Most of us have grown up knowing how to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but do we know why we are celebrating it? One of my favourite sayings that has changed the way I look at life is, “Those who know why have the advantage over those who know how.” I’ll be the first to confess that I have been an ignorant bystander as to why February 14th has been set apart. Honestly speaking, the only reason I decided to investigate further is because I thought I probably wasn’t the only ignorant one and it might be a good idea to write a blog about it. Huh! Don’t you wish we all had a reason to dig a little deeper?
Well in some ways I have not come away disappointed and in other ways I have. To begin with let me share why I’m not disappointed. According to history there really was a St. Valentine or more accurately, Valentinus. He lived during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius II. Now according to what I read, historians aren’t sure if either or both of what I’m about to share are true. Claudius II had this belief that single men made better soldiers as their loyalty would not be divided between their country and their wives and children. Hence, he outlawed marriage. Valentinus was a priest and decided to officiate marriages in secret. The emperor had a pantheon of gods that he decreed were to be worshipped and it was a crime to speak to Christians. Being a believer in Christ, Valentinus, refused to worship these gods. So whether Valentinus was found guilty of one of these or both, we are not sure, but he was caught, arrested, imprisoned and sentenced to death.
The jailer who guarded Valentinus found him to be a very intelligent, kind and giving man. Having a daughter who was blind the jailer asked Valentinus if he would teach his daughter, Julia. Julia came to the prison and learned from Valentinus academics and the ways of God. The two became close; Valentinus seeing Julia like a daughter and Julia seeing Valentinus as a friend and mentor. She confided in him that her one desire and constant prayer was to receive her sight. Again, we’re not sure which one of the following is true, but one account says that a flash of light filled the room and Julia received her sight and another says that Valentinus prayed for her and she was healed. Valentinus was scheduled to be executed on February 14th, 270 AD. Right before his execution, he wrote a note to Julia and signed it, “From your Valentine.”
Wow! What a beautiful story of Valentinus’ willingness to be martyred for love’s sake. I suppose my disappointment comes when the power of the meaning of this day has been diluted down to chocolates, flowers and romantic (or rotic – romantic without the man) dinners. Not that there is anything wrong with these expressions, but if that is all there is to Valentine’s Day then I believe we have missed out on its true message. I have just returned from spending Valentine’s evening visiting the sick in the largest hospitals in Cape Town, along with around 20 University students. It was their idea to spend Valentine’s evening taking the love of Christ to the patients by listening to their stories, giving out flowers and sweets, and praying for their healing. Personally, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this day, especially now that I know why it has been set apart. If we dig a little deeper, we will find that there is a lot we can do for love’s sake.
