Valentine's Day

Providence Family, 

We are in the month of February, and you know what that means...  Valentine's Day!!  As we celebrate Valentine's Day, a time marked by expressions of love and affection, it is fitting to reflect on the profound connection between this holiday and the love of God.  At its core, Valentine's Day is inspired by St. Valentine, a third-century Roman saint known for his commitment to Christ and his sacrificial love.  

St. Valentine's life exemplifies the selfless love God calls us to embody.  Though much of his life remains cloaked in mystery, historical accounts reveal his unwavering faith in the face of persecution.  St. Valentine is believed to have defied Emperor Claudius II's orders by secretly performing Christain marriages.  This act was not only a testament to his devotion to God but also to his understanding of marriage as a sacred bond reflecting God's love for humanity.  

A powerful quote attributed to St. Valentine reads, "Love is a symbol of eternity.  It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and fear of an end."  This sentiment echoes the eternal and boundless nature of God's love, as described in Scripture:  "And now these three remain:  faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).  

St. Valentine's martyrdom - his ultimate sacrifice - demonstrates the depth of his love for Christ and others.  He understood that true love often requires courage, selflessness, and a willingness to endure trials for the sake of others.  His life reminds us that the love we celebrate on Valentine's Day is rooted in God's perfect love, which is patient, kind, and eternal.  

As we exchange gifts and words of affection this Valentine's Day, let us also remember the higher call to love as God loves - selflessly and sacrificially.  May the legacy of St. Valentine inspire us to live lives marked by faith, hope, and enduring love.