I never really celebrated Valentine’s Day growing up. It’s probably because I was more focused on the candy than on actually looking for a Valentine! I used to fill my pockets with those little heart-shaped candies with a message on them, hoping that the next one would be exactly what I needed to hear…”Your My Sweetheart”-Thanks ! Munch…munch. I was too afraid to put my heart out on the line, and so, I just played it safe. I had a lot of growing up to do and a lot to learn about true love.

Love is always a rise. It is a risk because it exposes us to the possibility of rejection. But if we never learn to overcome that fear – a fear that even years later I still find within myself- than we still remain imperfect in our practice of love. “Perfect love casts out all fear” (1 Jn. 4:18). St. Valentine overcame his fear of death by risking his life for the Gospel. And what is more, his martyrdom was no failure but rather the highest form of expression of the gift of Christ’s Love.

We must take risks in order to love. It was a risk for our community to take responsibility for Holy Rosary Shrine! And so, if we don’t put our heart out on the line we never really grow. I recently talked with a good friend who told me that his wife underwent an operation to be a donor for her brother who had cancer. What a risk! He ended with, “What did I do to deserve such an incredible woman?” Yes, love is a gift; but it comes at a great price. So this Valentine’s Day strive for that perfect love which cast out all fear; and don’t just stuff your pockets with those really addictive heart-shaped candies!

Fr. Francis