Happy St. Vale- ... wait, what? Father Steve shares today's sermon, which explains why February 14 has long been associated with St. Valentine, even though it is not technically the feast of his witness. Be it Valentine, Cyril or Methodius, we honor them for their sacrifices, and how they demonstrated the pure love of God through Christ in their lives.
Today the Church celebrates the witness of Saints Cyril and Methodius—no, I did not just make a mistake. While today’s date remains in the popular culture associated with Saint Valentine, a Roman priest who died sometime around the year 270, the official calendar of the Catholic Church no longer recognizes today as the Feast of Saint Valentine.
Saint Valentine’s feast day was a victim of a purge of saints feast days from the Church’s calendar following the Second Vatican Council. The reason cited for this move is often given as that some saints lacked the necessary historical provenance to justify their commemoration. In other words, history has so given way to legend that it was no longer possible to discern the truth from fiction.
This may be the case, but whatever the Church might have gained in accuracy, was paid for with a loss of poetic vision.
Saints Cyril and Methodius are known as the apostles to the Slavs, which meant they were missionaries in that region of Europe in which the culture of the East meets the culture of the west. Their missionary efforts represent a co-operation between the Church of the west and the east, demonstrating that Latin and Orthodox Christianity have been able at times to work together to accomplish common goals.
Happy St. Vale- ... wait, what? Father Steve shares today's sermon, which explains why February 14 has long been associated with St. Valentine, even though it is not technically the feast of his witness. Be it Valentine, Cyril or Methodius, we honor them for their sacrifices, and how they demonstrated the pure love of God through Christ in their lives.
Today the Church celebrates the witness of Saints Cyril and Methodius—no, I did not just make a mistake. While today’s date remains in the popular culture associated with Saint Valentine, a Roman priest who died sometime around the year 270, the official calendar of the Catholic Church no longer recognizes today as the Feast of Saint Valentine.
Saint Valentine’s feast day was a victim of a purge of saints feast days from the Church’s calendar following the Second Vatican Council. The reason cited for this move is often given as that some saints lacked the necessary historical provenance to justify their commemoration. In other words, history has so given way to legend that it was no longer possible to discern the truth from fiction.
This may be the case, but whatever the Church might have gained in accuracy, was paid for with a loss of poetic vision.
Saints Cyril and Methodius are known as the apostles to the Slavs, which meant they were missionaries in that region of Europe in which the culture of the East meets the culture of the west. Their missionary efforts represent a co-operation between the Church of the west and the east, demonstrating that Latin and Orthodox Christianity have been able at times to work together to accomplish common goals.
Happy Valentine's Day! In honor of this day, which is actually the Feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius (go figure), Rozann Carter *reluctantly* braved the crowds to see this February's box office romance, "The Vow." Suspend your standard criticisms—there is a deeper spiritual truth within the intense fear of being forgotten, the plotline of this based-on-a-true-story film.
Welcome to February 14th.
To begin, I speak on behalf of the Valentine’s Day that you know… and most likely hate.
- I am aware that this day, in its full measure, takes its name from St. Valentine and that our notions of cupid, long stem roses, and expectation-induced acts of sugar-coated charity have little to do with the genuine witness of this 3rd century martyr and his particular charism. (There, choir. Take a seat.)
- Secondly, I concede that the compulsory acts of romance marketed by the likes of Hallmark, Brach’s, and Teleflora produce little more than cavities, papercuts, and a vase of “how many times do I have to tell him that I hate tulips” tulips-- all overwrought attempts at counterfeit thoughtfulness. True love? Not so much. (Belligerent single ladies, you can step off your soapbox.)
- Finally, I know that I am part of a target market, a demographic likely to shell out the requisite $10 to view the latest cinematic retelling of the original sappy love story, complete with shiny new cast members, a very minor deviation in plotline, a clockwork formula of predictability, and an explicit heartstring tug that takes full advantage of any innate bend toward sentimentality and emotivism. (I went to see The Vow this Valentine’s Day weekend, and I’d do it all again for the Milk Duds.)...