For many Christians, the 14th of February this year was a day of mixed emotions. It was not only Valentine’s Day, the annual celebration of love and friendship, but also Ash Wednesday, the solemn day of fasting and repentance that marks the beginning of Lent.
The rare coincidence of these two events, which last occurred in 2018, posed a challenge for some believers who had to balance their romantic and religious obligations.
The Catholic Church, which has strict rules for fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, did not grant any dispensations or exemptions for Valentine’s Day. However, some Catholic leaders and theologians suggested that the two days were not incompatible, but rather complementary, as they both reflected the meaning and value of love.
They pointed out that Ash Wednesday and Lent were not meant to be gloomy or depressing, but rather to be a time of joy and gratitude for God’s love and mercy. They also argued that Valentine’s Day was not just about romantic or sentimental love, but also about agape, the selfless and sacrificial love that Jesus showed on the cross.
Some Christians chose to observe both days separately, by celebrating Valentine’s Day on another date. Some weren’t too bothered and still decided to combine the two occasions, by finding ways to express their love and faith at the same time.
