days in lent

 
Question from Mary Smith on 2/14/2008:  
Can you eat what your giving up for lent on valintines day?
Answer by Fr. John Echert on 2/15/2008: 
In the traditional calendar, still observed in the Tridentine Masses of today, the Feast of Saint Valentine continues to be dedicated to the martyr, Valentine. However, when this Feast falls during Lent--as in this year--the Feast is only commemorated and is not major enough to trump any lenten observances. So, for instance, if the Feast of Saint Valentine were to fall on a Friday during Lent, a Catholic would still be obliged to abstain from meat on that day.

In the modern calendar, Saint Valentine has been expunged and so there would be no consideration given to his Feast day.

The bottom line is, however, if you are accepting a penance beyond what the Church requires of you, you can make a personal decision to free yourself from that penance for a particular purpose--for instance, the occasion of a feast, even if a minor one. So if you wish to suspend your self imposed penance on the Feast of Saint Valentine, you can do this, unless some other consideration were to be binding--perhaps something you bound yourself to with a spiritual director.

Happy Saint Valentine Day, Mary

Father Echert