Introduction
Welcome to week three of my series, The Phases of Love. In the first blog, I explored the Meaning of Love and its pivotal effects in our lives. The second focused on the vibrant celebration of Carnival in Puerto Rico, delving into its history, traditions, mask-making, and the two main Carnival characters: King Momo and the “Vejigantes.” As promised, today’s post will examine the relationship between Lent and St. Valentine’s Day.
Origin of Lent
Origin of Lent: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter. Nonetheless, this sacred season of spiritual strengthening, marked by prayers, fasting, and almsgiving, has evolved dramatically from its Roman and Jewish traditions to what we celebrate today. It all began over 2000 years ago when Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil for 40 days. (Matthew 4:1-11) Once this process was over, Jesus began his ministry. During the Last Supper, Jesus washed the apostles’ feet and prayed, not only for them but also for those who would come to believe in him through his disciples. On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified and resurrected on Easter Sunday.
During Lent, we unite ourselves with Jesus’ temptation in the desert and, through fasting and prayer, seek to cleanse our souls of any impurities, so that we may celebrate Easter with a pure heart. Although from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday are 46 days, why do we say 40 days of fasting? If you exclude the six Sundays, which are considered “new Easter,” when we should rejoice and not mourn, then you have 40 days for fasting and praying.
From early Christianity to Today
From early Christianity to today: I will emphasize only key historical events. Early Christians shifted the first day of the week from Saturday (Jewish Sabbath) to Sunday (Resurrection Day). Council of Nicaea (325 AD), when the 40-day fast was recognized. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) reemphasized the importance of this season. Pope Pius XII (1876-1958) and Vatican II (1962-1965) shifted the focus of Lent to the spiritual aspect, just like Jesus taught us. Today, Lent is observed not only by Roman Catholics but also by other Christian denominations: Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, Eastern Orthodox, and some Protestants. However, each one follows its own set of rules, practices, interpretations, and liturgical calendar. The purpose of Lent: moreover, it is worth mentioning that the purpose of reflection, repentance, fasting, and prayer in preparation for Easter has been consistent throughout time!
How should I Fast?
How should I fast? Today, we are no longer bound by the rigorous fasting rules of the past: abstinence from meat and other animal products, dairy, and one meal per day. Nonetheless, Catholics are expected to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent. There are many ways to fast, which means sacrificing something that you like and offering up to unite yourself with Jesus’ suffering in the desert. For example, you can abstain from consuming certain foods, drinks, violent movies or TV programs, vulgar music, etc. You can limit your social media consumption. Furthermore, you can choose to listen to music or read books with uplifting messages.
Origin of St. Valentine’s Day
Origin: This beloved festivity is celebrated every year on February 14, but few know its origins. On St. Valentine’s Day, we express our love or friendship by gifting chocolates, cards, and/or flowers. But did you know it originated in two Roman events? The Festival of Lupercalia and the martyrdom of St. Valentine of Rome and St. Valentine of Terni.
Festival of Lupercalia
Festival of Lupercalia: This pagan festival was celebrated in mid-February and was rooted in Roman mythology. It was dedicated to the fertility gods, as well as the she-wolf who nursed the twins Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. The name of the festival comes from the Latin words: “Lupus,” meaning “wolf,” and “Lupercal,” a sacred cave on the Palatine Hill in Rome, where the legend says, “Lupus” took care of those legendary twins. The festival includes rituals of fertility and purification, pairing of men and women through a lottery system, animal sacrifices, and, more dramatically, the whipping of women with goat hides. The rituals were performed by a pagan Priest known as Luperci. The Priest will cut the goat hides into strips. It was thought that the touch of the hides might increase fertility among women; hence, they were “whipped” in a symbolic way as the priest went through the streets of Rome. Likewise, it had elements of purification that linked the fertility of the crops and the women, ensuring family prosperity. This pagan festivity was banned around 494 AD by Pope Gelasius I and replaced by the Feast of St. Valentine on February 14.
St. Valentine of Rome
St. Valentine of Rome: Although the Catholic Church recognizes three saints named Valentine, this festival of love is associated mostly with St. Valentine of Rome and St. Valentine of Terni. St. Valentine of Rome was a 3rd-century Roman priest, known for his commitment to love and marriage. Based on a legend, he was beaten with clubs during his imprisonment and then beheaded for refusing to renounce his faith and practices.
St. Valentine of Terni
St. Valentine of Terni: He was a 3rd-century Roman Bishop, also known as Valentine of Interamna. Why two different names and locations for one Bishop? The answer is simple: Interamna was an Italian city, where Terni is located today. He was known for his compassion, affection, healing miracles, and bold Christian faith. He was beheaded and buried along the Via Flaminia in Rome, where a Church was built.
Martyrdom of these two St. Valentins
Martyrdom of these two St. Valentins: Their martyrdom is a mix of legends and overlapping historical facts. Thus, Scholars seem to agree on the day and one of the reasons for their martyrdom. The execution day was February 14, around 269 AD. Likewise, Scholars believe the reason for their martyrdom was defying an order from Emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II), which prohibited the marriage of young men, thinking that single men made better soldiers. They continue to secretly marry young Christian couples to prevent their military service and dying on war.
Was St. Valentine a real person?
Although the real identity of St. Valentine puzzles many Scholars, his existence was confirmed by archaeologists in 1836. They unearthed an ancient Roman catacomb and Church dedicated to St. Valentine on the Via Flamina on Rome. The catacomb, known as the Catacombs of St. Valentine, contains inscriptions and artifacts that provide valuable insights into early Christian practices and the veneration of saints. Moreover, this discovery confirmed the burial place story of St. Valentine of Terni.
Relationship between Lent and St. Valentine’s Day
Relationship between Lent and St. Valentine’s Day: Both are rooted in Christian traditions, inviting us to meditate on the true meaning of love and marriage. In my first blog, I talked about the 5 common types of love: self-love, infatuation, platonic, romantic, and unconditional. Jesus and St. Valentine honored marriage and expressed their unconditional love by laying their lives for the sake of others. Nonetheless, today St. Valentine’s Day has lost its Christian foundation and become more secular. Despite this negative trend, in the years 1923, 1934, 1945, 2018, and 2024, Ash Wednesday and St. Valentine’s Day fell on the same day. Those years were challenging for many Catholics and Christians who wanted to keep a delicate balance between expressing love to their loved one, while keeping the sacrificial aspect of Lent. Nevertheless, those challenges in life spark our creativity to express our love without losing focus of its true meaning.
Conclusion
Conclusion: Both Lent and St. Valentine’s Day encourage us to ponder about the different phases of love, what it means to love and be loved, and how these expressions of love influence our lives and relationships!
Preview
Starting mid-March, I will begin a meditational series based on the deuterocanonical book of Judith. During those 16 weeks, we will be “Walking a Mile with Judith,” a virtuous widow who feared God and trusted in His deliverance.