Saint of the Day
Sts. Cyril and Methodius
Sts. Cyril (826–869) and Methodius (815–885) were Greek brothers from Thessalonica who became missionaries to the Slavic peoples. Cyril, a scholar and philosopher, created the Glagolitic alphabet (precursor to the Cyrillic script) to enable translation of Scripture and liturgy into the Slavic language. Together they evangelized Moravia, Bulgaria, and neighboring regions. They are the co-patron saints of Europe alongside Benedict. Their feast is celebrated on February 14 in the Roman Rite.
Scripture Reading
Song of Solomon 8:6-7
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
Reflection
The Song of Songs celebrates love as something ferocious and inextinguishable — a flame that no flood can drown. On Valentine's Day, we rightly honor human love, but these words point beyond romance to the love of God himself, which is stronger than death and fiercer than any force that tries to separate us from him. Let every earthly love be a window into that greater fire.
Prayer for Today
Father, you know our hearts and share our sorrows. We are hurt by our parting from those whom we loved: when we are angry at the loss we have sustained, when we long for words of comfort, yet find them hard to hear, turn our grief to truer living, our affliction to firmer hope in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Amen.