True History - Valentine's Day - February 14, 278

Valentine's Day - February 14, 278

      When we think of Valentine's Day, we usually think of romance and card giving. Flowers and candy are symbols of Valentine's Day. But what really happened on the first Valentine's Day?
     February 14th, 278, was not a happy day for St. Valentine. He was brought to trial, then clubbed to death and beheaded because he secretly married people who were in love. The ruler of Rome, Claudius the Cruel, stopped marriages and engagements from happening, possibly because the men were becoming attached to their lovers and families, and it was a hindrance to their ability to fight. Actually, there are a couple of legends that go with the story of St. Valentine, and no one knows exactly what the issues were and who the real St. Valentine was. Here is an excerpt from this mornings blog:

 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