SO, WHO WAS ST. VALENTINE ANYWAY?

             With Valentine's Day upon us, love is on the minds of many people.  The question is, what really is Valentine's day and more importantly, what is love?

             A little background:

           According to Legend, Roman Emperor Claudius, in the 3rd century, was having a difficult time recruiting soldiers for war. Many men were reluctant to leave wife and family to fight wars on foreign soil.  Claudius came up with a solution - outlaw marriage.

Enter Valentine - a priest who secretly married several couples and was, in return sentenced to death. 

The legend goes on to inform us, while in prison, the priest fell in love with the daughter of one of the guards and sent her a letter signed, "from your Valentine."

Prior to all this, February 14 was known as Lupercalia, a pagan holiday, in which men of valor would draw the names of maidens from a box and thus become sworn protectors of the chosen maiden, or one year.

In order to incorporate Lupercalia into Christian practice, the roman church chose February 14 to be the St. Valentine's day, the patron saint of love.   Instead of drawing the name of a maiden, celebrants drew the name of a canonized saint and thus were charged with emulating the attributes of the chosen saint, for one year.  Over time, the observance evolved into the Hallmark holiday we celebrate today.

While Valentine is not the author nor definer of love, God is.

1 John 4:6  -  So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 

God's love supersedes anything man can express. Most romantic love is contingent upon a quid pro quo, so to speak.  We love and expect love and affection in return.  With God, love goes way beyond any ideas of reciprocation.  While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  

Romantic love is great, if you can find it, but true love transcends feelings and emotions.  True love is sacrificial and expects nothing in return.  This is the love we receive from God and the love we are to strive to emulate.

If you are celebrating today with someone you love, love them well. If you find yourself without someone special to share this holiday, know you are not insignificant and most importantly, you are defined by your relationship with God and you are much loved!  

And in all things, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.

Now, go live as Christ.... and give the devil hell!