The Feast of Saint Valentine was celebrated as early as the year 496. Not much is known about the Saint himself other than that he is believed to have been a Martyr of the Church. Legend has it that he refused Emperor Claudius' request to renounce his Faith and was beheaded. On the establishment of this Feast Day, Pope Gelasius I supposedly said he was "justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God."
Saint Valentine died for his love - the Church. I think this is a very fitting image for this day. It stands as a reminder that LOVE is a verb, and not just a fuzzy feeling. Love demands work, sacrifice, and sincere devotion to it's object, the beloved. Men we are asked to love our wives even as Christ (and Saint Valentine) love the Church, and if we do so as God intended, our wives will not mind submitting to us as unto the Lord.
Saint Valentine's RelicsA Prayer to St. Valentine
O glorious advocate and protector,
St Valentine,
look with pity upon our wants,
hear our requests,
attend to our prayers,
relieve by your intercession the miseries
under which we labour,
and obtain for us the divine blessing,
that we may be found worthy to join you
in praising the Almighty for all
eternity: through the merits of
Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Ad Maiorem Dei Glorium Blog
2. Wikipedia Article on St. Valentine
3. Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on St. Valentine
4. Chaucer and the Cult of Saint Valentine
5. Aquinas and More Patron Saint Index
Opening Our Hearts to Ephesians 5
This is a very good discussion on Ephesians 5. Please visit Catholic Exchange to read it.
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