WHY DO WE ...
Celebrate Valentine's Day?
While
awaiting his execution, Valentine became friends with the daughter of his jailer.
She was a blind girl who showed Valentine kindness in his captivity. Through
his faith and through prayer, Valentine cured the girl of her affliction –
an act of love even for the daughter of his captor.
Supporters of Valentine would show their love by casting flowers up to the window of his cell. This link between Valentine and flowers would be forever established over the centuries into modern tradition. Nonetheless, Valentine was executed on February 14, 270. Before he died, he wrote a letter of gratitude and hope to the jailer’s daughter. He signed it, “From your Valentine.” This sentiment, of course, carries on today and is echoed every year on the anniversary of this saint’s death.
St. Valentine taught us about the importance of love
and the Sacrament of Marriage.
Although there is no perfect history on when St. Valentine’s Day celebrations
began, we know that by the Middle Ages, St. Valentine’s traditions were
underway. Often balls or parties were held for young people on February 14.
One of the most famous St. Valentine’s Day occurrences was the first St.
Valentine’s card. In 1415, the Duke of Orleans created a St. Valentine’s
Day card and sent it to his wife. He was currently in prison at the Tower of
London, and he wanted to send a message of love, much like Valentine had years
earlier.
Celebrating St. Valentine’s Day is a tribute to St. Valentine, later titled Patron Saint of Lovers. His devotion to God and his commitment to supporting love and marriage set a wonderful example for us. When we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, whether through cards or flowers, we are acting as the saint acted. We are appreciating what God has given us.
St. Valentine taught us about the importance of love and the Sacrament of Marriage. He believed in these things so deeply that he was martyred for them. Although we live in easier times, where marriage and love are not forbidden to us, we must remember that things weren’t always this way. We must remind ourselves that all we have is precious. And St. Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on what we have been given.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The story of Valentine’s Day takes us back to the year 270 A.D. and the reign of Claudius II. Claudius II, emperor of Rome, had formerly been a general under Emperor Valerian. When Claudius II succeeded Valerian, he continued to exercise his instinct for war. While in conflict with the Gauls, Claudius II came to the realization that married men are inferior at warfare, due to their personal attachments. Moreover, married men had a tendency to even avoid joining the army. To remedy this situation, Claudius II outlawed marriage.
Valentine, or Valentinus as he was known, lived in Rome at this time, and was outraged at the decree of this warmongering emperor. He refused to follow it. Valentine became a haven for young couples hoping to enter the Sacrament of Marriage. He married them in private, until eventually he was captured and imprisoned.
Valentine’s devotion to God and love continued while he was in jail. Despite the overwhelming odds, Valentine took it upon himself to convert the Emperor, in hopes of reversing this unjust decree. But to no avail. Instead, the Emperor became further enraged by Valentine and sentenced him to death.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
