Our Catholic Church now enters the liturgical season of Lent, which begins on this day, Ash Wednesday, and ends on Holy Thursday. Lent is a period of forty days of spiritual reflection and sacrifice, consisting mainly of prayer, penitence, almsgiving, and fasting. The true purpose of Lent is to give us Catholics a particular time to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter– not in a passive way of simply awaiting it, but by meditating intently upon His Passion and Death. It allows us to follow the path of Jesus to the Cross by purifying ourselves of sins and offering sacrifices so that we become spiritually ready to share in His Resurrection.
It so happens that this 2018, the start of Lent coincides with a popular celebration- that is, Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day on the same day. The last time that such happened was on 1945. It will happen again sooner though- on 2024 and 2029. Indeed it is a rare occurrence to have both events in a day. But personally, I think it’s just simply cute. That’s because each and every day, there is a Saint whose feast day we commemorate. So at whatever date we begin Lent, we are also remembering a particular Saint, which on this day particularly is Saint Valentine. Perhaps what makes this occurrence look special is that many of us here in boyfriend-girlfriend or husband-wife relationships celebrate this romantic occasion in some way.
Be reminded, however, that Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the 2 days in the Catholic Church that both strictly observe Lenten Fasting and Abstinence. This means that in as much as we want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with our loved one or family, we must abstain from any social activity with them, like going out on a date, and offer it to God as a loving sacrifice. We must also not eat anything with meat and poultry, or any animal products.
Here are more reminders on Fasting and Abstinence for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, especially for those 18 to 59 years of age:
- Fasting means we can only have one full simple meal without any meat.
- We can drink liquids at any time of the day. But of course, avoid indulging on sugary and fruity drinks.
- Meat from land animals like pork, beef, and poultry meat, such as chicken and other birds are included in the Abstinence law of the Church.
- Liquids made from meat, like soups, bouillon flavorings, gravies, and broths are allowed. However, as suggested in Moral Theology, we must abstain from all of those, and other animal products like eggs, dairy like milk and cheese, and even butter.
- Salt and Freshwater Fish are permitted, including other ‘delicious’ seafood like shrimp, lobster, mussels and the like. But again, on the days of Fasting and Abstinence, our conscience dictates that we should not indulge ourselves with expensive and lavish seafood.
- Those who are physically and mentally ill are exempted from Fasting and Abstinence, especially those who suffer from chronic illnesses like diabetes. Definitely the rationale for this is that fasting and abstaining from certain food can aggravate their illness or health condition.
- Pregnant and nursing women are excluded too from Fasting and Abstinence.
My Reflection
For those who might say that Valentine’s Day gives them an excuse or those who might feel quite ‘sad’ not to eat a nice meal or dine out in a fancy restaurant today, nor celebrate it with a cool activity like a movie date:
1. Think of our Lenten sacrifices- keep in mind what they signify for us as Faithful and what they truly mean in the eyes of God whom we offer them to; For this day, in particular, reflect on our Ash Wednesday sacrifices, and we’ll realize how so small they compare with the blessing of having those we love in our lives.
2. For those with a boyfriend or a girlfriend, let’s say, they hesitate to sacrifice during this Lent, or tells you that that he or she is not a fan of fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, then probably, this is a good chance for you to discern whether God wills this person for you or not, because the will of God for you is to make you holy always.
How can you say that a person is the one that God desires for you, if he or she fears Lent and all its sacrifices, and finds them dreadful? If someone refuses to sacrifice a simple thing or only feels forced to do fasting and abstinence on some days in a year, how can he or she sacrifice other things for you and more importantly, for God?
In true love, there is much sacrifice. So if he or she is unwilling to sacrifice even for only a day of fasting and abstinence, if he or she is unable to understand the reason and find real meaning for this one sacrifice or another, or if he or she is trying to make the sacrifice ‘lighter’ and more acceptable to taste- example, his preferred abstinence menu is a big platter of flavorful Tuna Pasta with a large jar of creamy dressing- if you’re with someone who thinks and acts this way, then it is very possible that he or she will not be generous to God and the Faith, and will not be selfless to you in the other aspects of life.
What God wills for us is to be with a person who can make it easier for us to get to heaven, encourage and inspire us to be spiritually better in a Catholic way, and let us feel the presence of God in them.
3. During Valentine’s Day, there are many commercial and nonreligious things around that remind us about romance. But what we must remember is that love in relationships is not love when it is merely having a good feeling, having a movie and food buddy, or having someone to show off. True Catholics must know better– to love out of one’s love for God and not out of hidden, selfish desires.
“Let us remember that love lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving. Without sacrifice, there is no love.”
– Saint Maximilian Kolbe“True love goes by sacrifice and the more thoroughly the soul rejects natural satisfaction the stronger and more detached its tenderness becomes…”
– Saint Teresa of Avila
4. Whoever we are with on this day of Saint Valentine, the meaning of the Cross we receive on our foreheads this Ash Wednesday is the same. That is the call of God to repent, to do penance, to offer sacrifices, to make amends, to examine ourselves, and to live in purity of heart, mind and body. Collectively, it is an expression of true love. For that, we must begin right on this day.
Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
Email: [email protected]
Like 'The Best Catholic' on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheBestCatholic
Leave a Reply