Beyond the roses, chocolates and historical ties to a pagan fertility festival, you\u2019ll find the real meaning of Valentine\u2019s Day. It\u2019s the true love that compelled a young Christian to give up his life rather than stop sharing his faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Valentine\u2019s Day<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When we think of Valentine\u2019s Day, we often think of red roses, candy in heart- shaped boxes, mushy valentines, and winged cherubs flying about shooting starry-eyed lovers with arrows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But did you know that the origin of Valentine\u2019s Day, or Saint Valentine\u2019s Day, comes from the life and death of a Christian martyr?<\/strong> According to author Martha Zimmerman, the date traditionally celebrated as St. Valentine\u2019s Day finds it origin in the Roman festival of romance called Lupercalia, when the gods Juno and Pan were honored. It was a fertility festival or a lover\u2019s holiday looking forward to the return of the Spring. In the fifth century, in an attempt to abolish the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia and its February 15 date to February 14 and called it Saint Valentine\u2019s Day. Even though the names and the date were changed, the emphasis continued to be on love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who was the real Valentine, and why did he have a day named after him?<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some authorities credit Geoffrey Chaucer with originating the custom of linking Valentine\u2019s Day with lovers. No link between the day and lovers exists before the time of Chaucer, thus leading some to conclude that it was this famous English author <\/strong>who connected the day with lovers<\/strong>. The fullest and earliest description of the tradition occurs in Chaucer\u2019s \u201cParliament of Fouls\u201d composed around 1380. Since that time it has been traditional to connect St. Valentine\u2019s Day with love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But who was the real Saint Valentine? St. Valentine was a Roman Christian who, <\/strong>according to tradition, was martyred during the persecution of Christians<\/strong> in the third century by Emperor Claudius II. The only thing certain about the day we remember as St. Valentine\u2019s Day is that it commemorates a martyrdom. Claudius II declared all Christians illegal citizens. By his definition, they were guilty of treason because Roman citizens were required by law to worship the Emperor by declaring publicly, \u201cCaesar is Lord!\u201d Of course, this no Christian could do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The real Valentine was a Roman Christian martyred during the third century A.D. by the Emperor Claudius II. Prior to his death, Valentine continued to minister in prison by witnessing to his prison guards. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was given her sight. The guard and his whole family, 46 people, believed in Jesus and were baptized. When the Emperor heard about this he was furious that Valentine was still making converts even in prison, so he sentenced Valentine to death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just before being led out to his execution, the young Christian wrote a note to the jailer\u2019s daughter, signing it, \u201cFrom your Valentine.\u201d<\/strong> The first valentine was really a Christian witness. Growing out of this story we participate in a custom of sending cards to people we love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given that the tradition of sending love notes grows out of a letter written by St. Valentine to his jailer\u2019s daughter on the eve of Valentine\u2019s execution, it\u2019s ironic that the card we send has received the emphasis, instead of remembering the content of the original Valentine\u2019s card: a message of unconditional devotion to Christ,<\/strong> even upon pain of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time the word \u201cSaint\u201d has been dropped from St. Valentine\u2019s Day, further obscuring the origins of this holiday. Instead of a negative reaction to some of the pagan origins of the day, why not celebrate the true love that compelled young Valentine to give up his life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that the day we know as St. Valentine\u2019s Day actually commemorates the death of an early Christian martyr, Valentine, who was put to death for refusing to renounce his faith in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of chubby cherubs, sappy cards, too much candy, and soon-wilted flowers, why not point your family toward the true significance of St. Valentine\u2019s Day this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By all means, celebrate the day, but re-inject it with Christian meaning by resolving to live for Jesus without fear or shame, following the godly example of Valentine\u2019s unconditional love for Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How can you celebrate St. Valentine\u2019s Day<\/strong> in a way that honors the original Valentine, who was martyred for his devotion to God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Will you be God\u2019s valentine? It is your choice. Say yes and give to God the love He desires. And when you do, remember the first Valentine and how he gave everything, including his life, to the God he loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: Internet<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Beyond the roses, chocolates and historical ties to a pagan fertility festival, you\u2019ll find the real meaning of Valentine\u2019s Day. 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