St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D, a time when the church was enduring great persecution. His ministry was to help the Christians to escape this persecution. Also to provide them the sacraments, such as marriage, which was outlawed by the Roman Empire at that time, something to do with keeping his army numbers up. It is said that St Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and they talked. Claudius tried to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused but he tried to convert Claudius to Christianity. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing Julia, the blind daughter of his jailer Asterius. The jailer's daughter and his forty-four member household came to believe in Jesus and were baptized. In addition to this, Saint Valentine is said to have performed clandestine Christian weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry by Roman law.
According to legend, in order to "remind them of God's love and to encourage them to remain faithful Christians," Saint Valentine is said to have cut hearts from parchment, giving them to the soldiers and the persecuted Christians, a possible origin of the widespread use of hearts on Saint Valentine's Day.
There is an additional embellishment to The Golden Legend, On the evening before Valentine was to be executed, he would have written the first "valentine" card himself, addressed to the daughter of his jailer Asterius, who was no longer blind, signing as "Your Valentine."John Foxe, an English historian, as well as the Order of Carmelites, state that Saint Valentine was buried in the Church of Praxedes in Rome.
So in todays world its become a commercial business. Not a lot of romance left. The flower shops do a huge trade...........as do chocolate shops that much I can understand if you are inclined to keep the day.
People are expected to send cards to their sweethearts. That being said, little kids send them to everyone in their class these days. Its everything but romantic. Nothing like the original intent.Hallmark strikes again.
Chocolates are a traditional gift and flowers. Now of course all kinds of cheap knick knacks are produced and given, anything to make money. I suppose a nice bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates given with meaning is a nice gesture.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE
4 comments:
Nothing is as it should be Janice these days but I am often reminded, this is what the masses wants!
Robert Burns's way is my preferred idea of Valentine's Day!
Thanks for sharing and have a sweet day!
Happy Valentine's Day to you, too. You are right-it is far from the romantic for most folks- xo Diana
Great history lesson, thank you! Happy Valentine's Day to you ;o)
Thanks for the history I never knew the origins of the day, it never was a thing here much but now everything is celebrated, all to make money as you said.
Merle.....
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