Of Valentines and Vocations
February 15, 2024
Friday February 16th: Hunger for Christ
February 16, 2024
This year, Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day fell on February 14 and while some think Catholics should focus only on the start of the penitential period, Cathedral Administrator, Vicar General Fr Martin Sirju said, “Valentine’s Day reminds us of love and Ash Wednesday reminds us of the deepest love ever – the love of God for us in Christ.”
He made the observation while delivering the homily at the 6.30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain which was well attended as persons sought to obtain their ashes before heading to work.
Fr Sirju noted that Pope Francis used Valentine’s Day as an example of how the world sees the value of important celebrations long before the Church. It is good to celebrate love and exchange gifts. “The Church is not to avoid Valentine’s Day but embrace it,” Fr Sirju stated.
He began his homily with a joke: “Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! I don’t have chocolates for you, but I have a joke. ‘Why shouldn’t you fall in love with a pastry chef? They’ll dessert you’.”
He told the congregation that it was not coincidence the two observances occurred on the same day, but the Lord wanted the people to get a lesson. He referred to Pope Francis’ statement that World War III is happening piecemeal through wars with Hamas and Israel, in South Sudan, Columbia, Myanmar, Russia and Ukraine, and other places.
Almost 100 million lives were lost in the last century, and it is as if humanity still has not learned the enduring lesson that armed conflict never brings long-term peace.
Fr Sirju mentioned the promise of the digital and technological age as well as the “spectre of great darkness through the use of AI technology and chemical/biological warfare”.
“To hate your brother or sister is to turn your back on love. Ash Wednesday combined with Valentine’s Day reminds us that all our penances would amount to very little if they do not serve to make us love more deeply and faithfully,” he said.
The Lenten period is a time to repent from sin and make amends for a better way of life. Fr Sirju explained that repentance was for offending God, “God who is Love itself: ‘God is love and he who lives in love lives in God and God lives in him’” (1 Jn 4:16).
He said the Second Reading (2 Cor 5:20—6:2) told that people must become the goodness of God in the world as Jesus showed. This was the whole purpose of the Lenten practice.
Fr Sirju directed that the activities of Lent—prayer, fasting and almsgiving was about change and loving more deeply and intentionally. “If Jesus is not first place, nothing else is in the right place,” he ended.
Fr Emmanuel Dafe concelebrated the Mass while Deacon Roland Joseph assisted. Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon was the main celebrant at the 5 p.m. Mass.
