I find Valentine’s Day to be a wonderful opportunity to talk about the Church’s sacramental life. A traditional definition of a sacrament is “an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.” For the most part, this is a good definition, especially the phrase “outward sign.”

Catholic sacramentality basically expresses our belief that the invisible God can be recognized and encountered through the physical world. That’s why we use water, oil, bread, wine, flame, etc. in our sacramental celebrations. Through these visible and tangible realities, we encounter and recognize the invisible and intangible God.

Catholics do this because it’s the human thing to do. Those things that are most profoundly human – including our sharing in the divine life of the Trinity - cannot be “captured” in words alone. When encountering that which is profound, we move beyond words into the realm of metaphor, signs, and symbols.

Some people dismiss Valentine’s Day as a “Hallmark holiday.” However, it is another opportunity for people in love to express that profound love through signs and symbols. And so today at work, I saw flowers delivered to one of the women in another department. During lunch, I walked over the Ethel’s Chocolate shop to pick up a few gingerbread chocolates for my wife. Later we will go out for dinner, something we rarely do on a Thursday evening. Countless numbers of people will exchange gifts or receive flowers, chocolates, and cards, and enjoy a night out on a work night. And, of course, many couples will share intimate moments with one another, expressing that love physically, beyond words. That which is most profound requires a language beyond words.

In the Sacraments, we encounter the love of the Trinity and enter into an intimate relationship with God. We Catholics know that words alone cannot come close to expressing the profound nature of that encounter. We need signs and symbols.

Happy Valentine’s Day!