Valentine is all about the exchange of gifts and romance,
right? Well, it is not so.
It all started with a kind-hearted, humble priest named
Valentine. During his time, there was an emperor in Rome
named Claudius who persecuted/tortured Christians. He
made a law that prohibited marriages and engagements in
Rome. This is because he had difficulty getting soldiers to
join his military leagues. Claudius believed that Roman
men were unwilling to join the army because of their
strong attachment to their wives and families. He also
reasoned that single men made better soldiers and fought
better than those with wives, saying that if they are
married, they would be afraid of what might happen to
their wives and family if they died in battle. So, he banned
marriage for young men.
Valentine, realising the injustice of the decree, defied
Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young
lovers in secret. Valentine was eventually caught,
imprisoned and tortured for performing marriage
ceremonies against the command of Emperor Claudius
and for protecting Christians.
While in prison, Valentine met Asterius, who was to judge
him in line with the Roman law at the time. Asterius had a
daughter named Julia who was blind. Valentine prayed
and healed the young girl. This had an astonishing effect
on Asterius, who became a Christian as a result.
In the year 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to a three-
part execution of a beating, stoning, and finally beheaded,
all because of his stand for Christian marriage.
Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote Julia a letter
signed “From your Valentine,” this inspired today’s
romantic expression- ‘your valentine’. It was said that the
content of his letter was an advice to Julia that she
should be very close to God.
Saint Valentine’s martyrdom (death) has not gone
unnoticed by the general public; although many people
celebrate valentine without any understanding of what it
means and what it stands for. We find people, especially
the young ones celebrating it the wrong way- they see it
as a time to get a man/woman/boy/girl to celebrate with
by doing all kinds of ungodly things- if Saint Valentine was
alive, I believe he will not be happy, the way people have
misunderstood his sacrifice for humanity to sustain
reproduction through marriage. Most people are not
learning the lesson of self-sacrifice in fulfilment of one’s
destiny which valentine stands for.
The celebration of Saint Valentine did not have any
romantic connotations until sometimes later in the 14th
century, when people started to make it a romantic
celebration. Earlier beliefs were focused
on sacrifice rather than romantic love.
Lessons:
1. The idea of encouraging young lovers to marry within
the Christian church was what Saint Valentine stood
for, he didn’t encourage sexual immorality at all.
Rather, his action was to discourage sex outside
marriage and all kinds of immorality which botht
married and single have now turned valentine to
mean.
2. He performed marriages for those ready for marriage,
knowing that sex outside of marriage is a sin against
one’s body and against God.
3. Valentine was a saint and not a sinner- why then do
people make him seem like an encourager of sin by
celebrating him in sin.
4. If you’re not married then desist from sex. If married,
be faithful to your husband/wife. This is what
Valentine stands for-
5. Valentine is about doing God’s will. God Himself
instituted marriage, not premarital sex and other
sexual activities outside marriage. Valentine upholds
God’s wish for people who are willing, to marry and
have children.
6. Saint Valentine healed Julia, the blind girl and her
Father became a Christian- Why aren’t people believing
God for such power to do good, and God being
glorified through them, making many to come to
believe in Jesus?
7. Saint Valentine gave his life so that young couples
could be bonded together in holy matrimony. They may
have killed the man, but not his spirit. Valentine
teaches sacrifice for the right thing, even unto death.
Willing to do the right thing at all times. Why are we
not learning this lesson?
8. Centuries after his death, the story of Valentine’s self-
sacrifice and commitment was legendary in Rome. You
too should live a life committed to a good course and
the world will remember you for good.
9. Whenever valentine is celebrated, ask yourself- what
good thing have I accomplished for my generation that
I will be remembered for after my death? You are not
too small to begin to do great exploits for God, exploits
that will change your generation for good. Start from
where you are, it may start little but it will grow with
time. Peace!!!
Eventually, he was granted sainthood and the Catholic
Church decided to create a feast in his honour. They
picked February 14 as the day of celebration.
Think of fulfilling your God-given destiny on earth- that’s
the message of Valentine.
