Valentine’s Day

So how did Valentine’s day originate?

With any celebratory tradition, the historicity is sometimes muddled but most would agree the day originated romantically with 14th century poet Geoffrey Chaucer when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

Some would claim Valentine’s day originated as a  Christian liturgical feast day that honored one or more early martyred saints, St. Valentine of Rome included.  The popular story recounts that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to the legend, St. Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius, and before his execution, he wrote her a letter signed, “Your Valentine” as a farewell.

In 18th-century England, the day evolved into an occasion in which lovers  expressed their love for each other through flowers, candy, and greeting cards aptly known as “valentines.”

However you celebrate, may the love of our Lord be your source of joy today and whose valentine took the form of a cross. He signed it with his own shed blood. Now that’s love.