It’s Valentine’s Day. A day for love and romance, for kindness and consideration, for expressions of appreciation. A day made just for flower venders, greeting card companies and restaurateurs. Some of you may think of it as an inconvenience for the added expense of gifts and dinner. As I was viewing the candy selection in the store today I noticed one section of candy made just for that person. Each heart-shaped box had a black and white photograph on it of some old curmudgeonly man. The accompanying slogans read, “Here’s your dang candy” or “I got you candy, what more do you want” and “the secret to a happy marriage is keep your mouth shut and bring home chocolate.”
It was a clever sales campaign but there was no way in the world I was bringing home one of those boxes of candy. I opted for a tradition box of chocolates and a nice dinner out. In 26 years of marriage I have learned a few things, and not trying to be clever on Valentine’s Day is one of them!
One thing that you don’t hear much about these days when it comes to St. Valentine’s Day is St. Valentine. Even
the reference to “saint” in the name is usually dropped. The notion of romance and spring, and ancient pagan fertility overtones has certainly overshadowed the more tradition appreciation for the martyrdom of the ancient St. Valentinus.
Now, some of that is understandable. There is very little known about this saint and in actuality his feast day may actually encompass several martyrs who shared this once popular name. Dating to the Roman persecutions all that is really known is that a
priest named Valentinus was martyred on February 14, during the reign of Emperor Claudius II (268-270AD).
Nonetheless, the legends surrounding St. Valentine are still enduring, and even though some are obviously fictitious and others probably have their roots in ancient fertility (dating) practices, the fact remains that we, as human beings, are incurable romantics. The thought of St. Valentine refusing to stop conducting marriages so that Claudius could increase his army with unencumbered recruits, or St. Valentine leaving love notes pressed between the stones of his prison (the presumed origin of Valentines) or counseling with young lovers through his prison bars may be fanciful but its still intriguing.
Sure, St. Valentine’s Day is not a Major Feast Day. Little or nothing is really known about his (or their) life and death, but still St. Valentine’s Day is a good day to celebrate love and commitment. And even if its origins were distinctively pagan the fact remains that we all love love. Whether its pagan Rome or modern America, whether its star-struck youth or tempered age, we should all appreciate our Valentines and express our love to them. This is a day to be a little silly, a little extravagant and a little over the top. Some might express the sappy, oozy infatuation of
puppy love while others might say, “here’s your dang chocolate.” But the fact remains that our brother and father in God—St. Valentine, whoever he may have been, is probably happy to know that his name is forever associated with so divine a human attribute as love, marriage and family.
So have a happy St. Valentine’s Day and tell someone you love them.
Blessings,
Fr. Martin +
It was a clever sales campaign but there was no way in the world I was bringing home one of those boxes of candy. I opted for a tradition box of chocolates and a nice dinner out. In 26 years of marriage I have learned a few things, and not trying to be clever on Valentine’s Day is one of them!
One thing that you don’t hear much about these days when it comes to St. Valentine’s Day is St. Valentine. Even
the reference to “saint” in the name is usually dropped. The notion of romance and spring, and ancient pagan fertility overtones has certainly overshadowed the more tradition appreciation for the martyrdom of the ancient St. Valentinus.Now, some of that is understandable. There is very little known about this saint and in actuality his feast day may actually encompass several martyrs who shared this once popular name. Dating to the Roman persecutions all that is really known is that a
priest named Valentinus was martyred on February 14, during the reign of Emperor Claudius II (268-270AD).Nonetheless, the legends surrounding St. Valentine are still enduring, and even though some are obviously fictitious and others probably have their roots in ancient fertility (dating) practices, the fact remains that we, as human beings, are incurable romantics. The thought of St. Valentine refusing to stop conducting marriages so that Claudius could increase his army with unencumbered recruits, or St. Valentine leaving love notes pressed between the stones of his prison (the presumed origin of Valentines) or counseling with young lovers through his prison bars may be fanciful but its still intriguing.
Sure, St. Valentine’s Day is not a Major Feast Day. Little or nothing is really known about his (or their) life and death, but still St. Valentine’s Day is a good day to celebrate love and commitment. And even if its origins were distinctively pagan the fact remains that we all love love. Whether its pagan Rome or modern America, whether its star-struck youth or tempered age, we should all appreciate our Valentines and express our love to them. This is a day to be a little silly, a little extravagant and a little over the top. Some might express the sappy, oozy infatuation of
puppy love while others might say, “here’s your dang chocolate.” But the fact remains that our brother and father in God—St. Valentine, whoever he may have been, is probably happy to know that his name is forever associated with so divine a human attribute as love, marriage and family.So have a happy St. Valentine’s Day and tell someone you love them.
Blessings,
Fr. Martin +
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