A day to celebrate love from the heart

Nobody remembers that way back in 1969, the Catholic Church removed St. Valentine’s Day as an official holiday from its calendar. But it still survives because it has nothing to do with religious activities. As long as there are lovers who want to express their love for each other, Valentine’s Day will always be a well-celebrated occasion.

I am all for any holiday or special event that emphasizes one’s love, not only romantically, but also the selfless kind of love for neighbors and fellowmen. This is the agape kind of love that is mentioned in the Holy Bible. It is a Greek term that indicates selfless or universal love. The word started in 1607, from the ancient Greek word agapan which means “to greet with affection, love” and was used by early Christians for their “love feast” held in connection with the Lord’s Supper. In 1856, it was used to express love that does not connote eros or a “carnal or sensual love”. At present, it is often used to refer to a simpler sense of “Christian love” that connotes unconditional love, one that gives with sacrifice, expecting nothing back in return.

Our love for others is commonly based on how other people behave toward us. If people love us, we love in return. We love those who are lovable, and/or meets our expectations or fulfills our needs. The common Valentine’s Day celebration is that of lovers exchanging greetings. What we really need is a day when persons of different faiths and beliefs wish each other well, respecting each other and transcending differences by just valuing each other as unique individuals, I think that God would be happy to witness such a day.

Before we can genuinely love others, I believe that we must first have a strong self-esteem. We cannot truly give ourselves to help others if we do not first have love for our own being. We cannot give something that we do not have in the first place. Otherwise, we would be just like a tinkling cymbal, in the words of Apostle Paul in the Book of First Corinthians, Chapter 13 of the Holy Bible. We can only give away love that we have brimming in our hearts. The other verses continue as follows: “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…”.

I have written this before, Valentine’s Day is also Single Awareness Day. It serves as a reminder that I can no longer classify myself with lovers who exchange Valentine cards. I don’t even have a small valentine. Otherwise, I would be commemorating Valentiny. As a National Artist, what I can do is to extend my regards to all my readers by saying, “I love you with all my art!”. I leave you the message: On this day, be sure to heart the one you love! And, as God’s children, I would like to enjoin everyone to love mankind like He does!