St. Valentine Beheaded - February 14, 278
Today is that wonderful day that we celebrate called Valentine's Day. When I was in school in the 1960s and 70s, we used to exchange Valentine's Day cards with classmates. We also had parties. We never got off school though. Oh well, it was still a memorable holiday.
There are a couple of different accounts of the Valentine's Day story. One story goes like this; Rome was ruled by a cruel man named Claudius the Cruel, and this man was very military minded. He was so militant that he banned all engagements and marriages in Rome. He believed that men were not willing to participate in warfare because they were attached to their wives and fiances, and banning marriages and engagements would solve the problem, at least that is what he thought.
St. Valentine secretly married men and women. When he was caught, he was brought before the Roman Prefect, and was ordered to die. He was beaten with clubs and then beheaded. This happened in the year 270, most likely.
Before his death, he sent a note to the jailor's daughter, whom he had befriended. On the note it read, 'To my Valentine".
St. Valentine became a saint in 278 because of his good deeds. Today we celebrate this date by showing special affection to those we love. Even back then, people were persecuted for doing what is right. The same thing happens today. We live in a darkened world. When there is the light of God's love, there will always be opposition from the darkness. God is love, and He sent us a gift even more valuable than all the Valentine's Day cards put together. Let's ponder on God's love for us today.
You can read about the history of St. Valentine's Day at: www.history.com/this-day-in-history
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