Valentine’s Day
Many people take advantage of this day to express their love to others who are important in their lives, especially family members and potential spouses. Our mental picture of Valentine’s Day includes heart-shaped cards, love poems, flowers and candy.
However, the original name of this holiday was *Saint* Valentine’s Day, (or the Feast of Saint Valentine). It was designated as a day to remember the life, the faith and the martyrdom of a real person, who died on February 14th in the year 269 or 270. He was a Christian priest in Rome during the reign of the Emperor Claudius II.
There are differing stories as to why he was arrested. Some say he was hiding and aiding Christians, which was a crime during the persecutions in Rome. Others say that he was performing marriages for Christian couples or attempting to convert non-Christians. Quite likely all of these were true. Whatever the reason, he was arrested but the Emperor Claudius took a liking to him at his trial. He might have been freed, except that he attempted to persuade the Emperor to become a Christian and was therefore sentenced to death.
His jailer had a daughter who was blind. Having heard about Valentine’s imprisonment, she asked her father to take her to visit him. Valentine prayed for her and she received a miracle of healing and her sight was restored. She became a Christian and Valentine began to teach her about the faith, and continued until the date of his execution.
In 496, the Christian church began to observe the date of his death as a feast day. The custom of sending affectionate messages to loved ones on this day may be based on the tradition that Valentine sent messages of love and encouragement to his wife and children from his prison, because they could not visit him for fear of being arrested.
I would invite you all, men and women of every faith, to take advantage of this day to be glad that we live in a country where we are free to follow our own conscience in matters of religious belief and practice without fearing for our lives. It’s also a great time to remember to take every opportunity to express your love and affection to your family and friends, because you can never get back your lost opportunities to say, “I love you,” and the last chance often passes by, unexpected and unrecognized. Finally, remember that *right now* is the time to turn your heart and your mind to God, to renew your relationship with God and grow in intimacy with Him, because that chance, too, often passes unrecognized.
“We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:1-3
May God bless and keep you all in His grace and peace. Have a happy *Saint* *Valentine’s* *Day*
Father Jonathan K. Landon
Chaplain (Major) US Army
US Army 2d Recruiting Brigade
No comments:
Post a Comment