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A few VALENTINE words from Gary:

     History   

Valentine's Day was a Christian replacement for the old Roman celebration of Lupercalia, a festival that honored Juno Februata, the goddess of (febris) love.  Reportedly, this was the day when the birds would choose mates.  The Roman calendar placed February a little later in the year than ours.

As an extension of this natural occurrence, the Romans would also choose mates for the coming year on this date.  Annually, on the ides of February, love notes or "billets" would be drawn to partner men and women for feasting and romantic game playing.

The early Christian church felt that such a celebration was promoting the wrong actions and thoughts and that relationships should be based on a true loving desire to live and share with each other.  Therefore they decided to replace the celebration of Lupercalia by honoring St. Valentinus who had been previously executed on Feb. 14th. 

    St. Valentine   

The only difficulty with this choice of saints was the life style assumed by Valentinus.  He reportedly was a chaste man, and lacked experience with the art of love that he was chosen to represent. 

In order to make him a little more appealing, the church probably enhanced the story associated with the celebration of his day.  Regardless of its validity, the story has survived and Valentinus' saint's day has become a tradition that has evolved and been celebrated for many centuries.  

   The Legend   

During the days of the late Roman empire, young Roman males lacked a desire to participate in the Roman army.  Emperor Claudius II thought he could solve this problem by preventing ties to the local Roman community.  He therefore outlawed all marriages with the hope that his soldiers would be more willing to leave home to fight if they didn't have formal relationships with members of the opposite sex.

Valentinus reportedly ignored Claudius' decree and secretly conducted several wedding ceremonies.  Caught in the act of assisting and facilitating these loving relationships, he was arrested and imprisoned.   

His jailer's daughter was blind, and according to legend, Valentinus cured her blindness.  The young girl fell deeply in love with Valentinus but was unable to save him, and he was beheaded on February 14th.  

However, before his execution, Valentinus managed to slip a parting note to the girl.  The message, of course, was signed, "From your Valentine".  

    Your Celebration   

We trust your celebration of this day will end on a more positive note.  Find some ways to make this day extra special.  Be sure to express your love and enjoy sharing with your loved one(s) in a warm and caring way.                                                 

Send our FREE email audio VALENTINE greeting cards to your loved one and those very special friends. 
Check them out at www.collectingconsort.com

SEND this article on St. Valentine to a friend.

Return to www.collectingconsort.com

Other articles on caregiver mentors: 

The story of Francis of Assisi's journey to the Holy Lands on a peace mission during the 5th Crusade.  3/16/03

Free MP3 audio download of the Prayer of Francis of Assisi read by Gary with Anne providing a musical background with her Celtic Harp.  3/16/03

St. Patrick, Irish patron saint, free MP3 download of music and biographical story  featuring Collecting Consort music with Gary as narrator. (5 min.) 03/16/01

A short biography on medical missionary, Albert Schweitzer (2 min.)  01/04/01

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