[Resurrecting an old post circa 2015, on the occasion celebrated every February 14. Who started the trend that has gotten commercialized just like Christmas? Find out.—-Admin1.]
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How many people know about and actually celebrate the “Feasts” of YHWH commanded in Leviticus 23? Probably a total hardly comparable to how many know and actually celebrate Valentine’s Day every February 14.
Year after year, people celebrate this day not knowing how it all started, or who was this person named “Valentine,” and what did he ever do to deserve a day in the month of February?
It’s a day characterized by hearts, flowers, chocolates, a romantic night out, Cupid, Eros, perhaps engagement or better yet, marriage proposal; do any of these symbols relate to Mr. Valentine?
Here’s an article that might come as a surprise to most people who have the mistaken notion that this person “Valentine” was some kind of a romantic ‘fella’. Look at the picture of “Saint” Valentine below and see if you feel inclined to be lovey-dovey [nope, not Snoopy, the next photo below him].
Image from candacecarnahan.wordpress.com
The point of featuring this is that the whole world continues year after year to celebrate this day, ever wonder who REALLY benefits from it? Well, for one all ‘lovers’ who don’t need a special occasion like this to commemorate their love for one another. For another, neglected wives and girlfriends who hope to be remembered at least one day out of the year. And finally, this is most likely the KEY to all the mindless celebrating: it is simply another occasion for commercialism, for businesses to make a killing . . .in this case, florists, chocolatiers, restaurants, greeting cards. ‘Bah humbug’ indeed, would say curmudgeonly Scrooge . . . but why be a killjoy when people are simply having fun even if nobody could care less how it all began, can’t we just live and let live?
Well, time to be informed, like it or not! Here’s some background, courtesy of an agnostic respecter of all religions and traditions, (credit him for true religious tolerance, definitely kinder than most religionists!). This FYI source is Notre Dame University.
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Valentine was a priest in third-century Rome who helped Christians who were being persecuted for their faith. One of the services he offered was to perform marriages for Christians during this persecution, which led to his patronage of young people, those in love, and happy marriages. Valentine was discovered and arrested. Authorities threatened him with torture unless he renounced his faith. He refused and was beaten with clubs, then beheaded. He died on this date in the year 269. Legend has it that before he was beheaded, he converted his jail guard by healing the man’s daughter, restoring sight to her and writing her a note, which he signed, “From your Valentine.”
In the Middle Ages, his feast was connected with the tradition of courtly love. Much of his story is unreliable, so the official calendar for liturgy for the universal Church uses this date to commemorate Sts. Cyril and Methodius. St. Valentine still remains on the calendar for local veneration in Rome, however.
Archeologists have uncovered a Roman catacomb and church that was built in memory of St. Valentine. He was remembered with great honor by early Christians and was included in the saints recalled in the Mass in some places. His relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica and his image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.
“St. Valentine,
patron of young people,
those in love,
and happy marriages,
pray for us!”
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S6K Comment: If Saint Valentine were like Almighty God who is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent and could hear and actually answer all the prayers of couples in love and married couples, the pray-ors to him might indeed get answers but . . . alas, no human dead or alive is all-powerful like the One True God YHWH who can hear prayers all at the same time but will presumably answer only those prayers directed to Him, don’t you think?
“Sorry, right address, wrong addressee.” Should the One True God answer prayers addressed to other gods and perpetuate the wrong belief that there are non-gods who exist and who actually have power to hear and answer prayers intended for them? You see, it’s like addressing someone whose attention you’re calling, but until you say the correct name, that person won’t know you’re calling him. Mothers do it sometimes, going through names of her kids and the child pays attention only when he hears his name.
One might reason out, ‘how many really know the True God, much less know His Name?’ Think of it this way: when a law enforcer issues you a speeding ticket and you explain you didn’t know the speed limit, what might he say? ” Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Is there any reason in this day and age not to know any information available IF ONE TRULY CARES TO KNOW? Actually, if you simply read His TORAH, you will know Him and the Name He reveals . . . but for those with no access to such information, He probably will accommodate prayers He recognizes as addressed to Him, even if it’s directed “to Whom it may concern.” Guessing.
Might this kind of devotion to a dead saint fall under the sin of idolatry, in violation of the 2nd commandment? Ditto with prayers to all other “saints” and anyone else who is not the One True God, no? Why not just pray for yourself, straight to the True God who hears, and not ask a dead saint to pray for you? You see, no intermediary is needed to reach this God of the TNK; how do we know, He says so, find out for yourself.
Excuse us for riding on this occasion to share love for neighbor with love for God, as our February Sabbath liturgy has endeavored to redirect our attention to the Divine Source of unconditional love.
So here’s a Sinaite’s unsolicited advice:
Celebrate? OK!
Pray to dead people even if canonized as “saint”, NOT OK!
♥ NSB@S6K
