Why Do We Celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Flowers, candy, red hearts, and romance – that’s what Valentine's Day is all about, right?
Few know the true origin of this holiday. The real story of Valentine’s Day is found in the man behind the holiday – St. Valentine. And the expression of love really isn't romantic at all – at least not in the traditional sense.

Valentine was a Roman Priest at the time of Emperor Claudias the second. Claudias detested Christians and took advantage of every opportunity to persecute the Church through his high-ranking position. As a result, he issued an edict that prohibited people from getting married, based on the belief that unmarried soldiers would fight better than married soldiers, because married soldiers might be afraid of what might happen to their wives if they died.

This edict, however, posed an immediate problem to the Christian Church. Christian marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman for life and is a right given by God. Roman Priest Valentine had a deep passion to see couples bonded in this sacred union and love, as a reflection of the union we have with Christ. So Valentine, in spite of the edict, continued to perform marriage ceremonies.

Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned, and tortured for performing marriage ceremonies against the command of Emperor Claudius. But this imprisonment did not change Valentine’s zest to share the love of Christ with everyone he met.

While imprisoned, Valentine met a Roman judge named Asterius whose daughter was blind. Valentine shared the love of Christ with Asterius through prayer and the healing of his young girl. Asterius was so overcome with the power of love that he committed his life to Christ.

In the year 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to a three-part execution of a beating, stoning, and finally decapitation – all because of his stand for Christian marriage. It is believed the last words he wrote were in a letter to Asterius' daughter, inspiring today's romantic notes by signing it, "from your Valentine.”

That is the real story of Valentine’s Day. It is not simply a holiday, but a celebration of Christ’s love for us. Won’t you follow the lead of St. Valentine by celebrating this day, sharing the unconditional love of Christ with everyone you meet – no matter the cost?

National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month. And every year, Catholic Charities USA joins Mentoring Works! for a nation-wide effort to highlight the importance mentors play in young people’s lives and mentorship’s power to fight poverty one child at a time.

Whether it’s helping with homework, playing games or just hanging out, mentors break the cycle of poverty by letting a child know that he or she matters. For a child living in poverty, this encouragement goes a long way. Impoverished children struggle academically and socially, which stunts emotional and intellectual development. These disadvantages deplete a child’s confidence and lead to delinquency, truancy, drug use, gang involvement, teen pregnancy and other at-risk activities that trap youth in a lifetime of poverty. Yet, mentorship has the power to break this cycle.

Catholic Charities is actively engaged with those in our communities throughout Central and Southern Indiana to provide help and create hope in the lives of young people all year round. If you’d like to get involved, please contact the Catholic Charities agency nearest you.

More than an Adoption Plan

Several months ago, St. Elizabeth|Coleman received a call from Julia. Young, pregnant, and two weeks from her due date, Julia contacted us for help in making an adoption plan.

At just 23 years old, Julie was already a single mom of three and had been staying in a local shelter. Her three children had been removed from her care by CPS due to Julia’s many challenges, including poverty, homelessness, mental illness, lack of a strong social support system, the inability to read or write, and a long history of abuse and abandonment by family members. Though Julia had contacted us to make an adoption plan, she also opened the door to a whole new support system to help her financially, emotionally, and to connect her with local resources.

Julia chose adoption because she wanted to be able to select a permanent family for her daughter. She was able to meet her daughter’s adoptive parents, and the adoptive mom served as her support system by being at the hospital – holding Julia’s hand during the delivery of her baby.

Since the placement of her child, a social worker has visited Julia numerous times. Having no friends or family to share her grief, she calls her social worker every day to share her thoughts and feelings and get the support she needs. Julia is comfortable and happy about her adoption decision, and shared a reunion with the adoptive family and her daughter less than two weeks after placement.  Julia has also been able to move out of the shelter and into a small house within walking distance of her health clinic and the grocery store. 

Through St. Elizabeth|Coleman’s life-long services, Julie has been provided with practical help and with the joy of renewed hope for a better future…and she thought she was just calling to make an adoption plan.

Artic Blast doesn't stop the Warmth of Compassion

Since April 1982, the Bethany house Soup Kitchen has not missed a day of serving meals to the hungry in our community – including during the recent arctic blast we experienced in Indiana.

Dottye Crippen, director of Bethany House, shares her story of feeding others even on those frozen, snow-covered days:

"Fed 32 hungry, cold people yesterday in the soup kitchen. You know these people are cold or hungry or BOTH when they brave the elements to walk to the soup kitchen to either get into a warm room, or get a warm meal, or both. In conversation, many do not have heat...sent food along with some for later...these are the truly needy and my heart feels good being able to help. It was well worth digging myself out and braving the road conditions to see the smiles and gratitude for the warm coffee and hot chocolate, the chicken noodle and beef veggie soup, the pork loin sandwich and a piece of pie for dessert. Plus since the dining area wasn't crowded with a line waiting, everyone stayed awhile and we had good conversation! Sometimes I'm beat down with my work, but most times I'm lifted up! God is great!" 

We are so thankful for our dedicated Catholic Charities staff, volunteers, and supporters all throughout Indiana. You truly help us provide help and create hope during some of life’s most crucial times.

The Hope of a New Beginning

Fresh off the celebration of Christmas, we are reflecting on the reason for the season – honoring the birth of Christ.

Mary gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

By definition, baby Jesus and his family were homeless.

Jesus’ need for safe, temporary housing was met in the form of a stable. And despite his humble beginnings, Jesus was the King of Kings, the Son of God…the Savior of the world.

God had a plan for Jesus’ life.

God also has a plan for each woman and child who will find safe, temporary shelter at Becky’s Place in Bedford, IN. Being homeless, in need of help and hope, does not negate the fact that these individuals are God’s children whom He loves very much. Becky’s Place offers the hope of a new beginning and we have the joyous opportunity to serve these women and children by offering a homelike environment as they work toward a life of self-sufficiency. Through their experience at Becky’s Place, women and children are reminded of their worth and the difference they can make in the world.

If you would like to learn more about how you can become involved with Becky’s Place, please call 812.275.5773.

Emmanuel: God With Us

Do you love Christmas music? Or are you glad when it’s behind us for another year? Maybe you are one of those people that could listen to it all year round. A favorite of many during the Christmas season is “O Holy Night.”

Why not take a moment to let these lyrics sink in today?

Long lay the world, in sin and error pining
TIL HE APPEARED, and the soul felt its worth!

Now compare these lyrics with Galatians 4:4-5:

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Can you relate to this on a personal level? Along with the whole world, we have each been personally corrupted by sin, wallowing in our own grievous errors…and pining for someone to rescue us.

Then that SOMEONE appeared! "When the fullness of the time came," Jesus Christ appeared…Emmanuel. And the soul felt its worth. Your worth comes from him. He redeemed you; He adopted you; He made you his child.

Fall on your knees...worship the King. Emmanuel: God with us.

Nothing and no one compares with Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

Breaking the Silence this Christmas

Throughout the Old Testament, God was actively at work and communicating with his people to show the world that he is the One True God. Between the close of the book of Malachi and the opening of the book of Matthew, there are 400 “years of silence” and then … Emmanuel. God with us. But 400 years is a long time. Fear, uncertainty and hopelessness must have gripped the hearts of God’s people throughout that time.

At various times in life, all of us feel as though we are experiencing a “season of silence” – whether it be distance from family, or friends, or even God himself. During these times, it is invaluable when another person reaches out to help and offer a ray of hope.

Likewise, many in our communities live their day-to-day lives feeling as though they are alone – experiencing a season of silence – from those around them, and possibly from God.

As we go through the Christmas season, we challenge you to focus on Emmanuel, and also to intentionally focus on others. Who can you help? To whom can you offer hope? Your act of kindness and compassion has the power to break the silence in someone’s life.  So go ahead and let your life speak volumes to someone who needs to encounter Jesus today – Emmanuel, God with us.