Happy Valentines Day Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Saint Valentine is a Christian martyr who lived in the third century. Little is known about his life, and there are several conflicting accounts of his story. However, he is most commonly remembered as a priest who performed Christian marriages in secret at a time when the Roman Emperor Claudius II had banned marriage, believing that single men made better soldiers. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, he was arrested, imprisoned, and eventually executed.

Before his execution, he prayed for the daughter of his jailer and she was healed of blindness. Before he was killed, he wrote a note to her encouraging her to stay the course with Jesus. It was signed, “Your Valentine”. February 14th is said to be the day of his death. That note began the tradition we know today.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the details of his life and death, Saint Valentine is widely recognized as a symbol of love and devotion, and his martyrdom is remembered as a testament to the power of love and integrity and the ultimate sacrifice that they can entail. That’s a far cry from the modern commercialism of Madison Avenue. For Christians, Valentines Day can be a time to reflect on the sacrificial love of Christ and to show love to others in a selfless manner, especially to our significant others.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… (Ephesians 5:25 ESV)

 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34 ESV)