A UD valentine
Nick Olson
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: Commentary
Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and with it is sure to come the deluge of cringe-inducing puns, sugary candy, and bad poetry characteristic of any other holiday. Like any other holiday, it will continue to disregard its etymology, and like any other holiday, it will continue to be celebrated with a total ignorance of its Christian origins. I am referring to the specifically Christian virtue of romantic love that was born from the Christian tradition.
Other cultural ideals of marriage feature misogyny but exclude romantic love. Consider the Greeks, who prayed to Aphrodite, goddess of sex, but ignored Eros (Cupid) in all cases except homosexuality and pederasty. To those living outside the Christian tradition, a woman has been considered unequal with man-a thing to be conquered and put in proper place. Consider the Muslims, who force women into silence and servility. To those outside the Christian tradition, romantic love is often relegated to a place outside of marriage. Consider Africa, Asia, or the Middle East, where marriages are still arranged.
Only in the Christian tradition does romantic love take its rightful place as a virtue. Christianity raised marriage from a biological necessity to a sacrament. Medieval Christianity introduced the notion of romantic love not as merely a feeling but as a beautiful union of erotic desire and spiritual charity. Christ raised woman was elevated from lowly subservience to a position worthy of lifelong devotion.
I say all this because it often seems to me that we wish to relinquish the virtue of romantic love. Perhaps this is because we lack the tenacity to persist, or perhaps this is because we are more comfortable dismissing romantic love as insanity for control for simplicity's sake. Whatever the reason, though every human faculty has the potential to be warped into wickedness, let us not abandon such great heights of virtue for comfort.
I often hear others say, "I just want someone who will love me for who I am." But let us not sell ourselves short. Rather, let us hope and pray for someone who will love us not only for who we are, but also for who we could be. Love does not settle for comfortable mediocrity; it demands ascension to virtue; Christian virtue that loves who we should be.
Happy Valentine's Day, reader. This year, as you celebrate with Byron and chocolates, if you find yourself alone, recall that heaven knows well how to price its goods, and that above all, love is patient.
But if this Valentine's Day you find yourself blessed with a beloved, remember to love that person for who he or she is, but more importantly, to love that person for who he or she could become through your divinely given love.
(Contributing writer Nick Olson is a freshmen English major.)
Other cultural ideals of marriage feature misogyny but exclude romantic love. Consider the Greeks, who prayed to Aphrodite, goddess of sex, but ignored Eros (Cupid) in all cases except homosexuality and pederasty. To those living outside the Christian tradition, a woman has been considered unequal with man-a thing to be conquered and put in proper place. Consider the Muslims, who force women into silence and servility. To those outside the Christian tradition, romantic love is often relegated to a place outside of marriage. Consider Africa, Asia, or the Middle East, where marriages are still arranged.
Only in the Christian tradition does romantic love take its rightful place as a virtue. Christianity raised marriage from a biological necessity to a sacrament. Medieval Christianity introduced the notion of romantic love not as merely a feeling but as a beautiful union of erotic desire and spiritual charity. Christ raised woman was elevated from lowly subservience to a position worthy of lifelong devotion.
I say all this because it often seems to me that we wish to relinquish the virtue of romantic love. Perhaps this is because we lack the tenacity to persist, or perhaps this is because we are more comfortable dismissing romantic love as insanity for control for simplicity's sake. Whatever the reason, though every human faculty has the potential to be warped into wickedness, let us not abandon such great heights of virtue for comfort.
I often hear others say, "I just want someone who will love me for who I am." But let us not sell ourselves short. Rather, let us hope and pray for someone who will love us not only for who we are, but also for who we could be. Love does not settle for comfortable mediocrity; it demands ascension to virtue; Christian virtue that loves who we should be.
Happy Valentine's Day, reader. This year, as you celebrate with Byron and chocolates, if you find yourself alone, recall that heaven knows well how to price its goods, and that above all, love is patient.
But if this Valentine's Day you find yourself blessed with a beloved, remember to love that person for who he or she is, but more importantly, to love that person for who he or she could become through your divinely given love.
(Contributing writer Nick Olson is a freshmen English major.)
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
A hot girl
posted 2/22/08 @ 7:53 PM CST
DUDE YOU ROCK!!
Tara Chadick
posted 2/27/08 @ 1:26 PM CST
Your article meant well, but it was so close-minded I nearly retched. Sure, it's easy in an all-Catholic school to say that in this religion all women are treated equally and as fairly as men. (Continued…)
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