You know the value of every article of merchandise, but if you don’t know the value of your own soul, it’s all foolishness.
Rumi.
About Family
In Alberta, it was noted that February was a month without a day to have a holiday celebration. Alberta passed the first Family Day Act in 1990. The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta—Helen Hunley—established the third Monday of every February as Alberta Family Day. Other Provinces adopted the holiday over the next twenty years. Saskatchewan founded “Family Days” in 2007, and Ontario followed in 2008 then British Columbia in 2013. British Columbia is the only province to choose the second Monday of the month instead of the third Monday. Other Provinces have adopted similar holidays in February.
Family Day is meant to provide an opportunity to spend quality time strengthening family relationships. I’m reminded of the scripture from Exodus 20:12, that reads
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you”.
You may recognize this as the Fourth Commandment given to Moses on Mount Sinai. It’s rather curious to note that this is the only Commandment with a condition attached, with a ‘provisio’. Respect, esteem shown your parents merits long life wherever God is leading you. This could be one interpretation of the Fourth Commandment.
I believe the Indigenous Community live instinctively their love, respect and esteem for their elders and merit to live long in this God-given land.
Perhaps we should focus on our families showing the members love, respect and esteem, so that we too can live long and peacefully in this land we call Canada.
-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ
Weekly Pause and Ponder
Saint Valentine's Day
I recall with fondness those Valentine’s Days of my youth. How exciting it was to fill out little Valentine cards for all my classmates and then to receive so many in return. Art class was dedicated to making hearts & flowers, cards for Moms & Dads. And of course, there had to be treats; little hearts with messages on them or chocolate, or both if one was very lucky.
The fact that the feast was originally named after the 3rd century martyr St. Valentine of Terni paled with the excitement of the day. History remembers him as a priest, some say bishop, who died at the command of Emperor Claudius II Gothicus because he would not renounce his faith. He is remembered as the patron saint of healing and epilepsy. I’ll share one lovely story of how our practice of sending Valentine cards may have started.
St. Valentine is said to have healed a young girl of her blindness. On the day of his execution legend has it that he wrote a letter to that young girl and signed “from your Valentine”. Sounds like a loving soul, doesn’t he?
May you feel loved and offer love to all you meet this Valentines Day, and maybe some treats!
-Maureen Condon, Associate
Images: Becca Tapert/ Unsplash
A Valentine's Day Prayer
- 1 Corinthians 13
Do you remember writing out Valentine’s cards for everyone in your class? Cutting out hearts of construction paper and coming up with cute messages that would let your friends know that you cared for them? Did you tell your parents that you loved them before you went to bed every night? Or did you kiss them goodnight?
Let us pray this reflection on love attributed to Pedro Arrupe sj
“Nothing is more practical than
finding God, than
falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything. “
From Finding God in All Things: A Marquette Prayer Book © 2009 Marquette University.
God of love, you bless us every day with goodness and love.
Remind us to make every day a day of love and affection.
Let us give the person in front of us our full undivided attention.
Help us be a conduit of your love to those we meet everyday.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
-Created by Sister Pat Carter and the Federation Vocation Animation Committee to commemorate both Valentine’s DAY and Family Day.
Images: Diana Polekhina /Brigitte Tohm | Unsplash