Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day | Grandma's Ramblings

The news media today was talking about Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day falling on the same day. They seemed to think that made it difficult for those who like to observe both days.

Valentine’s Day for couples is a day to celebrate with food, wine, flowers, a date night. 

The origin of Valentine’s Day is shrouded in mystery. One legend says that a priest who served in Rome during the time of Emperor Claudius defied the emperor’s decree against marriage. According to the legend, the emperor believed single men would make better soldiers and outlawed marriage for young men. When Valentine continued to perform marriages for young men in secret, Claudius had him put to death. 

Another version of the legend of Valentine says he was a priest who was killed for attempting to help Christians escape from Roman prisons where they were beaten and tortured, even killed. This legend says that while Valentine was in prison he fell in love with the jailor’s daughter who had visited him. Before his death he wrote her a letter and signed it “From your Valentine.” 

Whether there is any truth to any of these legends the day has become a day to celebrate true love. 

Ash Wednesday is a day that begins the season of Lent. It is a time for fasting, charity and prayer for Christians. A time to reflect on the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. A time to remind ourselves of our need for God. 

Many Christians will attend church services as they enter a time of reflection and repentance preparing for the sorrow of Good Friday and the victory celebration of Resurrection Day. Some churches – especially Catholic churches – will apply ashes to the foreheads of their parishioners. This reminds us that “from dust you are and to dust you will return.” A reminder to reflect on what a great price Jesus paid that we might escape that curse of death. 

So are these two days in opposition to each other? A day to celebrate love and a day to solemnly reflect on our need of repentance and the cost to Jesus of our sins.

I say no. They have much in common. What is the common thread running through them? Love!

We have so commercialized Valentine’s Day and many no longer wish to celebrate the day. There are those also who are single without a partner and may find the day difficult. However, if we remember that it is supposed to be an opportunity to let those we love be reminded of our love, it is still a day worth celebrating. We need to express our love, not only to our spouse or significant other, but to others in our circle of friends. Let this be a day that we send a card or a text to friends and coworkers to let them know we appreciate them.

While we solemnly reflect on the meaning of the death of Jesus today, it should also be a reminder of His love for us. It should cause us to more fully love Him. Let this be a day that we take time to let our Lord and Savior know how much His love to us means. And say, “I love you, Lord.”