Tomorrow we celebrate Valentine’s Day, or at least acknowledge it as such. There are several stories of how Valentine’s Day originated and all of them come from stories of Catholic saints all named Valentine or Valentinus.  Each of these men was martyred for disobeying Claudius II who was Emperor of Rome during the third century. Whether it started from a Saint Valentine secretly performing marriage ceremonies for young lovers who were forbidden to marry or another Saint Valentine who attempted to help Christians escape from Roman prisons where they were often tortured and beaten, the “day” was started.  The one part of the story that remains consistent is Saint Valentine actually sent the first Valentine greeting after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement.  Before his death, it is alleged he wrote her a letter and signed it “From your Valentine” which is the salutation still used today.

Although the truth behind the Valentine’s Day legends is murky and we are not positive which of the stories is true, they all emphasize Valentine’s appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and most importantly a romantic figure. As a result, February has long been celebrated as the month of romantic love and Valentine’s Day as we know it contains remnants of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions.

One thing we know for sure is LOVE trumps everything.  It is not the mushy, innocuous, romantic sentiment which is wonderful and something most of us desire, but is not the “end all” of love.  I am talking about the love of our Lord. Remember, you are claimed as a child of God, under God’s reign and values.  It was Christ, the second person of the Trinity, whom we are joined to in baptism as well.  The greatest good of the church is the power of love.  That power is the unconditional love we receive from God, every day in every way.  May we always remember this and share that love with others in a Godly way.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Patty