5 Creative Last Minute Catholic Themed Valentine’s Day Dates
While tomorrow we celebrate the feasts of Saints Cyril and Methodius on the Church’s calendar, according to “Hallmark’s calendar,” it’s Valentine’s Day. Usually a day for expensive and overpriced cards, crowded restaurants, and over the top romantic gestures, Valentine’s Day has taken on a very “forced affection” feel, making it a secular holiday that my husband and I have largely sworn off. Instead of fighting crowds at a restaurant or buying expensive gifts we both end up forgetting about, we celebrate “sweatpants Valentine’s.” We put on our comfiest clothes, rent a movie, and order in food from a new place we haven’t tried before. It’s a great little tradition that’s made the day stress free and fun.
In the spirit of low-key, sweatpants Valentine’s day, here are a few last-minute ideas to do something thoughtful, and Catholic, for your sweetheart this year.
Pray a rosary
What’s more romantic than using the ageless Catholic pick-up line, “Want to pray a rosary together? Because I want to spend the next 5 decades with you…”
In all seriousness, the fastest way to Jesus is through Mary, and you should want your significant other to be close to Jesus, so pray that rosary. Bonus points if you also turn it into an arts and craft project and make rosaries together when you’re finished. Here’s a tutorial.
Go to Daily Mass before Dinner
Find an evening daily Mass and receive the Eucharist together before going to grab a bite to eat at a favorite restaurant. Bonus points if you turn it into a “day date” and make a noon Daily Mass before grabbing a quick lunch at a food truck.
Visit an Adoration Chapel
If daily Mass schedules don’t match up with dinner reservations (or personal schedules) then make time to go to Adoration together. Bonus points if you bring in the same spiritual reading to each pray through, and then discuss, over a meal or on the long walk back through the parking lot. Suggested readings include passages from Augustine’s Confessions, Peter Kreeft’s essay on Love (http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics/love.htm) or C.S. Lewis’s The Four Loves.
Make “care bags” for the homeless
Go to Walmart or Target and shop together for a bunch of necessary supplies to build small “care bags” to keep in your cars and give to people you see who may be in need. Suggested items include non-perishable snacks, gift cards to fast food restaurants, hand sanitizer, socks, gloves, toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, knit caps, soap, baby wipes, and anything else you can think of that would be convenient and helpful to have. Bonus points if you assemble the care bags together while watching a movie or after you’ve shared a meal.
Watch Jim Gaffigan’s (he’s Catholic) latest stand-up special “Noble Ape”
Gaffigan gets personal in this special as he makes light of (and unpacks) his wife’s recent brain tumor, surgery, and recovery. The “king of clean,” Gaffigan’s jokes will have you laughing so hard you snort, and if you can comfortably snort laugh in front of your significant other, and they don’t run out the room, then you’ve found a keeper. Bonus points if you bake cookies or a cake together when the show is over. Even better, make some hot pockets.