14 February   St Valentine.   SEE:  As a fun activity to commemorate Valentine’s Day the Jackson family at home decided to play a game listing their 5 best “I love…..statements. George explained they had to be real loves, not just passing likes. How do you know?  One way to identify what one loves is by considering how much time, effort and care one spends on it and for how long.  As George said, “I have loved my wife for 52 years. It wasn’t always roses, sometimes thorns too.” Young people of course chose romantic love objects, some chose a hobby or chocolate, and some an important issue they were really passionate and really cared about, like health or animal welfare.  In the end did they discover what love really is or is love still always a mystery?    MARFAM’s theme for the month is “Love gives Families life.” Is that a way of testing what love is?

St Valentine’s Day possibly did originate in stories of Christian martyrs in the early church. One story is about a priest who performed marriages for soldiers as they were banned from marrying while on active duty. Another story is of healing, from blindness of his judge’s daughter and then signing a farewell letter “Your Valentine” before being executed. The day is no longer a religious feast but is recognised as a very real cultural, partly religious but very much a commercial celebration of love, “luv” and romance.

JUDGE, reflect and share.  Scripture:  Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.  John 12:24-26.    Pope Francis: Love always gives life. I think of St Valentine’s Day: in some countries commercial interests are quicker to see the potential of this celebration than are we in the Church!  Pastoral initiatives aimed at helping married couples to grow in love also help their children by preparing them for their future married life. Traditional practices like St Valentine’s Day should not be underestimated. Commercial interests are quicker to see the potential than we are in the Church. AL 208

ACT AND PRAY.   Decide on possible appropriate action around the really important aspects of Valentine’s Day.   Conclude with prayer and thank God for the gift of love in your life.