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The Life of St. Valentine

Of all the Saints that the Church remembers throughout the year, this Saint that I want to talk about today is probably recognized more than any other. With the exception of one other Saint, St. Nicholas, whose feast day is commemorated on Dec. 6 (during the same season as the birth of Christ), the name of this Saint is well-known throughout all of North America – and on his Feast Day, millions of people, both

God Is Humble Enough to Be Anonymous

I think the notion of love has been seriously minimized by today’s popular understanding of love, as we see with Valentine’s Day. This secular holiday reveals a very unsustainable notion of love as romance, infatuation (ignis fatuus, false fire), impassioned sex, sentimental words, romantic gift giving, etc. It eventually creates cynicism and disillusionment because the promise is so high but incomplete. It is never the whole story. When we experience love as different than culture’s

Pure Love’s Ways: A Valentine to God

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (and with all your strength).  Matthew 22:37, Mark, 12:30, Luke 10:27   How do I love Thee my Lord?   I love Thee when I turn my back to bitterness, forgiving spite and might To caress and bless the broken-hearted walking dead.   I love Thee as I abandon sleep to dawn metallic bangles and belts-tight