This year, Valentine's Day falls on Ash Wednesday for the first time since World War Two. Catholics and other Christians who will observe Ash Wednesday are supposed to fast, pray and not eat meat.
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Fr. TJ Dolce said this is good practice to just say no today.
āThereās going to be a lot of chocolate. Thereās going to be a lot of opportunities to celebrate. And itās good chance just to say no. Because, look, if we can say no to chocolate and we can say no to sweets or whatever we gave up for Lent , then weāre going to be able to say no to sin and weāre going to be able to say no to the devil. So, itās good practice,ā said Dolce. āIt is tough with all of the food and the chocolate you might want to eat on Valentineās Day. But, look, thereās only two days of the year the Church asks our fast and abstain, and thatās Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.ā
Diocese of Beaumont and Apostleship of the Seaās Fr. Sinclair Oubre said today is almost on the same level as Christmas with the commercialization.
āStripping away all this other stuff, so that we can deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ and his Heavenly Father,ā said Oubre. āThe more strict we are, the tougher we are on ourselves, the more we will get out of this season.ā
This year, April Foolās Day falls on Easter.