February Fourteenth Named Saint Valentine's Day Seems Anything But Saintly-What Can We Do?

Scriptures:

This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. No greater unconditional love has anyone than this - that they lay down their life for their friends. John 15:12-13
For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish and have life everlasting. John 3:16

An Ode That is Owed to a Day Man-Made Holy of Olde

How did Saint Valentine's Day start?
Is this a question in your heart?
Whence and where did it depart,
From being about saintly prayers and kindness
That healed a young woman's blindness?
To become,
What some,
Use as an excuse,
To ummmm...
This post, part in prose,
Is meant to propose,
A few simple ways,
To return this man-made Holy Day,
To its first intended spirit filled ways.

Saint Valentine Painting by Jacopo Bassano shows Cherubic angels burst through a cloud-covered ominous sky casting a beam of bright light on the head of a young woman bent down before a man dressed in a red robe and close black hat standing in front of her. There is an ornate gold filigreed cross behind the man and he holds a silver ball in his left hand. The picture is set before a large stone gate. Others are there waiting. A young altar boy dressed in a white gathered flowing cape is holding the distaff supporting the cross - his back is to the viewer. An old man with a long beard and balding head is bent forward in the background, A middle-aged woman is seated to the left framing the scene. She appears to have an open book on her lap.

Saint Valentine Baptizing Saint Lucila by Jacopo Bassano 1510-Feb.14 15092

When Did Saint Valentine's Day Start?

According to several sources Pope Gelasius designated February 14th to be the Feast of Saint Valentine. This day was to be set aside to honour the memory of early martyrs of Christianity - named Valentini - which means to be of good health. The first martyr was Saint Valentine who was beaten to death with clubs and beheaded on February 14th 269 AD. There are several legends that are associated with this first Saint Valentine including:

Valentine was imprisoned for marrying people against the wishes of the Emperor.
Valentine prayed that for his jailor's blind daughter and she was healed.
Valentine sent a note to the jailor's daughter just before his death signed "your Valentine".
Valentine spent time with those sentenced to death for their faith.
The Emperor gave him a chance to save his life by converting to Christianity, but Valentine refused and tried to convert the Emperor to Christianity.
A priest named Valentine also prayed for people to be delivered from demons causing them to have epilepsy.

The embedded video below created for children explains the origin of Valentine's Day and can also be viewed here on YouTube.

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image shows light coloured wooden heart divided into 9 tangram puzzle pieces in a dark wood box

Broken Heart Wooden Tangram Puzzle from Puzzlemaster

Ways to Honour the Memory of Saint Valentine

Pray for God to show you more suitable ways of marking this manmade holy day.

Honour Saint Valentine - Do Something to Strengthen Others of the Faith

For starters, you might help today's Christian martyrs. It is amazing how prayers have reached across miles and helped others even though they were unaware of the prayers. Visit persecution.com to see how you can support persecuted Christians around the world.

Donate time, resources or money to help with outreach ministries. These ministries do not need to be doing outreach far from home. Valentine was strengthening people right close to his home. Look around, there are many small outreach ministries to be found right in your hometown that are trying to help the poor.

Honour Saint Valentine by Getting Married

Thinking of getting married? Wondering if it's too long that you've tarried? If you have been with someone for a long time, saying that you need to save up all your nickles and dimes. Now is the hour! Get married now and THEN save up your nickels and dimes together as you weather the storms of life as man and wife. Then when you have saved for five years or ten - that's when to have a BIG party and celebrate being together and weathering the whethers.

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No spouse yet? Pray for God to send someone your way. They say there are lots of fish in the sea. Now you could go to a website like Plenty of Fish, but if you want to catch the right type of fish every angler knows you need to be fishing in the right pond. Take a look at some people who follow the book. It is very important to be equally yoked - and that is no joke!

Honour Saint Valentine - Do Something for the Blind

If you post pictures frequently online, take the time to think- what if I were blind? Then take a minute to write an appropriate alt code so people who cannot see clearly can enjoy the picture you posted through an accurate description in the alt code. By the way, did you know that when you write an alt description for your pictures you will also better enable your pictures to be found online too?

Do you enjoy reading? Have a voice that is pleasing? Read for the CNIB and other charities that seek to ease the burdens of those who cannot see.

Do you have a dog? Sign up today for a local LIONS dog walk for the blind and start collecting donations online.

Honour Saint Valentine - Do Something for People with Epilepsy

Become informed. Learn what to do if someone should collapse near you. Donate your time or resources. Are you driving to the store? Would it make you so much more poor if you were to take someone with you to the store?

About This Author

Sister Su is grateful to God for keeping her alive. She is a Trent/Queen's Concurrent Education graduate with over 20 years of teaching experience. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su See her link tree for more details:@Sister_Su | Linktree

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