In St. Valentine we see the idea of divinely inspired love which is described so eloquently by Pope Benedict in his book “God is Love”:

“Love of God and love of neighbor are thus inseparable, they form a single commandment. But both live from the love of God who has loved us first. No longer is it a question, then, of a “commandment” imposed from without and calling for the impossible, but rather of a freely-bestowed experience of love from within, a love which by its very nature must then be shared with others. Love grows through love. Love is “divine” because it comes from God and unites us to God; through this unifying process it makes us a “we” which transcends our divisions and makes us one until, in the end, God is “all in all”.”

This applies so powerfully to our relationships. How often do we get hurt and then react in self-protection; covering up our vulnerability and isolating ourselves from each other? How often do we do this to ourselves; dismissing or hiding a part of us that we cannot bear to engage? When this happens, slowing ourselves down and interrupting this instinct can provide an opportunity for connection instead of protection.

Just like St. Valentine, we can stop the escalating pattern of pain and self-protection. We can lean on some borrowed trust and security. We can ask Christ to put Himself between us and our suffering. If it is safe to do so, we can ask our loved ones not to abandon us in our pain. We can work together to fight against our hardness of heart and prioritize our relationship to strengthen our bonds. It is a risk, yes, because we have all been let down, abandoned, rejected, or dismissed in moments of need. Fortunately, love is more powerful than anything and it needs a place to live, in our hearts, in our relationships, and in our society. If we can make room for and plant a seed, it will grow.

St. Valentine, pray for us! ♥️

Please use the link below to read the full article:

https://aoclinic.org/what-the-legend-of-st-valentine-can-teach-us-about-love-and-relationships/

* The information provided is for self-enrichment and not intended to replace any necessary mental health treatment.⁣

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* The information provided is for self-enrichment and not intended to replace any necessary mental health treatment.⁣

Warmly,

Jonathan Dixon, LMFT

Alpha Omega