The assignment of February 14 as the date to honor St. Valentine is attributed to Pope Gelasius in AD 500. But until the time of Goeffrey Chaucer there was never any association with romantic love in connection with the saint's feast day. Indeed, Chaucer's reference in a poem was actually to a different Valentine commemorated on May 2. Over time, the association persisted and in the Middle Ages became connected to February 14, the feast of the martyred Roman priest Valentine-hence the color red for the celebrations of the day. Poets like Shakespeare and Donne reinforced the tradition in their verse. By the mid-1800s upwards of 25 million Valentines were being exchanged in England each year. Today, almost 200 million cards and 15 million e-cards are sent in the US.

 

As is tradition on the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, Benedict XVI baptized a group of infants on Sunday, exhorting their parents to understand prayer as the first step in educating. "Educating is very demanding; sometimes it is quite hard on our always limited human capacities. But educating becomes a marvelous mission if it is done in collaboration with God, who is the first and true educator of every man," the Pope told the group, gathered in the Sistine Chapel.

 

He continued, "Adults are the first ones who need to nourish themselves from these sources so that they can guide the younger people in their growth," he said. "The parents have to

give much but to be able to give, they also for their part have to receive, otherwise they will be emptied, they will run out. The parents are not the springs, as we priests are not the

springs either: we are rather like channels through which the lifeblood of God's love must pass. If we stop receiving from the ultimate source, we too will first of all feel the negative effects

and we will no longer be able to educate others."

 

The Pope continued his comments by acknowledging that “the sacraments, especially Eucharist and Penance, permit us to perform the educative action in union with Christ, in communion with him and continually renewed by his forgiveness. Prayer and the sacraments obtain that light for

us that allows us to be both tender and strong, kind and firm, to be silent and to speak when the time is right, to rebuke and correct justly."

 

The full text of homily is available at www.zenit.org/article-34085?l=english

 

Thanks for being so thoughtful and generous! Your Christmas bags were wonderful. 

Residents of the Keystone Nursing Care Center

 

St. Paul Parish Council will meet on Tuesday, February 14th at 7 pm.

 

Senior dining will be held at St. Michael Parish Center on Thursday, February 9, 16, and 23 at noon. Call Joan Mithelman for reservations at 319-227-7334.

 

As we celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Archdiocese of Dubuque this year, it is a time to reflect and express gratitude for the establishment of social ministry outreach in our Archdiocese that began with women religious communities and pioneer priests through the creation of hospitals, schools and other forms of social ministry. Over the past 80 years, these efforts have evolved into an organized structure, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Fun Facts:

a. Catholic Charities is the social service arm of the Church and as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Archdiocese this year, we reflect on the establishment of social ministry outreach in our Archdiocese that began with women religious communities and pioneer priests through the creation of hospitals, schools and other forms of social ministry. Over the past 80 years, these efforts have evolved into an organized structure, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

b. The economic, social and personal needs of families are increasing, and the number of families living in poverty is the highest since 1960. The past decade has seen Iowa’s poverty rate go from 9.13 to 11.37 percent. A family of five is considered in poverty if they have an income of less than $26,170.

 

c. The vast majority of the clients Catholic Charities serves live in poverty with most of these individuals living in extreme poverty with income of less than $10,000 annually.

 

d. Catholic Charities provided assistance to over 14,000 people last year.

 

e. Thanks to your financial support and volunteer efforts, Catholic Charities was able to expand services in many new communities last year.

 

f. Catholic Charities annual appeal is the only time each year that Catholic Charities requests your financial support. Please consider this request to ensure services continue for those in need.

 

g. Did you know that Catholic Charities agencies are the largest provider of social services in the country, second only to the US government?

 

h. No gift is too small.