Christians are in for a strange beginning to Lent this year as we celebrate both Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, concurrently, for the first time since the end of World War II. In response, many Catholic dioceses around the globe are effectively canceling Christians’ ability to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14 by maintaining the Ash Wednesday norms of fasting from alcohol, meat and — let’s face it — fun.

The church understandably wants to sustain a healthy and holy sobriety on this ancient Christian day that marks Jesus’ journey toward the cross. But Christians should think twice about separating a celebration of romance from the solemnity of Ash Wednesday, an occasion focused on mortality. This “Ash Wednesday Valentine’s Day” gives us an opportunity to reconsider what love is and what love is not.


http://www.ivoryfile.com/true-love-is-beautiful-but-hard/