The Story of Valentine's Day

 The story of Valentine’s Day dates back to the life of St. Valentine, a Roman Catholic martyr who died in the third century. Although the facts of St. Valentine’s life are murky (some sources say he was persecuted for performing forbidden marriages, while others say he helped Christians refugees escape Roman violence), he is consistently presented as a moral, generous, and romantic person.

One legend holds that St. Valentine became friendly with his jailer’s daughter and wrote her a note signed “From your Valentine,” which remains a popular phrase associated with Valentine’s Day.

The legend has been passed down as follows. During the last weeks of Valentinus's life, a remarkable thing happened. Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be brought to Valentinus for lessons. She had been blind since birth. Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus read stories of Rome's history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about God. She saw the world through his eyes, trusted his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength.

"Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia asked one day.   "Yes, my child, He hears each one."   "Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see everything you've told me about!"   "God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him," Valentinus said. "Oh, Valentinus, I do believe! I do!" She knelt and grasped his hand. They sat quietly together, each praying. Suddenly there was a brilliant light in the prison cell. Radiant, Julia screamed, "Valentinus, I can see! I can see!" "Praise be to God!" Valentinus exclaimed, and he knelt in prayer.

On the eve of his death Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, "From your Valentine." His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. On each February 14, Saint Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love, and devotion are exchanged around the world."

There is some controversy over how Valentine’s Day first became associated with romance and the celebration of lovers. Some scholars point to Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th-century poem, The Parliament of Fowls, which praises Valentine’s Day as a time when birds choose their mates and love is remembered even in the cold of winter. Others believe Valentine’s Day is the Christian version of a pagan fertility holiday called Lupercalia, which was celebrated by the Romans.

Either way, the romantic meaning of Valentine’s Day has existed since the Middle Ages, and gained popularity as a gift-giving event for aristocrats in 18th-century England and America. The first mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards were created by Esther Howland in the 1840s. Since then a large industry has developed around the making and selling of Valentine’s Day products like flowers, cards, and candies.

Regardless of how it all began, the one true object of celebrating Valentine’s Day is showing love to the dearest of people in our lives. 

Yet, I wonder, what would our world be if we showed Valentine love as in the legend the way Saint Valentine read to the blind girl, taught her basic things, demonstrated true caring and love for a fellow human being?  Love is Love and may you give and receive love today and every day in the manner you desire.

Happy Valentines Day