The Shadow of the Cross

February 14th is coming up...and it has never, EVER, been a favorite holiday of mine.

The commercialization of the day has left a ashy taste of it in my mouth...

This of course has also been enhanced by the lack of a significant other...but I've learned that Valentine's day is not about that.

It is not about proving your love to someone else by getting them flowers, candy, jewelry, taking them to a fancy dinner with candles and violins in the background.

When did it become about that? In reality, Valentine's day is about standing up for what you believe in...even if that belief leads to death.

Hence comes the history lesson behind the reason for Valentine's day.

During the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius, a verdict prohibiting young people to marry was passed in the belief that young SINGLE soldiers would be better able to concentrate and risk more...after all, they don't have a wife and family back home to return to.

It seemed that during this time, polygamy was much more popular than committed monogamous relationships. In fact, it was encouraged while monogamous relationships between young people was illegalized.

As we all know, there will always be someone who disagrees with an edict like such and find a way to get around it...thus enter a Roman Priest named Valentine. Valentine believed in the sanctity of marriage, but not only that, he believed in marriage within the Christian church...in other words, during the permissive time he lived in, marriage became a vehicle into introducing many into the Christian faith.

So...Valentine began conducting secret marriages...

As does everyone who breaks the law, he got caught in 296 AD and was sentenced to be beaten, stoned then beheaded...wow!

Apparently marrying people illegally was worth a three part sentence.

Now, here's where the all famous "from your Valentine" comes in.

One of those men charged with judging Valentine for his crime was named Asterius. Judge Asterius had a young daughter that was blind.

Prayer for healing over the girl's blindness had such an effect that Asterius became a Christian, and more than likely, so did his daughter.

Before his final sentence (the beheading), Valentine wrote a letter of encouragement to Asterius daughter, signing it "From Your Valentine" and thus became what is known as valentines.

Love is something that changes and matures with time, something that does not need proving because it's there...growing and maturing and changing...always...

So what Valentine's really means "is that there comes a time where you have to lay your life upon the line for what you believe. And with the power of the Holy Spirit we can do that -- even to the point of death." (Father O'Gara)

"Love -- human love and sexuality is wonderful, and blessed by God -- but also the shadow of the cross. That's what Valentine means..." (Father O'Gara).

Quotes and information taken from http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/churchandministry/churchhistory/st_valentine_the_real_story.aspx

Hope you enjoyed the brief history lesson!

So what is this Valentine's day going to be like for me?

Well, I have lab works in the morning...so that involves a needle and my blood.

I have an EKG in the afternoon...so that involves probes and my heart.

LOL. Come to think of it, it seems Valentine's day is going to be right on target for me...

And the good thing this time around is that while I don't celebrate the commercial Valentine's day, I won't be needing to celebrate the S.A.D. day either...you know...Singles Awareness Day.

Why? Because...well...I'm not single anymore...