“Reflection on Ash Wednesday: Couples balance love, devotion to God on Valentine’s Day”
In Manila, many couples chose to blend their celebrations of Valentine’s Day with the devotion of Ash Wednesday. This year, the holiday of love falls on the same day as the beginning of Lent, a time of fasting and penitence for Catholics.
Tom and Nicole, a couple celebrating their third anniversary, opted for a subdued observance of Valentine’s Day, choosing to dedicate the day to expressing gratitude to the Lord. Similarly, Jush and Chiqui decided to dedicate time to the Lord and prayer instead of a traditional date.
The Manila Archbishop, Jose Cardinal Advincula, reminded the faithful on Ash Wednesday that it is the love of God to his “children” that will last forever, while Fr. Vladimir Echalas, research head of the Catholics Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), emphasized that Ash Wednesday is a day of penance and penitence.
Even single individuals like Hannah and traditionalist Catholics like Mocci chose to use Valentine’s Day to show love through prayer, acts of kindness, and observance of Lenten penances. For those not in relationships, engagement in acts of kindness and devotion to God became their way of expressing love on this special day.
