The day is approaching that always brings me angst.
I can usually handle birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas, but what do I get my wife for St. Valentine’s Day?
Who was this Valentine and why do I have to buy his cards?
In the third century, there were two Valentines who were martyred for the Christian faith. The thought is the exploits of these two saints were often told together and over time understood to be the work of one man.
One Valentine was a priest who was imprisoned by the Roman emperor for his Christian faith and work. A Nobleman heard him preach the Gospel and was almost persuaded.
The man had a young daughter who was blind. The nobleman told the priest if he healed his daughter of her blindness he would become a Christian. Valentine placed his hands over the daughter’s eyes, prayed and the girl was healed. With her sight restored, the man believed and his whole family became Christians and were baptized. When the emperor heard of this, he was not happy and Valentine was executed on Feb. 14
The second Valentine was a bishop during the time of the same emperor. The emperor had been a general. Expanding and defending the empire was foremost on his mind. He needed soldiers for his armies to fight his battles. When he had trouble getting new recruits, he believed it was because men with families would not want to leave home to travel far away to fight. A decree went out that no one could be engaged to be married and all marriages were to be forbidden.
In addition, persecution against Christians increased.
Bishop Valentine was supportive of engaged young couples. He continued to perform weddings for couples and when the authorities found out he was arrested, beaten and beheaded on Feb. 14. He was buried on the Flaminian Road in Rome where a church named after him was built.
In A.D. 496, the Pope set Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day to honor the martyred priest. With the day set where did the giving of Valentine cards begin?
Geoffrey Chaucer – author of “The Canterbury Tales” – wrote a poem entitled, “The Parliament of Fowls.” In his poem, he makes the first mention of St. Valentines as a day of romance. In England during the month of February, birds paired up and made nests to begin their families.
In the poem, he wrote:
“Birds, listen carefully to me. I understand your urgency and I will progress as swiftly as I can. You are all well aware how, on Saint Valentine’s Day, by my command, you all come here to choose your mates, through the delightful urge that I have instilled in you, and then you quickly depart again.”
A few centuries later, the tragic Ophelia in Shakespeare’s “Dane” play sang.
“Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day. All in the morning betime, And I, a maid at your window, To be your Valentine.”
Over time, St. Valentine’s became a day to send letters and cards to that special someone and continues to this day.
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.