Happy Heart Day....!?

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice the plethora of Valentine's Day greetings this year which not only (once again) ignored the saintly origin of the holy day (from which we derive the word, "holiday"), but even excluded the saint's name altogether?  Instead, a graphic of a heart or even the actual word, "heart", was featured in the title greeting, thus rendering the salutation, "Happy Heart Day!", as in, "I [*heart*] NY!" or "I [*heart*] My Pekinese!"

Yes, my friends, here is yet another example of the secular commercialization of what was once a Christian holy day and now slowly has become a rabid excuse for excessive materialism.  Don't get me wrong -- I'm just as thrilled as the next girl to give and receive chocolates, flowers, and expressions of undying devotion from a loved one (...okay, just before Lent, especially the chocolates part).

But, amidst it all, I pause and marvel sadly at the subtle ability of the evil one to stuff our gaping maws with more unnecessary, worldly, marshmallow fluff, utterly diverting our attention from the real gift of love: Christ on the cross.  That's why Valentine died (all 14 of them -- see my other post today).  Not just for intense, but nonetheless limited, earthly love, whether passionate or filial, but for eternal love, so we may come to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.

That's what St. Valentine's Day is all about, Charlie Brown.

So this year, if you are buying your sweetie a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers, consider also gifting him or her with a Spiritual Bouquet, your own personally crafted gift of prayer.  Plus, it's free!  Whether your Valentine is a friend, a spouse, your children, or another loved one, pray that you both may arrive someday at The Pearly Gates, ready to welcome each other in to the presence of God.

What a celebration of love that will be!