recently challenged everyone to cease being a slave to the desires of the world and seek true freedom via Christ.  This involves rejecting vice, an illusionary good, and accepting virtue which alone frees us.

Examining one’s conscience is true freedom because it acknowledges the chains of sin that are apparent in our life and seeking freedom from those vices.  What vices do we seek to uproot in our quest for spiritual perfection?

St Teresa of Avilla, mystic and doctor of the Church, wrote extensively on Christian perfection.  Her book, Interior Castle, looked at the many stages or mansions one must enter before union with Christ is possible.  The first stage involved the initial acknowledgement of one’s imperfections and a desire to purge oneself from these vices.  A good New Year’s resolution that is Christocentric is a good step in identifying vices and accepting the grace of the Holy Spirit to move towards Christ.

In examining one’s conscience for the coming New Year, St Ignatius Loyola offers sound and strong advice.   His methods of examination were from a military background that identified the enemy, acknowledged weaknesses and then sought to eliminate them one by one.  Of course, in this analogy, Christ is the general that leads us and gathers us against the enemies of our soul, which is vice.

In applying these principles, remember that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.  One of the biggest obstacles to spiritual perfection is despair.  How many times, do we fail in our spiritual endeavors?  Is it a sin of sloth that prevents us from awakening early for Church on Sunday?  Is it the weakness of the flesh that push us to lustful desires?  One must expect failures in our new endeavors this New Year, but it is the effort that will ultimately push us over the top of the hill.  Christ’s grace will give us the necessary will power to eventually overcome the vice that has soiled our soul for so long.   Christ is an understanding God ,but also an understanding friend.   He welcomes our effort and discourages our despair when we fail.   He understands the nature of vice and its habitual control over the soul.  He is patient and He is merciful.

If we persist, despite shortcomings, if we continue the good struggle, the evil habit will be removed from our soul, through the grace of the Holy Spirit that transforms our soul and frees us from the slavery of that particular vice.

So, this New Year’s, what vice will you eliminate this year from your life?  What step will you take towards sainthood and Christian perfection?  I think the key to remember is Christian perfection is only reached in Heaven, but we must start the steps here as sinners!

If you are interested in learning more about Christian Counseling Training or would like to become certified in Christian Counseling, then please review the program.  If the program matches your academic and professional needs, then consider taking the steps of becoming a certified Christian Counselor.

 

Mark Moran, SCC-C

5 Essential Services Every Senior Care Center Should Provide

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

5 Essential Services Every Senior Care Center Should Provide

Choosing a senior care center for a family member is one of the most difficult decisions in life. As such, healthcare professionals should take every care to make sure their senior care facilities are capable of the best care possible. The following are five highly important services every senior care center should provide for residents.

Medical Care

Seniors with acute or chronic medical conditions will need qualified healthcare providers on-site to manage health conditions. Assistance with wound care, medication administration and diabetic care are examples of medical services that should be provided for residents with these types of conditions. Staff should be vigilant about updating family about any changes in the medical care or condition of their loved one.

Rehabilitation Support

Physical, occupational and speech therapy are essential tools to assist seniors in recovering losses related to conditions such as stroke, heart attacks or broken bones. Participation in these services can really make a difference in the health and well-being of seniors.

Food Services

Three nutritional meals daily with alternative offerings are an essential element of a positive experience for residents at senior care centers. Flexible dining times are also a welcome option. Snacks should be available for seniors between meals. A pleasant dining atmosphere that promotes socialization and preserves dignity is an important component of food services.

Activity Programming

Staying busy for retired seniors is integral to maintaining physical, mental and emotional health. Senior care centers need to provide regular activity offerings for residents. Opportunities to celebrate holidays and contribute to the community should be available. Outings for shopping or sight-seeing excursions are welcomed by many seniors. The option to attend spiritual services should also be to seniors at senior care facilities.

Transportation

Family members are often unable to provide transportation for loved ones due to work and other family commitments. Seniors who are wheelchair-bound or have difficulty transferring in and out of vehicles need transportation assistance family may be unable to provide. Senior care centers should be available to provide transport services to medical appointments as well as to special group outings.

Compliance with public standards is also important for those choosing a care center for a loved one—all centers should strive to be at the top of the industry and provide the best care possible. Seniors deserve quality, attentive care by qualified healthcare professionals. Demonstrating your center’s ability to provide this will reassure both patients and their families.

By Marlena Stoddard

 

If you are interested in Pastoral Care Training, especially for the dying, then please review the program

 

AIHCP

Getting Older: How Men Can Increase Their Energy in Their Everyday Life

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Getting Older: How Men Can Increase Their Energy in Their Everyday Life

No one should ever feel as if ongoing fatigue is a simple fact of growing older. While workouts may become less rigorous and naps become appealing each afternoon, there are some basics steps that men can take to up their energy levels no matter their age.

Rule Out Major Health Problems
The first and most important step for those that are struggling with low energy levels is to have a full checkup with their primary healthcare provider. There are a myriad of health issues that could be causing fatigue ranging from vitamin deficiencies to pre-diabetes. It is vital to continue getting physicals at least once a year before moving onto other options.

Improve Your Heart Health
Any major issues with one’s heart will instantly sap strength and energy due to poor circulation. One of the best ways to improve heart health is to begin taking omega-3 oils as a daily supplement. This oils are derived from fish products and countless studies have shown them to improve alertness, energy levels, and one’s mood.

Stay Hydrated
When the body becomes dehydrated it will begin to go into shock. While the symptoms are not always immediately noticeable, it will begin to take its toll on one’s energy and stamina. Drinking enough water and other fluids will prevent the body from forcibly conserving energy as it attempts to stave off permanent damage from dehydration.

Get Your Hormone Levels Tested
As men become older their body will naturally begin to produce fewer hormones or create an imbalance in hormones. According to Genemedics Health Institute, this is one of the primary causes of fatigue in elderly men, but there are options out there to prevent this decline. Many now turn to hormone replacement therapy to stave off chronic fatigue as well as improve one’s overall strength.

Find Your Circadian Rhythm
Every human has a slightly different circadian rhythm, or the natural ebb and flow of one’s energy. While humans can slightly alter their circadian rhythm by changing their sleep schedule, some men simply need to become more in tune with their body’s own needs. Those that have peaks of energy at certain points of the day should attempt to schedule physical activity or strenuous work during this period.

Eat Smaller Meals More Often
An imbalance in blood sugar is often the culprit for those that have become chronically fatigued or only have short spurts of energy. Studies have shown that consuming smaller meals at shorter intervals could help those with blood sugar issues. It is also important to avoid processed sugars that will spike one’s energy levels before bottoming out.

Chronic fatigue and a lack of energy is one medical condition that no one should accept without a fight. By focusing on one’s overall health, men can maintain higher levels of energy no matter their age.

 

My name is Lizzie Weakley and I am a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. I went to college at The Ohio State University where I studied communications. I enjoy the outdoors and long walks in the park with my 3-year-old husky Snowball.

 

 

If you are interested in learning more about heath and care, then please review some of our Health Care Professional Certifications, ranging from certifications for nurses to certifications for counselors.

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Applications of a Certified Grief Counselor

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

What Exactly is a Certified Grief Counselor?

Believe it or not, people confuse the nature of Grief Counseling with many things that it is not.   Grief Counseling does not deal with pathologies, but the simple emotion of loss and the re-adaptation to that loss.   A certified Grief Counselor, without a counseling license issued by the state, does not possess the training or skill to deal with depression or complicated grief.

In this regard, a person who is a certified Grief Counselor, may or may not be a licensed counselor.  Licensed counselors may very well seek out a certification in Grief Counseling as a professional attachment to their already glowing resume, but as a certification, this is voluntary.

Hence a certified Grief Counselor is a trained professional who helps people deal with loss and readjustment to that loss.  The loss can vary from the death of a loved one to a loss of a job and anything in between.  As a trained professional, a certified Grief Counselor, as mentioned, can already be a licensed counselor who can deal with deeper issue of grief, or any health care professional.   Other professional candidates for Grief Counseling Certification include those in Social Work, Ministry, Funeral Services, or Hospice.

If non of these professions apply, an approved degree in the Health Science or Social Sciences can be applicable for eligibility.

The American Academy of Grief Counseling requires that their certified Grief Counselors meet these requirements, as well as completion of four basic core courses in Grief Counseling.  These independent study courses with mentorship, help the student grasp the basic of the nature of grief and how to help individuals suffering from it.  Theories and practical counseling techniques are taught in these courses and help the qualified professional achieve the educational background necessary to successfully grief counsel.

Those seeking employment in Grief Counseling can coach/counsel at the grassroot level or work in conjuction with a variety of healthcare institutions, schools, funeral homes, social programs, hospices, or church ministries.

The need for Grief Counseling and certified Grief Counselors is always great because all humans grieve.  It is the nature of a person to experience loss.  With this in mind, the career of a certified Grief Counselor is not just a job but also a vocation to the suffering

If you are interested in learning more about Grief Counseling Education or would like to become a certified Grief Counselor, then please review the program.

AIHCP

Grief Counseling Education: 5 Tips to Dealing with a Miscarriage

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Grief Counseling Education and 5 Tips to Dealing with a Miscarriage

 

Dealing with a miscarriage can be heartbreaking for both you and your partner. By practicing good self-care in the days and weeks following this tragic event, you can ensure that you will maintain your mental and physical health and prepare yourself for the next steps in your family planning. Read on for five tips to follow if you’ve had a recent miscarriage.

1. Follow Up with Your OB/GYN
According to Vitals, seeing your medical provider after your miscarriage can help determine the cause of the miscarriage. While this is a very common occurrence in early pregnancy, recurrent miscarriage can be a sign of an underlying condition that your doctor may be able to treat. According to Dr. Gilbert W. Webb, medical care is also important to ensure that you are physically healthy after a miscarriage, particularly if you’re planning to try to get pregnant again.

2. Pay Attention to Physical Recovery
It may take several weeks before your body feels normal again following a miscarriage. Many women experience vaginal bleeding, cramping, and breast discomfort. Ask your doctor how you can best treat these symptoms. If possible, consider taking time off work or limiting normal activities until you feel better; however, if you are up to your usual routine, that’s fine too.

3. Grieve Your Loss
You’ve experienced a profound loss, and giving yourself a chance to feel the emotions associated with this loss is an important part of the grief process. It’s normal to feel sad, angry, disappointed, and confused following a miscarriage. Share these emotions with a partner and/or trusted friend. If you feel you’re struggling with resuming normal life, you may want to seek professional counseling.

4. Seek Counseling if Need Be
If you’re having trouble dealing with your emotions after having a miscarriage, ask your provider for resources. He or she may be able to recommend a counselor that can help you sort out your feelings. In addition, a pregnancy loss support group in your area can be an invaluable resource.

5. Prepare for Future Pregnancies
When you feel emotionally ready, it’s usually safe to get pregnant again as soon as your menstrual cycle returns to normal. Every woman is different, though, so talk with your doctor about your individual situation.

While miscarriage can be devastating, keep in mind that the majority of women who experience a loss go on to have healthy pregnancies and babies. If you have several miscarriages, talk with your doctor about ways to solve the underlying issues and improve your fertility.

By Lizzie Weakley

(My name is Lizzie Weakley and I am a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. I went to college at The Ohio State University where I studied communications. I enjoy the outdoors and long walks in the park with my 3-year-old husky Snowball.)

 

If you are interested in Grief Counseling Education, then please review our program.

AIHCP

Grief Counseling Certification Program:Grief

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Grief Counseling Certification Program: The Many Faces of Grief: Common Emotions that are Experienced

 

Grief is a universal emotion and experience. Everyone will go through grief in their life time. Many will repeat the experience throughout their lives. For a long time grief was shunned by society. People really did not understand it and so it was often a very private experience. Often times the person in grief believed that what they were going through emotionally was abnormal and so they were often reluctant to discuss their experiences. Little had been written about grief and thus people also did not know what to say or do to assist a family member or friend who was in the midst of the grieving process.

 

Today things have certainly changed. Grief has been studied extensively over the past several decades and we now know much more about it. Clinical research has been better able to more clearly define this phenomenon and we continue to learn more about it all the time. We have come to understand what intense emotions are confronted in grief and we also have come to develop solid interventions and strategies to help people with their grief experiences.

 

While grief is a subjective experience and unique in many ways, we have learned over the years that there are several stages of grief which are actually universal in nature.

 

These universal grief experiences include the following:

 

Shock and Denial
This phase often manifests itself in a sort of numbness, a feeling of disbelief and a sense of helplessness. This may occur immediately at the awareness of the loss of loved one or the loss of any kind. People may experience feelings of things being unreal, or feel like they are in some dream state. Denial is a strong experience and often people will respond to a loss as if it did not occur. Observers of this may think the person does not care or does not understand what has happened. The observation of denial can be perceived in many ways. In some cases the denial can be very intense and dramatic. When this occurs, professional help may be needed.
2. Pain and Guilt
As the shock and/or denial abate, it is often replaced with feelings of longing for the one we have lost.  It is standard at this stage to experience guilt and remorse about things we may have done or not done, said or not said, to that person. Overwhelming emotional pain is difficult to deal with, and should not be stifled. In this phase we most often see people express themselves much more and we also will likely witness crying and the expression of many types of regrets.
3. Anger
A common question those in grief ask is ‘Why?’ Why Him/Her? Why us? Why me? Finding the answer to this question causes frustration and anger. It is common at this stage to try to find something or someone to blame, or take your frustration out on. In this phase we may often see the person experiencing trembling, and there may even be physiologic manifestations such as increases in blood pressure and pulse rates. Anger may even be expressed toward God for the loss. It is beneficial to encourage those in grief to verbalize their anger but to do so in more constructive ways.

4. Melancholy
You may experience a period of introversion. This stage of the process may leave you feeling low, and you may find you spend a lot of time reflecting on the experiences you had with your loved one. Those close to you will often try to encourage you not to wallow in your grief. However, this is an important part of the process. It allows you to work through your feelings about the one you have lost, as well as reflect on your time together. It is common to feel depressed and this should be acknowledged. If the depression persists for long periods of time or one begins to contemplate self-harm or suicide, professional intervention should be undertaken

5. Hope for the Future.
The sense of hopelessness and despair you felt will start to lessen. You can now begin adjusting to life without the person you have lost. Often, people in this stage of the process start to think about how they might best commemorate and celebrate the life of the person they have lost.  Deciding on an online memorial can be a great way to honour your loved ones. It allows you to have a permanent reminder of them which everyone can have access to, be involved in creating and even add to.

6. Readjustment and Acceptance.
You will eventually begin to feel that you can settle in to new routines, and maybe even start making plans for your future. Life will seem less overwhelming. You can think about and talk about the deceased with more sense of a peace, rather than experiencing anguish. You have moved away from the intense pain of grief at this phase.

 

Time for Grieving

 

How long does this general process of grieving last? There is no good response to this question.  Grief takes “as long as it takes.” While the above stages are generally universal, the time in grief is not universal. It is uniquely individualized. Some go through the experience and reach acceptance much sooner for others; it can sometimes take several years or more.

 

When the experience of grief persist for more than several years or when the symptoms continue to cripple the grieving person in living their lives then professional help is needed.  A professional who has a certification in grief counseling can be of tremendous help. This professional is schooled in therapeutic interventions for grieving and can really assist in helping the person better cope and progress in the grief experience.

 

As time goes on we will learn more about grief and how people experience it. This will lead us to the development of even more and often better interventions. The time is now for society to become better educated about grief and to learn some common and simple ways to help others through this experience.

 

If you would like to learn more about our Grief Counseling Certification Program, then please review

The American Academy of Grief Counseling

 

4 Neonatal Diseases and How You Can Prevent and Treat Them

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Healthcare Professionals and Neonatal Diseases

According to the World Health Organization, each year three million babies die within their first month. Many of these infants suffer from common complications that can be prevented, treated during gestation, or treated upon birth.

 

Anemia

Development of anemia results from an inadequate amount of red blood cells. In a healthy fetus, iron is stored during the last months of pregnancy to be used for production of red blood cells after birth. Babies born in unhealthy conditions or those born before term may not be able to properly store iron. It is essential for the mother to take the necessary vitamins during gestation, particularly folic acid. If this is not enough, the baby may be treated with iron supplements after birth.

 

Jaundice

According to high-risk obstetrician Gilbert Webb MD , this condition occurs when the liver cannot function well enough to remove waste from the blood, and this condition is more common in premature newborns or those who have incompatible blood types with their mothers. High levels of this waste product, known as bilirubin, can cause complications. There are various ways to treat the condition depending on the expertise of the physicians in care. One way to treat the baby is with phototherapy, which breaks down and eliminates the bilirubin. In more extreme circumstances, the baby may need an exchange transfusion to reduce the levels.

 

Breathing Problems

Breathing issues occur fairly frequently among newborn babies, and the most common conditions include apnea and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Apnea occurs when there are inconsistencies in the baby’s breathing pattern. The pattern can be monitored to ensure safe breathing, and babies will be stimulated or given medicine to help. BPD occurs in babies who have immature lungs, and they may develop scarring or fluid. They may need a mechanical ventilator to assist with breathing before moving on to medications.

 

Enterocolitis

Normally affecting premature babies, this condition occurs when bowels become damaged due to decreased blood supply. Bacteria that reside in the intestines invade the affected areas and cause further damage. Babies with the condition suffer from abdominal swelling, feeding problems and other complications. Upon diagnosis, the baby will be fed intravenously until the bowel heals. If the problem becomes too severe, damaged sections of the intestines may need to be surgically removed.

 

Advancements in medicine and technology improve the knowledge about common neonatal complications. This knowledge allows more problems to be prevented beforehand or effectively handled to give babies a greater chance of health down the line.

 

About the author: A recent college graduate from University of San Francisco, Anica loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect wit

 

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Christian Counseling Training: The Virtue of Purity and the Teenage Years

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Training: The Virtue of Purity and the Teenage Years

“Blessed are the Pure of Heart for they shall see God” proclaims Christ.   This statement speaks volumes about the importance of the virtue of purity and its role in our spiritual salvation.   It is not a footnote or minor point for Christians to disregard as insignificant to our spiritual salvation but an essential part of our spiritual life.   Society would like to diminish the importance of this virtue as outdated to the times or unnecessary as long as one is kind to others, but the necessity of this virtue is unquestioned.   At Fatima, Our Lady told the children that many souls go to Hell due to the sins of the flesh.

This is not to scare you, or drive fear into your heart for the sins of the flesh are many and diverse.   We need to approach them carefully and understand their particular role in a teen’s life.  In some cases, a priest may not even classify a particular objectively sinful action as deadly to the soul due to subjective issue within the agent.   Hormones, confusion, ignorance and curiosity can occur during the initial teen or High school years of both girls and boys.   What would be considered as objectively sinful can have greatly reduced culpability in many teens.   This is why it is critical for loving and caring parental guidance during the puberty years; a hand that approaches delicate matters with instruction but also leniency.

I understand with the current issues within the Church, the awkward nature of confession regarding sins of the flesh for both the priest and the minor. These issues should be approached with delicacy.   This is why it is pertinent for young teens to find a trusted spiritual adviser who will not lead them astray, but give them concrete guidance regarding the sins of the flesh and the protection of purity.

With these things said, I would like to illuminate the beauty of purity through the story of St. Philomena but also approach a few delicate issues that teens may be facing regarding their own virginity or purity and how St Philomena can be a protectress to their purity.

Who Was St Philomena?

St Philomena was a teen herself!   She was a young girl who at an early age decided to offer her virginity and purity to Christ.  This was a difficult decision in the days of the early Christians.  Like our society today, purity was seen as something unnecessary.  Roman and Greek culture was saturated with sexual vices.   The threat to purity was everywhere.    From the theatre to the bathhouse, Rome and Greece was filled with not just natural sins of the flesh but an abundance of unnatural and heinous sinful actions.

Surrounded by this storm, the delicate flower of Philomena flourished.  She was an example of purity to her community and family.   She was a rare specimen for her age, must like many of us today who stand against the secular media and its glorification of lustful actions.

Do you feel it is difficult to remain pure in our society of today?   Does the constant barrage of sexual images online, on television, and in your community break down your spiritual immune system?   With raging hormones and a natural attraction to the opposite sex, these images can be confusing.   Attraction is not the sin here.  It is natural to find an image of a woman to be attractive for a boy, or an image of a man to be attractive to a girl.   This is not a sin.  However, to indulge oneself into this image or engage in like behavior as seen on television is a sin.   This is far from easy and to think it was easy for Philomena simply because she was a saint is a huge oversight.

Philomena was a young woman.  She was changing and experiencing the same desires and feelings all young people eventually experience.  She had to learn to curb these new feelings and control her emotions.  She was not free from sin or temptation and had to rely on the graces of God to protect her virtue of purity.   Undoubtedly, many nights she prayed for grace to overcome temptation.

The sins of the flesh are powerful because they correlate with our body’s natural instincts; instincts that God gave us!   These instincts are not evil in themselves but are part of who we are.   It is the devil, the great deceiver, who wishes to confuse and mislead us regarding these instincts.   He attempted to confuse Philomena, as he has attempted to confuse me or you.

Since the sins of the flesh are so powerful because they connect to our human nature, we have to learn to control them.  This of course is easier said than done!   The sin of Adam has severed our control of our passions.  Our intellect many times struggles to maintain a healthy control over our sexual urges.   This is why it is essential, we pray for purity from the Holy Spirit and beg for guidance from Mary, or St Philomena.

These urges and desires are good and healthy but if misused can be used to the delight of the evil one who wishes to mar and destroy anything good created by God.   Hence control of these emotions and desires is a critical part of the virtue of purity.   Discipline, sacrifice and control are essential atoms within the virtue of purity.

While Philomena’s virtue of purity was an initial gift to her, we cannot assume its growth and enhancement came without her consent and discipline.   Purity must be safeguarded because of its correlation with our sexual appetites.   Once we give in to an illicit thought or action, we potentially open the flood gates and weaken our spiritual immune system.

Those who find themselves captive to the sins of impurity have a difficult time escaping its grasp.  Good Christians who seek to escape it must go through intense temptations beyond anything initially experienced.  The taste of sex is strong and addictive and the devil knows how to play us against our own senses and instincts.

Many souls who pursue purity but have tasted the sexual sins fall victim not to isolated failures but repetitive falls.  Since the sins of impurity are so tied to our senses, they quickly translate from an isolated incident to a habit.   These habits are extremely hard to break and the person enslaved to these vices requires much spiritual guidance and patience.   There is no doubt, our loving Lord is patient with those who yearn to escape the sins of the flesh, but how many do not even seek to escape these sins?  How many exist in indifference or acceptance to these disordered actions?

As one erodes one’s good and certain conscience, the sins of the flesh become stronger and the voice of one’s conscience weakens to a quiet whisper.   The battle to resist becomes less and the desire becomes more.   Soon, to silence the conscience once and for all, some souls may even adopt heretical ideals that applaud sensual deviations and find no error in them.

St. Philomena never allowed the initial floodgates to open.   She hopes you do not either.   She will intercede to Christ for the perseverance of your purity.  She will also aid you if you have fallen and are in need of regaining control of your sexual appetite.

Are you willing to ask for help to preserve this wonderful gift of purity?   St Philomena went to an early death to preserve her purity and God asks much less from you.  God simply asks to try and pray for assistance when temptation arises.    Some temptations may be stronger, sometimes you may feel alone, but God is strengthening you with the individual abilities to cope and overcome impure adversity.

Philomena’s struggles led to a horrible martyr’s death at the hands of the Roman Emperor himself.  Philomena’s beauty was unparalleled and many men desired her.  Upon a trip from Greece to Rome, the Emperor had spoken to her father, a statesman, regarding the beauty of his daughter.  He requested that her father hand her over to him.  The father, not a Christian, was over joyed to have such imperial favor and immediately agreed, but Philomena who had given herself to Christ would not partake in the impure and sensuous desires of the Emperor.

She refused any of the Emperor’s impure advances.  The Emperor was enraged that his sexual desires were not fulfilled and had her beaten and imprisoned.   Yet Philomena remained in her cell.  Through the grace of God, the virtue of purity was strong within her delicate soul, that not even the sexual advances of an Emperor could sway her conviction.   Not even the numerous promises of wealth and luxury promised by the Emperor could persuade her to abandon her God.

It is easy to think these temptations did not stir in her soul, but what would you think if a powerful individual with wealth and riches wished to give you the world?  Not only wealth, but every pleasure affordable?  Yet, due to some characteristic which separates the saints from the mundane, heroic virtue manifested itself; a virtue so extreme and heroic that it reflected the goodness of God and his grace that filled Philomena.

The Emperor’s impure obsession with Philomena grew and with his obsession also grew his hate.  Lucifer through the Emperor sought to destroy the virtue of purity within Philomena and continued his assault on her.   The Emperor pushed to extremes continued to have Philomena beaten, only to discover the next day that her bruises had vanished.   Our Lord, according to tradition, had sent the angels to administer to his daughter.

Pushed by insanity, the Emperor had Philomena ordered to be executed, yet on two separate occasions, Philomena’s martyrdom was delayed by miraculous events.   God chose to use the purity of Philomena as an example to many and He sought to show the world the goodness of Philomena.   On the first occasion, arrows were shot at Philomena, but to the disbelief and astonishment of many, they reversed flow and struck the very archers who fired them.   The second occasion, Philomena was cast into the Tiber river with an anchor tied around her waist, but yet again to the astonishment of the guards, she was lifted from the river by angels.  Many souls converted to Christianity that day.

Incensed more than ever, the Emperor demanded that Philomena be beheaded.   It was on that day, that Philomena was finally given reprieve from her torments and as a pure heart, allowed to see the splendor of her Spiritual Groom.

What are you willing to do to preserve your purity and virginity?  God may not ask us to die a martyr’s death but He does ask us to live a pure life.  St Philomena lived a pure life and is an excellent example to follow.   We can emulate St Philomena by chasing away impure thoughts, remaining close to our Lady and always focusing on Christ.  We can also wear the red chord of Philomena.  This red chord ties around one’s waist and reminds one of the necessity of purity.

St Philomena, pray for us

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Mark Moran, MA