February  14. Count it all joy when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. As a fun activity to commemorate Valentine’s Day families were asked to play a game at home 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 tended to choose 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?    

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 when they were banned from doing so while on active duty. Another story is of a healing, from blindness of his judge’s daughter and then signing a farewell letter “Your Valentine” before he was martyred. The day is no longer a religious feast but is recognised as a very real cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love for all ages.   Becoming an eco-friendly family: “Roses are red, violets are blue, honey is sweet and so are you! Thank God for sweetness, love and the beauty of nature.

Count it all joy when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:1-11. Remain in my 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. John 12:24-26.    Pope Francis:  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!  AL208.  Loving another person involves the joy of contemplating and appreciating their innate beauty and sacredness, which is greater than my needs.  This enables me to seek their good even if they cannot belong to me.   AL127