By Scott Hahn

So February 14 is Valentine’s Day — and there are 14 saints by that name, at least!

The name “Valentine” comes from the Latin word valens, which means “strong” or “powerful,” and there were many people in the ancient world with that name.

The earliest one was St. Valentine of Rome. He was a priest in Rome, martyred in A.D. 269, and buried near the Via Flaminia. That’s pretty much all we know about him. (His skull is in the picture above.)

Another one who lived right around the time of the first was St. Valentine of Terni (or Interamna). He was a bishop in central Italy who was martyred in A.D. 273. He was also buried near the Via Flaminia.

The third St. Valentine was martyred with a group of companions in Africa at some point in the early Church.

“St. Valentine” was added to the liturgical calendar by Pope Galesius in A.D. 496. It may have been St. Valentine of Rome, or some combination of the three (the lives of saints with the same name sometimes blur together).

There are also at least 11 more St. Valentines that came later, but who are not remember on February 14th.

In fact, this is why St. Valentine’s feast was not included in the General Roman Calendar in its 1969 revision: “Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14.”

Everything You Think You Know About St. Valentine Is (Probably) Wrong by Church POP Editor – Feb 13, 2017

Taken from the Facebook page of Scott Hahn

It can be tempting to look out for our own and to close our eyes to the people who suffer but who aren’t “our” responsibility. Both Isaiah and Jesus speak words to convince us otherwise. God’s work is to free the prisoners, feed the hungry, care for the sick, and bring light to each and every person on the earth. Having received the light and life God offers, we have been asked to join Him in that work, rather than hoarding God’s blessings for ourselves. We are called to feed the hungry — by not wasting food at home, by buying groceries or giving money for others, by inviting our neighbours to eat with us, and by accepting the invitations of others, especially to meals that are simple and spontaneous. We are called to stop before we buy more things we do not need, and to ask how God is asking us to use our financial blessings to give life to a hurting world.

Prayer: For the generosity to share the life we have been given, we pray to the Lord.

God of abundant blessing and justice, you have poured your grace upon the world. Make us agents of your life, sharing generously the life we have been given, and receiving the life that can be found in each of your people. Amen.

Reflection: CCCB #CatholicYYC #SundayMass

Taken from the Facebook page of Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary

Overprotective parenting, living vicariously through our children, and otherwise attempting to control their lives goes against the Gospel of Life. Mary and Joseph offer a powerful witness to parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, and other friends of children on this Feast of the Presentation. Children are God’s beloved souls, each with a unique calling and mission. Our role, as adults in their lives, is to receive children as gifts, to pray for them and nurture who they are as distinct persons to the best of their ability, and then to present them, day by day, back to God. We are responsible for how well we love them, how fervently we pray for them, how faithfully we serve them, but not for the outcome of their lives, or for the choices they make in the freedom God has given to them. May we love them well, and stand in awe and wonder at their capacity, and also at the directions they will go that we could not go ourselves.

Prayer: For the faith to care for our children and entrust them to God’s care, we pray to the Lord. Mary and Joseph, you took Jesus to the Temple to present Him to God, a sign of what you would do as parents over and over again in loving Jesus. Pray for us, that we might follow your example, and that we might commend our love for the children in our lives to your beloved Son for purification and for strength in loving children well. Amen.

Reflection: CCCB
#SundayMass #CatholicYYC

Taken from the Facebook page of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary

In the Gospel, Jesus calls four men: Simon (Peter) and Andrew, James and John. Each of them sets down his net and follows Jesus. By the time the second reading was written, people had begun to follow Jesus’ first followers and they had preferences, as we all do! Some of us prefer Pope Francis’ witness while others loved Pope Benedict’s theology. Some of us try to serve the poor as did Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), at the same time others try to pray as did Mother Angelica. Saints and Popes, teachers and preachers all point us to Jesus. We need people of faith to teach and inspire us but, ultimately, we all follow Jesus. The diversity of charism, prayer, devotion, service, and practice in the Church needs to be held in unity. Otherwise, we give into the temptation to division, which detracts from our ability to participate in God’s loving and healing the world.

For respectful unity in a gloriously diverse Church, we pray to the Lord.

God, you have called your people by name and each images you in unique ways. Draw us to the saints living on earth and in heaven to help us along the way. Protect us from demonizing those whose methods and inspirations differ from our own. Draw us into a unity that celebrates diversity and transcends differences. Amen.

Reflection: CCCB #CatholicYYC #SundayMass

Taken from the Facebook page of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary