This year, the largely secular celebration of Valentine’s Day (Feb 14th) coincides with Ash Wednesday, the solemn beginning of our Christian period of prayerful reflection and penance, and a day set aside to fast and abstain from meat. In view of the great significance of Ash Wednesday, the keeping of the penitential character of the day with the obliged fast and abstinence must naturally be the priority for Catholics. Valentine’s Day can be appropriately celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which also happens to be Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), a traditionally festive time before beginning
our solemn Lenten observance.