ST. VALENTINE, MARDI GRAS, PRESIDENTS' DAY, LUNAR NEW YEAR,..........

These middle days of February, that are the last days of Ordinary Time until completion of the Easter Season in May, there are ample reasons to celebrate. Tomorrow is the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, but more popularly known as Valentine's Day. It is actually St. Valentine's Day, and there are at least four St. Valentine's recognized by the Church. The St. Valentine of our consideration was a Roman priest in 270 A.D., who was known for officiating at the marriages of Christian couples, although it was unlawful to do so, because married men were exempt from serving in the Roman army. Valentine also assisted other Christians being persecuted by Emperor Claudius II. He was imprisoned and brought before the Emperor, asked to renounce his faith and refused, despite being seriously tortured, and was sentenced to a martyr's death. The response of the faithful was to send him flowers and gifts, the precursor to the practice that has come down to us to this day, of giving our beloved flowers and gifts on St. Valentine's Day. St. Valentine healed the blind daughter of his jailer and sent her a farewell note he signed, "from your Valentine". Canonized two centuries after his martyrdom, Valentine became a very popular saint, especially in England and France. Somehow in time, the focus on his sainthood was detached from the wider observance of this day as a romantic holiday, that is actually named for a celibate priest !!.....Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) which has become an elongated pre-Lenten carnival-like celebration, popularized by extravagant observances in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and New Orleans, Louisiana, USA - actually is rooted in the preparation for fasting and abstinence during Lent. Formerly, the 40 Days of Lent were marked by a, "black fast and total abstinence" from all meat and meat by-products. Thus on Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday, families used up all their foodstuffs, such as eggs, milk, butter, cheese, as well as meat, so as to keep their Lenten fast while abstaining from all the foods derived from meat or an animal generated source. During my two years as a seminarian in Ireland I became acquainted with Mardi Gras pancakes. Not just the ordinary breakfast pancakes we eat, but fancy, pastry-like, pancakes, similar to a donut or a fritter, that is eaten while being held in the hand and flavored with jam, whipped cream, and powdered sugar. The black fast and total abstinence during Lent is no more, although fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and the Fridays of Lent, and on any of the 40 Days you choose to do so, are still the Catholic penitential and sacrificial Lenten practice.....As Americans we are celebrating a three day federal holiday weekend, Presidents' Day, which we observe on Monday. It is the comprehensively combined commemoration of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and their 42 successors and predecessors as President of the United States. Being a lifelong student of the American Presidency, which was my undergraduate concentration, as a Political Science / Government major, with a History minor, I encourage you to remember and commemorate the 221 year experience we as citizens of the United States are privileged to participate in choosing the Chief Executives who preside over our government.....This weekend of merged observances also includes the Chinese Lunar New Year, which begins on Sunday. To our Chinese brothers and sisters and Chinese citizens around the world, Blessings be yours as you celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year.....And so, as we wrap-up the first part of Ordinary Time 2010, we have a minimum of four reasons to celebrate Saturday - Tuesday either in the spirit of St. Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, President's Day, or the Chinese New Year. Whether it be one or all four of the occasions, do something during these next four days to celebrate and express the joy of our humanity and God's Love for us..........Be My Valentine...Fat Tuesday Fun...Hail to the Chiefs... Year of the Tiger...In the Peace + Prayers of Jesus the Lord,
Fr. Troy