Today we honor and bring to mind St. Valentine. He was a priest and martyr for the Faith, and we are called upon to honor him for this, instead of with sicky-sweet cards and candy. Apparently, from one site I found; St. Valentine, on the eve before his beheading, sent a note to the daughter of his executioner; a note (probably defending his belief in Christ), and signed the note: "From your Valentine." Whether or not this is true, it would make more sense than the nonsense of today's thinking. Below is the story of St. Valentine, who was a martyr (witness) for the Faith.
St. Valentine, pray for our Faith, that it be as strong as yours was.
Golden Legend – Saint Valentine Life of Saint Valentine, and first the interpretation of his name.
Valentine is as much to say as containing valour that is persevering in great holiness. Valentine is said also as a valiant knight, for he was a right noble knight of God, and the knight is said valiant that flees not, and smites and defends valiantly and overcomes much powerfully. And so Saint Valentine withdrew him not from his martyrdom in fleeing, he smote in destroying the idols, he defended the faith, he overcame in suffering.
On Saint Valentine the Martyr:
Saint Valentine, friend of our Lord and priest of great authority, was at Rome. It happened that Claudius the emperor made him to come before him and said to him in demanding: What thing is that which I have heard of thee, Valentine? Why wilt thou not abide in our amity, and worship the idols and renounce the vain opinion of thy faith? Saint Valentine answered him: "If thou hadst very knowledge of the grace of Jesu Christ thou should not say this that thou says, but should deny the idols and worship God." Then said to Saint Valentine a prince which was of the council of the emperor: What wilt thou say of our gods and of their holy life? And Saint Valentine answered: "I say none other thing of them but that they were men mortal and full of all human waste and evil."
Then said Claudius the emperor: 'If Jesu Christ be God verily, wherefore say thou not the truth?' Saint Valentine said: "Certainly Jesu Christ is only the very God, and if thou believe in him, verily thy soul shall be saved, thy realm shall multiply, and he shall give to thee always victory of thine enemies." Then Claudius turned him unto all them that were there, and said to them: Lords, Romans, hear ye how wisely and reasonably this man speaks? Anon the provost of the city said: The emperor is deceived and betrayed, how may we leave that which we have been beholden to and been accustomed to hold since our infancy? With these words the emperor turned and changed his courage, and Saint Valentine was delivered in the keeping of the provost.
When Saint Valentine was brought in an house in prison, then he prayed to God, saying: "Lord Jesu Christ very God, which art very light, illumine this house in such wise that they that dwell therein may know thee to be very God." And the provost said: "I marvel me that thou says that thy God is very light, and nevertheless, if he may make my daughter to hear and see, which long time hath been blind, I shall do all that thou commands me, and shall believe in thy God." Saint Valentine anon put him in prayers, and by his prayers the daughter of the provost received again her sight, and anon all they of the house were converted. After, the emperor did smite off the head of Saint Valentine, the year of our Lord two hundred and eighty. Then let us pray to Saint Valentine that he obtain for us pardon of our sins. Amen.
So, today: love, teach, and protect the family. They're all we really have, thanks be to God.
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