"St. Valentine's Day is a day that celebrates romantic love. This sort of love, to be sure, is noble and to be encouraged. The Church has sometimes been accused of being suspicious of romantic love. It is true that certain heretical groups such as the Cathari and the Jansenist's have frowned on sexual love in marriage. But they were considered heretics for their views. A true Catholic view celebrates romantic love (eros in Greek). As a Catholic Pastor I like others want to encourage romantic love and ultimately marriage. And within marriage to encourage on-going romantic love. I tell my younger parishioners, get married (first!) have lots of babies and raise them Catholic! You may recall the old Rhyme: 'First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage.'
"A Great Love – Romantic love is good and it brings blessings! But romantic love (eros) has a place a purpose and in God's plan. Fundamentally eros is meant to draw a man and a woman to each other and ultimately to marriage. And within marriage their romantic love is to be fruitful and multiplying. Yet too many today just play around with and dabble in eros. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish,
Washington, DC) reflected on the martyr St. Valentine, on his love, and on the blessing of romantic love.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: Two Kinds of Love to Celebrate on St Valentine's Day (12 FEB 21)
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