St Valentine

OK then. It's Valentine's Day. I never really bought into the whole tradition of buying the one you love sweets, flowers, jewellery, etc... (although I have, of course, done it previously). But I'm troubled about these "feasts" becoming increasingly commercialised by big companies wanting to capitalise on the masses! Valentine's, Christmas, Easter, St Patrick's Day and so on. I bet there are people who have Trees, Eggs, Roses, and...well...Guinness I suppose, who know nothing of the origins of these days.


I'd like to rectify this a little.

St Valentine was a holy priest who lived and ministered in Rome. His mission was to provide support to young Christians condemned to die under Emperor Claudius II.
When Claudius heard of this he had Valentine (Valentinus) brought to him. Valentine's mistake was he then tried to convert the Emperor to Christianity! Caludius had him arrested and sent to the Prefect of Rome. The Prefect saw that Valentine was not going to renounce his Faith and thus condemned him to death.
Whilst in Jail Valentine is said to have converted no less than 300 Roman guards and cured the blindness of his jailer's daughter.
On the eve of his death he wrote to the girl whose eyes he had opened and is said to have signed the letter "from your Valentinus"
The next day (February 14, 269ce) St Valentine was beaten with bats and stoned. However this did not kill him. He was eventually beheaded and became a Martyr of the Christian Faith.


He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.


So, the reasoning seems to be that due to him being the Patron Saint of Affianced or Engaged couples, lovers, and Happy marriages we celebrate our love for another. Maybe it would be worth while raising money for Epilepsy research too?


Just a thought.


Thanks for taking the time, dear reader.