On February 14, next week, we celebrate ‘Valentine’s Day.’ As a young child I recall the special day of February 14th, with making out tiny cards and giving them to friends, family, and schoolmates. I also remember the heart-shaped candies with those silly sayings on them like ‘kiss me’, ‘I’m yours’, ‘Hot Stuff’, and ‘Sweetheart.’ Where exactly did all this begin and who exactly is St. Valentine whom this day is named after. By the way, St. John Cantius has a stained glass window of St. Valentine in the upper section of the church! There were actually 3 martyrs named Valentinus (Latin) or Valentine (English). Each of them died a similar martyrs death – very cruel at the hands of the Roman authorities around 250- 265 AD. The origins of our current Valentine Day practices probably originates from a story of one of the 3 Saint Valentine(s). The story goes that a temple priest named Valentinus who was imprisoned for ministering to Christians when they were being persecuted by the Roman Empire was unjustly imprisoned. While in prison, he fell in love with a young woman (possibly the jailer’s daughter) who worked as a keeper feeding the Christian prisoners in jail. The two fell in love and right before his death, Valentinus sent her a farewell note thanking her for her kind service and expressed his personal feelings and admiration of her. He is said to have signed the note, “From Your Valentine….” The origins of so many early Roman martyrs are shrouded in mystery and clouded in history. That does not mean it is false or make believe. What it does mean is that we are not ‘exactly’ sure of every detail. CS Lewis once said about his own wife Joy, “When I have learned to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.” HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! – Fr. Roach
