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Holiday, holy day unite

| February 15, 2018 12:00 AM

By MATTHEW GWIN

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — For the first time since 1945, Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day were celebrated on the same day.

That means devout Catholics were faced with a choice on which holiday traditions to uphold: the grandeur and indulgence of Valentine’s Day, or the repentance and abstinence of Ash Wednesday.

Deacon Chris Stewart of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene said Father Francisco Flores reminded attendees of morning mass on Wednesday that Lenten observances take precedence over Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Bishops throughout the country also offered reminders to parishioners that they were obligated to abstain from eating meat and to fast on the day that marks the beginning of Lent.

Church doctrine defines fasting as one normal-sized meal in addition to two smaller meals that do not equal one normal meal in quantity. So then, a fancy steak dinner paired with a fine chardonnay and heart-shaped chocolate for dessert is off the table.

However, that doesn’t mean lovers have to simply abandon all plans. Many priests and bishops have encouraged couples to attend church together, celebrate their shared faith, or volunteer their time to charity.

“Anything that aligns with a loving relationship — which coincidentally fits into Valentine’s Day — would be encouraged and supported by officials in the Church,” Stewart said.

Deacon Gene Fadness of the diocese of Boise, which covers all parishes in Idaho, said many Catholics celebrated Valentine’s Day early in order to avoid a conflict with the Lenten fast.

Ultimately, Stewart said fasting is about removing the usual indulgences in order to become closer to Christ.

“It’s healthy to detach ourselves from the comforts we’ve become enslaved to or addicted to,” Stewart said.

The Ash Wednesday holiday can be traced back to the 11th century, but the ash crosses that many Catholics sport across their foreheads did not become commonplace in the United States until the 1970s.

Later this spring another set of holidays — one religious and one secular — will sync up again. Easter falls on April 1, April Fool’s Day, meaning some tricksters may be plotting to hide more than just baskets and eggs.