14th February 2021 – Happy Valentine’s Day
February 14th is the Feast Day of St. Valentine. Serving as a priest in Rome, Saint Valentine was arrested for evangelistic activities, supporting persecuted Christians as well as marrying Christian couples, thereby allowing men to avoid conscription into the pagan army. Although he found favor with his jailer, Valentine boldly witnessed to Emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II). His refusal to deny Jesus Christ as God led to his martyrdom on 14th February 296.
As an American, I was raised to share Valentine’s cards and sweets with friends, and family, as well as a boyfriend/fiancé/spouse. In the USA, love was for everyone. No one should be left out.
On my first Valentine’s Day in the UK, my open-mindedness was met with disdain, disbelief, and ridicule. Several people adamantly insisted that Valentine’s Day was meant for romance, only for couples.
In my thinking, St. Valentine was a man whose chief objective in life was to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone. Performing weddings wasn’t his main priority. Tradition says he cut out hearts of parchment paper, giving them to persecuted Christians to remind them of their vows, and God’s love.
On this Valentine’s Day, as we continue with the constraints of lockdown, remember that prayer is never fettered by time, distance or place. Praying is an act of love, of passion. As we do our best to support each other here in Langley, let’s be like St. Valentine, remembering our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Spend time, falling in love with Jesus Christ—and sharing that love with others.
One Reply to “14th February 2021 – Happy Valentine’s Day”
I love your St. Valentine story. I was taught that while he was in prison, he would write little notes. On leaves of an ivy plant that vined up the wall and through his window. The leaves were heart-shaped. And he shared the love of God thus. Today , it’s become a Hallmark moment, as you say, for lovers, romance. I liked it better when I was a child and everyone got a (usually homemade) greeting everyone.
Hugs n love from Across the Pond
Carol