By K.P. Sander

Antique Valentine’s Day Card (Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia)

Ah, l’amour!  It’s the stuff that makes the world go ‘round, vous ne trouvez pas?  St. Valentine might have a thing or two to say about that.

This Sat., Feb. 14, millions of people around the world will celebrate Valentine’s Day with their sweetheart by way of candy, flowers, cards, dinner out – or with extravagant gifts of jewelry and marriage proposals.  Elementary school children still pass out cards to their classrooms, making little girls think of a secret admirer (and little boys think, “Ew!”).

More factually speaking, it all began as a church celebration centered on early Christian saints named Valentinus, and was often associated with martyrdom.  Wikipedia states an account of Saint Valentine of Rome, who was imprisoned by Roman Emperor, Claudius II, for Christianity.  This particular St. Valentine healed Julia, the blind daughter of his jailer – according to legend – and in a farewell letter sent to her before his execution, he signed, “Your Valentine.”  The jailer, Asterius, and his household of 44 family members and servants came to believe in Jesus because of this miracle and were baptized.

Before the greeting card industry embellished it to what it is today, St. Valentine’s Day was first linked to romantic love in 18th century England, when courtly love flourished.  Lovers often expressed their love through the presentation of flowers, sweets and special cards called, valentines – traditions that are common today.

However you spend your Valentine’s Day, remember to tell someone that you love them, in remembrance of St. Valentine, who lost his life for the love of Jesus.