FIRST JOHN, FOUR: SEVEN AND EIGHT

"BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE IS OF GOD, AND ANYONE WHO LOVES IS BORN OF GOD, AND KNOWS GOD. HE WHO LOVES NOT KNOWS NOT GOD, FOR GOD IS LOVE".

On this day when the world celebrates St. Valentine's day, I pray for us all here, that The Lover of Our Souls, our savior Jesus Christ, would find an open door to our hearts, and expand them to be so full of His Love, that it would pour out onto everyone we meet. Come Lord Jesus.

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), February 14, 2003

Answers

SAINT VALENTINE Priest and Martyr (†268)

Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who assisted the martyrs during the persecution under Claudius II. His great virtue and influence became known, and he was apprehended and brought before the emperor’s tribunal. “Why, Valentine, do you want to be the friend of our enemies and reject our friendship?” The Christian priest replied, “My Lord, if you knew the gift of God, you would be happy, and your empire with you; you would reject the cult of your idols and would adore the true God and His Son Jesus Christ.” One of the judges interrupted, asking the martyr what he thought of Jupiter and Mercury. “That they were miserable, and spent all their lives in debauchery and crime!” The judge, furious, cried, “He has blasphemed against the gods and against the empire!” The emperor nonetheless continued his questioning with curiosity, pleased to have this opportunity to know what Christians thought. Valentine had the courage to exhort him to do penance for the blood of Christians which he had shed. “Believe in Jesus Christ, be baptized and you will be saved, and already in this life you will insure your empire’s glory and the triumph of your arms.” Claudius began to be convinced, and said to those in attendance, “Hear the beautiful doctrine this man is teaching us!” But the prefect of Rome, dissatisfied, cried out, “See how this Christian is seducing our prince!” Claudius, weakening, abandoned the holy priest to another judge.

This man, named Asterius, had a little girl who had been blind for two years. Hearing of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, he asked Valentine if he could convey that light to his child. Saint Valentine placed his hand on her eyes and prayed: “Lord Jesus Christ, true Light, illuminate this blind child!” The child saw, and the Judge with all his family confessed Christ and received Baptism. The emperor, hearing of this, would have turned his gaze away from these conversions, but fear caused him to betray his sense of justice. With several other Christians Saint Valentine was tortured and martyred in the year 268.

This illustrious martyr has always been held in great honor in Rome, where there still exists a catacomb named for him.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), February 14, 2003.

Does anyone remember the "Simpsons" episode where the ad executives got together and decided to invent a new holiday, so they could sell more stuff? The name they came up with was "Love Day"! ;-)

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), February 14, 2003.

This day, February 14th, is no longer celebrated in the Roman Liturgical calendar as the Feast of St. Valentine, as it was in pre- Vatican II times. It is now celebrated as a Memorial, i.e. not a major feast, of Saints Cyril and Methodius. This is a result of the post-Vatican II broadening of the base of saints for universal celebration, both in space and time (more countries and more centuries included).

Cyril and Methodius were brothers (physical, not just in the religious sense) who in the ninth century served as "apostles to the Slavs". They translated some of the scriptures and the liturgy into the vernacular, even inventing an alphabet to do so (the so called "Cyrillic" alphabet, a later variant, is named for Cyril).

Pope John Paul II nominated (i.e. named, not just put up as a candidate for which to vote!) Cyril and Methodius (together with Benedict) as patrons of Europe. I noticed that they are also listed in the U.S. Episcopal Church BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER and the Lutheran BOOK OF WORSHIP for this day.

Poor old St. Valentine, a third century Roman priest/bishop, is no longer included in the Universal Roman Calendar, but his name is still well entrenched, not for religious reasons, in the secular calendar in the U.S., at least. When my wife wished me a "Happy Valentine's Day", I respond wishing her a "Happy Cyril and Methodius Day". But it just doesn't have the same ring (pun intended) to it!

-- Edward Pothier (EdwardPothier@aol.com), February 14, 2003.

This day, February 14th, is no longer celebrated in the Roman Liturgical calendar as the Feast of St. Valentine

It is on my calendar.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), February 14, 2003.

Aw, Jake, you're just a hopeless romantic. ;-)

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), February 14, 2003.

I wish you a happy Valentine's day to all of you in the forum.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), February 14, 2003.