Love and Lent

By Caroline Jackson
Pacelli 11th Grader

Today, many people see Valentine’s Day as just another over-commercialized holiday created by greeting card companies. But Valentine’s Day began as something much deeper. It was originally St. Valentine’s Day, the feast day of a courageous priest who secretly married Christian couples when Roman law forbade it.

Some historians believe the feast day was also encouraged by Pope Gelasius, who wanted to replace the Roman festival of Lupercalia. That celebration focused mostly on physical love, while Pope Gelasius promoted something greater: selfless, faithful love rooted in sacrifice; love that is generous, courageous, and centered on others.

This kind of love is known as agape love. Agape is selfless, sacrificial love - the love with which Jesus loves us. It is also the reason I believe Valentine’s Day and Lent are more connected than some may realize.

Think about a rose, one of the most recognizable symbols of Valentine’s Day. Roses became a symbol of love in the West after King Charles II of Sweden learned about the Persian “language of flowers,” where roses represented deep love and devotion.

Now think about what it takes to pick a rose. If you reach into a garden to pick one for someone you care about, you risk being pricked. In fact, you expect it. The thorns are unavoidable. Yet you choose to accept that discomfort because the gift is worth it. That is agape love. It is choosing discomfort for the sake of someone else. It is sacrificing a small piece of your own comfort to show love.

This is also the mindset of Lent. During Lent, Catholics fast, give things up, and practice self-denial. These sacrifices are small compared to Christ’s sacrifice, but they are intentional. We give up comfort to grow closer to God. We fast in gratitude. We practice almsgiving and charity. We try to love others more fully.

Lent and Valentine’s Day, when understood as they were originally intended, both point to the same truth: real love involves sacrifice.

I have been blessed to experience Lent surrounded by a community that takes it seriously at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School. Over the past four years, I have seen how much reverence and devotion my classmates bring to this season. Their example has challenged me to deepen my own faith.

Now, I encourage that same mindset to extend beyond Lent and into everyday life - even into Valentine’s Day. Practice the Golden Rule. Love others as God loves you. Choose patience. Choose generosity. Choose forgiveness. Choose sacrifice.

And, when you give or receive a rose this Valentine’s Day, remember the thorns, because real love always comes with them.