A rare convergence
THIS YEAR, February 14 does not only signify the celebration of love through Valentine’s Day but also marks the solemn beginning of the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday. This rare convergence presents a unique dichotomy that challenges the faithful to reconcile the festive expressions of worldly love with the introspective and penitential nature of a significant religious observance.
Ash Wednesday ushers in the 40-day period of Lent, a time dedicated to reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter Sunday. It is a day of fasting and abstinence, symbolizing a commitment to spiritual renewal and discipline. The imposition of ashes on the forehead serves as a tangible reminder of our mortality and sinfulness, calling us to turn back to God with whole hearts.
Valentine’s Day, on the other hand, is a celebration of love and affection, typically marked by the exchange of gifts, romantic gestures, and expressions of love. It is a day when love in its many forms is celebrated across the globe, often with great enthusiasm and joy.
The juxtaposition of these two observances on the same day offers a profound opportunity for reflection on the nature of love and its many dimensions — romantic, familial, communal, and divine. Reverend Father Angelo Colada of the Archdiocese of Jaro eloquently advises the faithful to infuse Valentine’s Day with a Lenten spirit, reminding us that true love is expressed through sacrifice. This perspective not only enriches our understanding of Valentine’s Day but also deepens the Lenten journey by framing it as an act of love.
The Church’s encouragement to prioritize Ash Wednesday over Valentine’s Day is not a call to eschew the celebration of love but rather an invitation to elevate it. It is an invitation to recognize that the deepest expressions of love often involve sacrifice and self-denial for the sake of the other. This is a lesson that transcends religious boundaries and speaks to the heart of human experience.
Ash Wednesday falling on Feb. 14 challenges the commercialization and superficiality that can sometimes accompany Valentine’s Day. It invites us to a more profound and sustained practice of love that is reflective, self-giving, and aligned with the Lenten call to conversion.
The dual nature of this day should prompt us to consider how we can express love in ways that are meaningful, sacrificial, and transformative. Whether through acts of kindness, words of affirmation, or the discipline of fasting and abstinence, we are reminded that love in its truest form often requires something of us.