Saint Valentine, priest and martyr: “Ephphatha!”, “Be opened!” to God's love in Jesus Christ

God has sent us an invitation to love Him in Jesus Christ who expels evil. "Be opened" is His invitation to love God through a heart opened to God's grace through forgiveness of sins.

Priests participate in God's invitation to love Him in Christ as those who celebrate the sacraments for God's people. When he baptizes a priest uses these words of Christ, "Ephphatha!", be opened as a blessing of exorcism, opening the soul and body to God's grace by expelling sin.

Through faith and baptism we open our bodies and souls to the love of God in Jesus Christ, in particular as we receive Him in the Holy Eucharist.