† The Legend of Saint Valentine †

virtualitalia.com ^ | 14 February 2007 Anno Domini | Editors

[Robert Drobot]

The Legend of Saint Valentine

This story begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian martyr. The emperor was Claudius. The Christian was Saint Valentinus.

Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods, and he had made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians. But Valentinus was a dedicated to the ideals of Christ, and not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his beliefs. He was arrested and imprisoned.

During the the last weeks of Valentinus life, a remarkable thing happened. Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia might be brought to Valentinus for lessons. She had been blind since birth. Julia was a young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus read stories of Rome's history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about God. She saw the world through his eyes, and trusted in his quiet strength.

"Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia asked one day. "Yes my child, He hears each one," he replied. "Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night? I pray that I might see everything you've told me about." "God does what is best for us if we will believe in Him," Valentinus said. "Oh, Valentinus, I do believe," Julia said. "I do." she knelt and grasped his hand.

As they prayed together, a brilliant light flooded the prison cell. Julia cried out, "Valentinus, I can see! I can see! "Praise be to God!" said Valentinus.

On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God, and he signed it, "From your Valentine."

His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A. D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxdes in Rome. It is said that Julia herself planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave.

Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. On each February 14- St. Valentine's Day- messages of affection love and devotion, are exchanged around the world.The valentine has become the universal symbol of friendship and affection shared each anniversary of the priest's execution -- Valentine's Day.

The above commentary, is part of the true meaning of Holy Catholic Feast Days,
especially feast days like Valentine's Day and Christmas Day,
which have been ( for non-Catholics ) de-Christianized
and paganized for the base purpose of vulgar commercial greed.

[Robert Drobot]

May we always strive to match His love and forgiveness
especially on this day of affection and devotion.

[Kolokotronis]

+Valentine Icon by the hand of Nicholas Pappas

[Uncle Chip]

A legend is like a box of chocolates ---

[Robert Drobot]

"....His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A. D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxdes in Rome...."

NO BOX OF CHOCALATES HERE....unless the above truth doesn't persuade you.

Be careful my friend. The choices we make in this lifetime will be weighed on the Day of Judgment.

[Uncle Chip]

Be careful my friend. The choices we make in this lifetime will be weighed on the Day of Judgment.

If only you had as much passion for the facts of the Scriptures as you do for the legends of your saints.

[vox_freedom]

Thank you, Robert.
When so many in our society think only of chocolates and flowers on "Valentine's Day" we should remember St. Valentine, Roman priest, and martyr, and his unbounded love for Our Saviour. He suffered during the reign of Emperor Caudius II in the 3rd century and was beaten with clubs then beheaded.

The custom of sending valentines on this day is the revival of an ancient pagan practice, which consisted in boys drawing the names of girls in honor of their goddess, Feruata Juno. To abolish this heathen practice the names of saints were substitued on billets drawn upon this day. The custom has nothing to do with St. Valentine, except that the feast precedes February 15th, the day on which the goddess Feruata Juno was honored in this manner.

Prayer: Grant, we beseech You, O almighty God, that we who celebrate the heavenly birthday of Blessed Valentine, Your Martyr, may be delivered by his intercession from all threatening evils. Amen.
[from Lives of the Saints, Rev. Hugo Hoever, S.O.Cist., PhD]

[hispanarepublicana]

How did you do those special characters in the header?

[NYer]

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

[Bahbah]

Thank you, NYer. Very pleasant to read again the story of St. Valentine today.

[redgolum]

Have never seen an icon of St. Valentine like that before! That is cool.

Tried to explain to my wife the whole history behind Valentine's day, and she got the glassy eyed stare she gets when things go right over her head.

[RabidBartender]

Thanks for the ping!

[Carpe Cerevisi]

St. Valentine, pray for us.

[Pyro7480]

"Facts," meaning your interpretation of Scripture.

[La Enchiladita]

Thank you. This is beautiful.

[Jaded]

Thanks for the post.

[AnAmericanMother]

The baptism of St. Lucilla by St. Valentine, by Bassano

[Mr. Jeeves]

If only you had as much passion for the facts of the Scriptures as you do for the legends of your saints.

If only you had as much passion for the Spirit as you do for condemning others, some day Jesus might actually know you.

The bitterness of Puritans and Muslims toward people who don't follow their Earthly rulebooks never ceases to appall and fascinate.

[Robert Drobot]

May He bless your day for your contribution to this thread.

[Robert Drobot]

May He bless your day for your contribution to this thread.