St. Valentines

Every year, couples in love celebrate Valentine’s Day with dinner, flowers, chocolates,

even gifts. According to the Catholic Church, St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers,

epileptics, and beekeepers. I’m not certain what the three of those have in common, but

there you go.

The legend is that on February 14, around the year 270 A.D., Valentine, a priest in Rome

in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed. Under the rule of Claudius the Cruel,

Rome was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns. The emperor had to

maintain a strong army but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join the military.

Claudius believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their

strong attachment to their wives and families.

To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome.

Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform

marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius

ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect

of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head

cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about the year 270.

Legend also has it that while in jail, St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s

daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.” For his great

service, Valentine was named a saint after his death.

The story of how the martyr’s name became connected with romance is unclear. The

date of his death may have become mingled with the Feast of Lupercalia, a pagan festival

of love. On these occasions, the names of young women were placed in a box, from

which they were drawn by the men as chance directed. In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius decided to put an end to the Feast of Lupercalia, and he declared that February 14 be

celebrated as St. Valentine’s Day. Gradually, February 14 became a date for exchanging

love messages, poems and simple gifts such as flowers.

While I hope you have a happy Valentine’s Day, my prayer is that you will take time to

ponder the real meaning of the sentiment behind Valentine’s – love. Love is more than

just romance. Love is more than roses, chocolate, or diamonds. Love is sacrifice, and

commitment, and a desire to be a blessing not only to that special person in your life

but to everyone, not just on February 14 but every day of the year.

That type of love is best seen in the life of Jesus. The love that Jesus modeled isn’t

dependent upon our marriage status. Rather it is dependent upon who He is. 1 John

10:7-8 says, “7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone

who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God,

for God is love.”

Because of Jesus’ love for us, we have the opportunity to love others. That is what the

world needs. While there is nothing wrong with flowers or candy, what transforms the

world is the sacrificial love of Jesus flowing through us into the lives of those we

encounter each day. That would make every day Valentine’s Day.

I invite you join us this Sunday as we continue to experience God’s love.

Pastor Marty