"Happy Valentine's Day"

February 9, 2010
Year for the Priest

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Many celebrations have their origin in particular religious customs or in religious personalities.  There is of course, St. Nicholas of Myra, who was a bishop noted for his kindness and generosity to the young.  The English transformed him into Father Christmas and later into the modern figure of Santa Claus, but, the trappings of his religious status, being a bishop and a saint, have been stripped away and he is now celebrated in his secular depiction, sanitized from his religious references.

All Hallows Eve is the evening before the holy day of All Saints.  Our modern society has twisted the spiritual and sensationalized it through the depictions of ghosts, witches, goblins and the wearing of various costumes of popular figures.  I am told that Halloween is second only to Christmas in the decorations sold to celebrate the day.  Little attention, if any, is given to the saints whose lives are celebrated on the holy day of All Saints, November 1.

On February 14, we celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day.  Long before the Saint Valentine Day Massacre (a gangland murder of a rival mob in Chicago), there really was a Saint Valentine; apparently he was a priest, a holy man, who was beheaded for his faith.  The beautiful legend of St. Valentine tells of his imprisonment for the practicing his faith.  While in jail, a guard asks him if he would tutor his blind daughter.  St. Valentine agreed to the request, and taught the jailer’s daughter many lessons and shared with her many insights.  He led the young girl to an acceptance of the faith and her sight was restored through a miracle.  The day before Valentine was martyred, he sent a note to the young girl urging her to love God and he signed the letter, “Your Valentine.”

We do not know if the legend has any historical truth.  However, the sentiment is obvious; the influence of God’s love in our lives.  The religious legend is a bit distant from the flowers, the chocolate, and the romance that embrace the secular holiday of today.  Please understand that I do like St. Valentine’s Day.  It gives us all an opportunity to tell people with a note, a phone call, or a gift, that they are important to us.  Hallmark and other greeting card companies certainly love the sales that surround Valentine’s Day.
A couple weeks after Christmas, the Valentine Day card sections are up and a variety of cute teddy bears and cuddly creatures appear for sale.  Advertisers challenge those who really love someone; they cannot possibly express their love properly without purchasing that expensive diamond bracelet or other jewelry.

We do not have to surrender the true sentiment of St. Valentine’s Day.  I would argue that there is no greater expression of love than when it is expressed with the understanding of its divine origin.  St Paul in his letter to the Philippians (1:3-4) states: “I give thanks to my God in all my remembrance of you, always in all my prayers making supplications for you all, with joy…”  If we would turn that statement over to a Madison Avenue advertising firm they might come up with something like this for a Valentine’s Day Ad: A fancy card $3; an expensive piece of jewelry $300; a prayer before God in thanksgiving to Him for your friendship PRICELESS.

Remember family and friends on Valentine’s Day with a card, a call, or a gift, but most of all, remember to pray in thanksgiving for their presence in your life.  “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Happy Valentine’s Day and please be assured of my prayers of thanksgiving for your presence in my life.

See you at Mass!

Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee   

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