Love Struck
In the tradition of romance, Cupid, the winged little cherub, points and shoots at unsuspecting people. Whoever is wounded by his aim experiences the greatest gift of all: love.
Dad gives mom a pre-Valentine's Day smooch!
I find it strange that one of the symbols of love is a heart pierced with Cupid's arrow. Why can't falling in love be symbolized as the heart, without the arrow? Certainly, a heart alone can symbolize love. But a heart with an arrow through it means you are struck by love – I'm talking really, really in love.
Honestly, the idea of Cupid makes me a bit nervous. If Cupid’s arrows really lead to love, then it all depends on whether or not we are making ourselves his targets. In other words, if you want to find love, love must first be findable in you.
I remember being warned as a seminarian about Cupid’s arrows. As future priests, we soberly realized that our celibate vocation will be tested. By the time we were ordained, we realized that falling in love (or infatuation, which feels like love) can come easily. After all, priests are human, too. We were taught to protect our hearts and make sure our love for Jesus is always protected from false loves.
Deacons and Seminarians prepared to take the Oath of Fidelity at the Immaculate Conception Chapel on Sunday February 8, 2009.
This week, many Americans will prepare for Valentine's Day, February 14th. I can only imagine the number of flowers and chocolates that will fly off store shelves. This costly season of gift exchange will somehow show that you've been struck by love. If you're lucky, you may get jewelry, power tools, or even a fancy vacation. At the very least, make sure to share a romantic dinner (which doesn't have to be expensive).
Now I don’t want people to think that I’m opposed to gift giving. But, I do want to focus on Cupid’s arrow because it shows us what it means to be deeply in love, rather than deeply in debt.
It seems the visual of being struck by something, being pierced or wounded is almost required for someone to show they are truly in love.
The arrow is a sign of sacrificial love: the greatest love of all, true passion. In Latin, the word passion means “to suffer!” True love can’t be bought from a store. True love is only proven when one is willing to sacrifice.
The statue of the Longinus in St. Peter’s Basilica Rome. He is the Centurion whose spear pierced the side of Jesus Christ at the Crucifixion.
Just think of all the painful, yet caring ways we show how much we love someone: a mother giving birth; parents sacrificing to raise children; spouses yielding to a spirit of patience and forgiveness in the midst of an argument; working late hours to provide for your family; welcoming elderly parents to live in your home; and let’s not forget fighting the temptations of infidelity.
True love doesn’t always feel good. The arrow that struck you should remind you sacrifice is required.
While many people think that love is symbolized by a heart struck, pierced, and wounded with an arrow, we cannot forget the greatest symbol of love: Jesus on the Cross.
On this Valentine’s Day, we remember that God so loved the world He gave His Son to save us. In the process, He was struck, wounded, and pierced in his heart out of love for us.
If you want just one more example of being truly love struck, consider St. Valentine himself. In the Catholic tradition, there are actually three saints who share the name Valentine. Each was martyred for his faith.
These saints were truly love struck – to the point of willingness to die for love, the ultimate sacrifice. With the example of the martyrdom of each St. Valentine, show your love not with expensive gifts, but with the gift of yourself, your service, your sacrifice.
Sand sculpture at Ocean City, MD.
A Birthday and Valentine Dessert
Happy 15th birthday to my twin nephew and niece Chad and Chrissy.
On February 11, 1994 (The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, France), I remember getting a phone call from my mother at 2:00am. I was a seminarian in Theological College at the time. That evening an ice storm hit the Baltimore-Washington area. Everything was closed. While the weather meant that people could take a day off classes, it posed serious threats for people out on the road; one of which was my sister, who was pregnant and about to give birth to twins.
Providentially, the storm kept doctors and nurses at the hospital overnight. This was especially helpful since my sister’s pregnancy took a turn for the worse. The delivery became extremely difficult. At one point, one baby’s heartbeat stopped and my sister’s health and strength began to fail. My brother-in-law Gary recalled his feeling of helplessness and his willingness to sacrifice everything for this family, but at that moment, the only thing he could do was pray. My mother called to keep me updated. I remember going to the chapel and praying for my sister and the twins.
I recall the suffering, anguish, and sacrifice my sister and brother-in-law went through out of love for their children. In the end, my nephew Chad was born at 5:26am. My niece was born a minute later, but was not breathing. Again, thank God for the doctors and nurses who sacrificed and put in long hours at night. Not long after her birth, Chrissy began to breath. Their hard work paid off – sacrifice usually does.
15 years later, Chad and Chrissy are wonderful, healthy, beautiful teenagers.
As you prepare for Valentine's Day, you can definitely impress your loved ones with this simple dessert. Even though it doesn't take great sacrifice to make, it will take great sacrifice not to eat too much of it!
Click here for a recipe that will be sure to please both picky teenagers and the love of your life.
Prayer of St. Valentine
I found this prayer from a great website called “Women for Faith and Family. ” It helps us to see that true love is found, not in gifts and candies, but in a heart willing to sacrifice for the ones you love.
Let us pray:
Most Gracious Heavenly Father, You gave Saint Valentine the courage to witness to the gospel of Christ, even to the point of giving his life for it. Help us to endure all suffering for love of you, and to seek you with all our hearts; for you alone are the source of life and love. Grant that we may have the courage and love to be strong witnesses of your truth to our friends and family and to the whole world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
My sister Angelica and her husband Gary.
Watching their kids grow up – too quickly!
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