It’s Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. What’s a Catholic to do?
Wednesday is Valentine’s Day, a holiday widely observed by indulging in something romantic and sweet with the person you love. But many Catholics and other Christians across Southern California will be receiving a cross made of ash on their foreheads that day because it’s Ash Wednesday, whose vibe is anything but indulgent.
How are you supposed to reconcile those two observances? The guidance depends on which religious institution you speak to.
In the Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is intended to remind us of our mortality and the need for reconciliation with God. It also marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season.