Where is my Valentine gift? – A love letter from a clergy to Ghanaian Catholic Youth

As I approached the main gate of the Canon Law Faculty, I caught a glimpse of a young man kneeling to propose to his girlfriend, and it reminded me of Valentine’s Day. In the past, this day was referred to as Chocolate Day, but since 1969, it has been associated with the feast day of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. St. Methodius is the patron saint of Europe.

The month of February is often considered a month of love, a time when lovers celebrate their relationships and families come together to pray for God’s sanctification. For many young people, Valentine’s Day is a time for fun and celebration, marked by pre-Valentine’s dinners, photo shoots, gift exchanges, and the creation of lasting memories.

However, I am also aware that some young people may get carried away with the excitement of the occasion, making promises they may not be able to keep, and in some cases, even entering into blood covenants that can have serious and long-lasting consequences.

As you prepare to go out and enjoy the festivities, permit me to share some thoughts with you on love.

1. Love is the essence of all our endeavors and human activities, and it gives true meaning and value to our lives. However, love goes beyond mere fantasies, emotions, feelings, and senses. After the romantic gestures, what next? Love is not only what you do today but how you live true Christian love every day.

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2. Love is a gift from God and does not disappoint. True Christian love does not find reasons and basis to love; it loves and accepts the person just as they are, wholeheartedly, for better or for worse, till eternity. As children of God, Christ must be the center of our love for one another. Love is patient, kind, and genuine, as St. Paul says in ICorinthians 13:4.

3. Authentic love thinks about the future prospects and prepares towards that. It makes the partner a priority, is open, transparent, and honest in interactions. True love forgives, never gives up, and finds a reason to stay. It opens up to express itself in a dialogue of respect for each other and communicates mutual feelings.

4. Love is self-giving, a mutual giving of the self to the other, received with one consensus and goal of Christ for Christian relationships and/or marriage. One does not give themselves without understanding fully what they are offering.

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, let us recollect the story of St. Valentine, who died for love by finding ways to bless secretly the marriages of soldiers who were prohibited from marrying at that time. Let us be reminded to live the true and authentic love of Christ, the love that neither disappoints nor fails.

Let us be conscious of the consequences of our actions today on our future and ask the Holy Spirit to help us discipline our sexual feelings and emotions to live a chaste life that Christ calls each one of us to live as Christians in the Catholic Church.

Thank you for your time, and may God richly bless you.