Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day, but meat ban still in effect, Catholics told

With Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day falling on the same day this year, leaders in the Chicago area’s Roman Catholic Church are offering some guidance: Solemnly mark the start of Lent, a day the faithful are asked to abstain from meat and to fast, on Wednesday. Celebrate love over a steak dinner and candles another day.

“It’s (Wednesday) a perfect day to celebrate the love the Lord has for us and that we have for him, which is the grandest Valentine’s Day for all,” said Penny Wiegert, director of communications for the Catholic Diocese of Rockford.

Ash Wednesday, the start of the 40-day Lenten season leading up to Easter, falls on Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day — this year. On Ash Wednesday and each Friday during Lent, Catholics are traditionally forbidden from eating meat.

To avoid any potential conflict, Catholic leaders across the region are suggesting members of their flock celebrate Valentine’s the day before or during the weekend. Two weeks ago, the Archdiocese of Chicago, which counts nearly 2.2 million faithful in Cook and Lake counties, offered priests guidance in case parishioners ask for dispensation to eat meat next Wednesday.

“In view of the significance of Ash Wednesday the obligation of fast and abstinence must naturally be the priority in the Catholic community,” the Archdiocese of Chicago statement read. “Valentine’s Day can appropriately be celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which also happens to be Mardi Gras, a traditionally festive time before beginning our Lenten observance.”

Church leaders have given Catholics wiggle room during Lent in the past. Last March, Cardinal Blase Cupich, leader of the Chicago Archdiocese, gave special dispensation to Catholics so they could enjoy corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day, which happened to fall on a Friday during Lent.

But Wiegert said it would be nearly impossible to give that same pass this time around because of the importance of Ash Wednesday. She noted it’s rare for the two days to overlap, and it’s not something that will happen again until 2024, Wiegert said.

Joliet Bishop R. Daniel Conlon told parishioners in a statement that while Valentine’s Day is a time to express love, Catholics shouldn’t skip observing Ash Wednesday, which draws the faithful to churches, where ashes are smudged in the shape of a cross on the forehead — a symbol of faith. He also suggested people celebrate Valentine’s Day before or after Wednesday.

“Priests and bishops do not grant individual dispensations from the discipline of fasting and abstinence,” Conlon said in the statement. “An individual could judge in conscience, on his or her own, that there is a serious enough reason to excuse oneself.”

The Catholic Diocese of Gary in northwest Indiana hasn’t gotten inquires about the possible conflict of Ash Wednesday. Debbie Bosak, director of communications for the diocese, said that’s probably because there is a good understanding that the religious aspect of the day would trump other celebrations.

“I would just advise Catholics who feel they are cheated out of Valentine’s Day to just sit down and reflect on the meaning of Ash Wednesday and Lent,” Bosak said. “And just to prioritize what’s important.”

emalagon@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ElviaMalagon

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