Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Valentine’s Day! This annual feast seems to hold a lot of meaning for many people. For some it is a joyful reminder that they are loved by someone special. For others it is a sad realization that they are alone in this world. It reminds me of the little game we play picking off the petals of a daisy one by one: “s/he loves me…s/he loves me not…” Let’s face it: we all want to be loved by someone special and most of us need to be reassured about that from time to time. The fact is, that we are loved and we don’t need to play games to find that out. One of my favorite verses in Scripture is from Jeremiah: “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have called you and you are mine.” (Jer 31:3) Let us each take some time on Valentine’s Day to reflect on that promise and to hold those tender words close to our hearts.     Mary Ellen Green, OP Woodruff, WI

Wednesday  was a mixed-bag.  I joked with a colleague that the ashes on my forehead felt apropos for a vowed celibate on Valentine’s Day.   But the day held the truth of paradox on a much deeper level.   I awoke to the distribution of ashes and a special morning prayer with my community—a wonderful way to begin the day in holy communion.  Later, I got to visit with Congresswomen Maloney (CA) and Jayapal (WA) along with Sr. Simone Campbell to thank them for their service and for scoring 100% on NETWORK’s Voting Record.  Both women—testaments to the strength of love-in-action—inspire and demonstrate the “good” that can manifest on the Hill.   Then the news broke about another mass shooting at a school in Florida—17 students killed—and the grieving set-in.  A reminder that evil is also manifested on the Hill in the form of harmful policies, blame, greed, and vitriol.   I’ve never felt more in...

Remember when you made or bought a Valentine for everyone in your class?   A little older and it was only for favorites.   And then…?   What was it like this year? For us who are neither what can it mean?   What must Valentine’s Day be like for people who are alone, or worse, in prison?   Valentine’s Day has become inflated beyond its original intent.   It’s become associated with chocolates, flower and cards.    ‘St. Valentine was a priest in Rome who was known for assisting martyrs.   When he was arrested and refused to give up his faith he was beheaded.   Because he was willing to give his heart he was considered true to the God of Love.' It’s easy to say that Valentine’s Day is for kids – or for lovers.   Pope Francis, in his recent encyclical, Laudato Si, says in Para. 228:   “Care for nature is part of a lifestyle [which includes the capacity for living together and communion].” How would you describe yo...