Valentine's Note

For all romantics - J. John writes an interesting short history behind the Valentine's love note...

Valentine, the priest who Valentine’s Day is named after, was martyred for the godly institution of marriage.

 

The emperor of Rome, Claudius, passed a law banning marriages.  His reason was simple:  men would not volunteer to join his Roman army with wives and fiancées to leave behind.  Valentine knew that God instituted the family and His will included marriages.  So, he kept on performing marriage ceremonies - but in secret.  He would whisper the words of the ceremony, while listening for soldiers on the steps outside.

 

One night, he did hear footsteps.  The couple he was marrying escaped, but he was caught.  He was thrown into prison and sentenced to death. 

 

Valentine remained cheerful while he was in prison and many people came to the prison to visit him.  He even continued to perform marriage ceremonies while he was in prison!  The jailer’s daughter would often visit Valentine in his cell and they sat and talked for hours.  She believed he did the right thing ignoring the Emperor and performing marriage ceremonies. 

 

On the day Valentine was to die he left this girl a note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty.  He signed it, “Love from your Valentine”.  That note, written on the day Valentine died –  February 14th, 269 AD – started the custom of exchanging love notes on St Valentine’s Day.

As compelling as the story is, a number of men in our office insist that Valentines Day is a pagan ritual.  Therefore as good Christian husbands they are determined that this Valentines Day, their wives will be shielded from such ungodly practices.