HERE IT COMES AGAIN

It is almost that time of year again; that special day of celebrating love and lovers.  Do you understand the REAL meaning behind Valentine’s Day?

Most people either adore this day or hate this day; depending on their circumstances at the moment. 

A lot depends on whether or not you know the real meaning behind Valentine’s Day. 

So many do not know.

WAYS OF CELEBRATING TODAY

Out come the Hallmark cards, all decorated in red and pink.

Out come the chocolates and the candy hearts and roses.  (Actually; they came out in the stores right after Christmas!)

For one day these things seem to cover the land and occupy our thoughts.

It seems to be a special day for the whole world to say “I love you” to their sweethearts!

But – do they know the REAL meaning behind Valentine’s Day?

WHERE DID ALL OF THIS CELEBRATION COME FROM?

The world has taken this day to a whole new level; probably much more than originally intended when the day first originated.  Much of the celebration can turn pagan if we are not careful.

We need to adhere to the REAL meaning behind this day and celebrate accordingly.

How on earth did all of this (right or wrong) ever get started anyway?

HAVE YOU HEARD THE STORY OF ST. VALENTINE?

This man, called St. Valentine had so much to do with the real meaning behind Valentine’s Day.

He was a man of great faith.

Like most noble days, the day we now call Valentine’s Day was started with the brave actions of one faithful man. His real name was Valentinus, and he later became known as St. Valentine.

St. Valentine was a real Roman Catholic priest who actually lived during the time of the third century.

LIFE DURING THE THIRD CENTURY

At that time there was a ruler named Claudias who was persecuting the church. Claudias II had ordered the people to give their worship to twelve pagan gods, and anyone who associated with Christians or Christianity was severely persecuted. 

This evil man was how the pagan side of Valentine’s Day came about; but there is also another and more Christian side to this story if you follow all the way through.

Claudias also thought that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because the married ones might be afraid of what would happen to their wives and children if they were killed in battle. So he issued an edict that young couples were not to marry. Reader beware!  This is what happens when we let rulers make edicts!

SIMILAR TO THE STORY OF BRAVEHEART

Can you imagine that?

Have you seen the movie Braveheart? 

It seems that William Wallace fell victim to such a ruler; who killed his beautiful wife and caused Sir William to defend the freedom of Scotland. 

They don’t mention St. Valentine in this movie; but the same things seem to have been going on in many different cultures. 

In Braveheart the pagan, evil rulers in charge would claim the virgin bodies of young brides on the first night of the day of their weddings.  This caused William Wallace and his lover to marry in secret and hide their relationship from the officials.

MORE OF THE STORY OF ST. VALENTINE

Anyway…….getting back to the story of St. Valentine:

His lifetime was taking place in a time of great evil and lawlessness and most couples simply wound up living together unmarried without giving a thought to whether it was right or wrong before the true God of heaven and earth. This history is sounding a little too familiar.  Why does the current culture come to mind when I think of such barbaric times?

Of course the faithful church was at work and intent on keeping the will of God. Let’s hope that will eventually turn out to be the case in modern times too.

Naturally, the true church was against people who were not married living together based on the fact that this act would break the commandments of God; so they had to come up with a solution for their congregations who were trying to live faithful lives amidst a very evil and pagan world.

THE TIME OF SECRET MARRIAGES

As an answer to this problem, they performed secret marriages.

The man who championed this cause was named Valentine.

St. Valentine began secretly marrying people of the church who were truly committed to following the ways of Christ.  (Again I am reminded of the movie Braveheart and the scene where the priest meets them in the middle of the night in the deepest part of the forest and marries them in secret.)

These secret marriages became Valentine’s main mission in life. He also participated in rescuing those who were put into prison for marrying. He would organize creative and successful ways for them to escape.

CAUGHT RED-HANDED DOING GOOD DEEDS

Valentine was eventually caught and thrown into prison for marrying people against the edict of Emperor Claudias II. It is said that he was terribly tortured in prison. There are legends about his faithful actions and the ways he cared for others even while suffering himself in prison.

A man named Asterius was one of the judges who sentenced Valentine to prison. He had a daughter named Julia who was blind.

While Valentine was in prison Asterius brought Julia to be schooled by Valentine, who was also known as a great scholar and teacher.

Valentine taught Julia history, math and science. Though blind, she was brilliant and learned quickly.

JULIA BECOMES A CHRISTIAN

Valentine also taught Julia about God.

She trusted in his wisdom and followed his guidance.

One day she asked Valentine if God would really answer prayers. He assured her that God would. She confided in Valentine that she was praying for God to make her see so that she could see with her eyes all the wonderful things that he had taught her. Valentine told her that God always did what was best for us and that He always listened to the prayers of a believer.

A MIRACLE OF GOD HAPPENED

After that conversation, Valentine prayed with Julia right there in his prison cell and in a matter of minutes she screamed out that she saw a brilliant light!

She was healed of her blindness!

Valentine was destined to be martyred the next day.

Valentine died on February 14th in the year 269 a.d.

He died a horrible martyr’s death.

Because of his stance on Christian marriage he was sentenced first to beating with a club, then stoning and eventual decapitation.

THE LAST WORD OF A NOBLE PRIEST

It is said that his last words were written down in a note that was sent to Asterius’s daughter Julia telling her to stay strong in her faith in God. He signed the note with the words “from your Valentine.”

It is from the action of his written note, and how he signed it, that we get the practice of sending Valentine cards today.

The color red signifies his martyr’s blood and the hearts stand for his true heart.

It is said that Julia later found St. Valentine’s grave and planted an almond tree with pink blossoms on it over the grave site. That is how the tradition of giving flowers began.

ONE MAN DIED BUT ANOTHER SOUL WAS SAVED

Because of the miracle that happened to Julia, her father, Asterius, later became a Christian too.

St. Valentine did not die in vain, many came to Christ because of his martyrdom.

THE REAL MEANING WAS NOT PAGAN; BUT GODLY

So you see the real original St. Valentine was a Christian martyr.

He laid his life down for what he believed, and he died for taking a stand for his faith.

Later he became known as the patron saint for lovers. It is a good and fitting legacy.

Many couples seeking advice for having a strong marriage are advised to study the life of St. Valentine.

Upon hearing his story they learn that sometimes you have to suffer for true love, but the truly committed keep their vows to the end, even unto death, because that is what true love is all about.

THE TRULY DEVOTED KEEP THEIR VOWS

St. Valentine demonstrated this to us with his whole life.

This is a holiday declared by the facts of the history of mankind.  It is a true and lovely story that displays the love of Christ; very similar in nature to the miracles of Purim and Hanukkah which we also chose to celebrate.

Just be careful not to get your information from Hallmark; and remember the loyalty and good deeds of St. Valentine. 

A TEACHABLE MOMENT

Valentine’s Day is truly a teaching moment with which to explain to young children the right and wrong ways to live, and the importance of keeping godly leaders in our government.

Since St. Valentine was a Roman Catholic priest; it seems to be the Catholic Church that celebrates this day in full force.   They seem to have preserved more of the originality; but now people all over the world have joined in the celebration; whether they know the whole story or not.

LOVE FOUNDED ON FREEDOM

Let’s remember the greatest love is the love founded on freedom and choice.  Such a love must be true and come straight from the heart.  Many men (like St. Valentine) have suffered for such a noble cause.

Many remember the red of the blood of Christ as He suffered and died for His bride; the church.  No truer love ever happened in all of the days of humanity than this.

Why not celebrate this story of St. Valentine and so many other noble lovers who have stood for right over wrong and good over evil? 

In an ever-changing culture and time; just stop and be thankful to be living in a time of freedom and do not ever take the one you love for granted!

Happy Valentine’s Day!