Saint Valentine, patron saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers and young people, was martyred on this day around the year 269. He was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime]. Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. He refused to denounce his Christian faith and was beaten with clubs and later beheaded. It is believed that he restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter and penned a farewell note to her and signed it, "From your Valentine".
Fast forward to 2012, and the above photo is what the secular world associates with Valentine's Day. In my opinion, this isn't so bad. St. Valentine was a Christian Martyr, but he was also an example of love and kindness-even to his captors. In this modern day, we could all use a little more love. Like St. Valentine, we must love even when it isn't easy. How easy to love someone that loves us back, but to love someone who doesn't love us back is to love like Christ.
Happy Saint Valentine's Day to you and yours!
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