CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: Archdiocese of Chicago: “Ash Wednesday [and Saint Valentine’s Day] Announcement”
The Archdiocese of Chicago issued a statement noting that Ash Wednesday 2018 falls on February 14, a day on which many persons still celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day, but declared that no dispensation would be granted from the requirements of fasting and abstinence from meat.
“In view of the significance of Ash Wednesday the obligation of fast and abstinence must naturally be the priority in the Catholic community.”
The statement highlighted the significance of Ash Wednesday as the solemn beginning of Lent as a season of prayer and penance:
“Catholics throughout the world recognize Ash Wednesday as the solemn beginning of a period of prayerful reflection and penance, as is evident by the large number of church goers on this day.”
Even though Saint Valentine has reportedly been removed from the Church calendar, it is, perhaps, surprising, that the Archdiocese of Chicago would surrender to its secularization, failing to use the word “Saint” and referencing so-called “Valentine’s Day” as “largely secular.”
“This year, the largely secular celebration of Valentine’s Day (February 14) coincides with Ash Wednesday ….”
The Archdiocese of Chicago suggested moving the celebration of so-called “Valentine’s Day” to Mardi Gras, the day before:
“Valentine’s Day can appropriately be celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday which also happens to be Mardi Gras, a traditionally festive time before beginning our Lenten observance.”
This latter point also is, admittedly, rather curious. One the one hand, there are festive aspects to marriage and courtship, as evidenced, for example, by the festive nature of wedding receptions and weddings being marked as occasions for great celebration. And the festive aspects of celebrating marriage and courtship could, indeed, dovetail with Mardi Gras, provided that a Mardi Gras celebration is appropriate to being with, e.g., that one does not attend a parade featuring immodest dress, for example.
However, the coinciding of the Saint Valentine’s Day calendar date with Ash Wednesday also should rightly provide an opportunity to remind the Faithful, and the general public, of the sacred, prayerful and holy aspects of proper courtship and authentic marriage. Proper courtship is that which is holy and chaste and involves a prayerful discernment of marriage. And authentic marriage is Holy Matrimony, a Holy Sacrament and holy religious Vocation grounded on Faith-based commitment and sacrifice. There definitely are Lenten themes that do, in fact, fit well with proper courtship and marriage.
For example, one interesting story of a couple who got engaged, provided by a Homilist, involved a young man washing his young lady’s feet as part of a marriage proposal, seeking to emulate Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. So to simply “write off” a dissociation of Ash Wednesday from appropriate courtship and marriage is, arguably, missing an opportunity.
