Mixed feelings have continued to trail the observance of Ash Wednesday and celebration of Valentine’s Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ash Wednesday is the ceremony to commence the Lent which entails fasting and abstinence from eating meat while Valentine’s Day is a day set aside to celebrate love.
The two events have been coinciding in the past two years.
A Catholic Priest in Ondo State, Rev. Fr. Anthony Afariogun, told NAN on Wednesday in Lagos that the joint celebration was a sign that “God wants man to return to Him and do away with evil generation.
“This is a perilous time. We must be careful and shun the evil that associates with valentine.
“As christians, Ash Wednesday is a period of prayer, fast and almsgiving. 2023 and 2024 coincided with Valentine’s day. It is a sign from God that He wants us to return to Him.
“The coincidence is to do away with evil of our generation; it is a perilous time. We must be careful and shun the evil that associates with valentine.
“Such sins associated with Valentine’s day celebration as fornication, adultery, ritual practices, reckless spending, disobedience and all other forms of sins.”
Afariogun, who is the Chaplain of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Chaplaincy, Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo State, said that the period provided Nigerians another opportunity to dissect themselves; find things that are going wrong and discover ways to correct them.
“God wants us to avoid the evil of valentine, though valentine is good, but if we celebrate it with our loved ones with dignity and fear of God; love of neighbours and gather together for prayers;we are celebrating valentine.
“We can visit orphanages, motherless homes, prisons and also distribute food to the poor, in this way, we are celebrating valentine’s day and that’s why God merged the days.
“Valentine to some people is associated with sins and evil. Let us shun the evil of valentine and embrace Ash Wednesday,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pastor of Christ Church of the Lord Gospel International, Ile Ife, Osun, Tunde Owofade, said the joint celebrations would give a good opportunity to all Christians to control their heart from worldly things.
“This would be a good opportunity for our youths to be in church to observe the power of God and it would also curtail the immorality among our youths. It will give room to preach the right concept of valentine among our youths.
“Many youths believe that is a day to practice immorality but due to coincidence of valentine and Ash Wednesday, it is an opportunity for every believer to preach the right concept of valentine and how it came into existence,” he said.
A retiree with the National Museum, Henry Oyediran, described the celebrations as two beautiful events.
“Today marks the need for our spiritual uplifting and for us to reflect over what our Lord Jesus Christ did and went through for you and I and also a day to proclaim love.
“That means we need to be cautious of the two beautiful events to maintain a balance, by being realistic of the fact that rules are made for men and not the other way round.
A network marketer, Ikobi Veronica,
Sales Consultant and Managing Director, Micvera Delight Ventures, said the two events were all about love.
Meanwhile, the president of Catholic Women Organisation, Saints Joachim and Anne, Ijegun, Lagos, said the celebrations were blessings.
“The self sacrifice of priest valentine to a man and his family to promote the spirit of love coinciding with Ash wednesday, beginning of lent telling us to leave every negative thing and apply humility and love,” she said. (NAN)
