[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]

[murphE]

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.

Yes, we should. But I still get chocolate, right? ;-)

Thanks for posting this Robert.