|
Seach the Archives
Spiritual
Retreats 2008 |
See our incredible blog with lots of free stuff! Get it sent to your email here Receive our monthly email newsletter! What
information would you like?
|
|
Saint Valentines Dayby Rev. Robin DumolinSaint Valentine's actual name was Valentinus. He was said to have demonstrated courage and valor in helping Christian martyrs being persecuted under Emperor Claudius II in Rome, during a time when giving any kind of aid to Christians was considered a crime. Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned for this crime. One year after his imprisonment, Valentinus appeared before the emperor and attempted to convert him to Christianity. The emperor was so impressed with Valentinus' dignity that he tried to save him by converting him to the Roman Gods, asking Valentinus, "Why wilt thou not abide in amenity and worship idols, and renounce the vain opinion of thy creance? " Valentinus replied, "I say of thy gods none other thing but that they were men mortal and merchant, and full of odure and evil. " Valentinus was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs, stoned and finally beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. After his death, this gate was known as Porta Valentini, later being renamed Porta Popolo. There is a legend that says while awaiting his execution, he befriended his jailer's blind daughter whose sight he restored to her. According to Alfonso Villiegas, in his book "Lives of Saints, " the jailer was Asterios, one of the Emperor's lieutenants. He and his family were converted to Christianity by St. Valentine, and they were condemned to death by Claudius II. Furthermore, according to legend, on the eve of Valentinus' death, he wrote a farewell message to the jailer's daughter and signed it, "From your Valentine. " This is how Valentine's Day evolved. Wolves lived around Rome in ancient times. The wolves killed the sheep outside the city walls, as well as some humans. The Romans prayed to the God Lupercus, guardian of the flocks, to protect them. The holiday started out to honor him. Throughout the years Lupercus became less important. The holiday turned into a celebration honoring Juno, queen of the Roman gods. She ruled over marriage, so the holiday became one of love. At this celebration it was the custom for boys to draw by lot the names of girls who would be their partners during the feast. Later, when Christian pastors wanted to abolish heathen customs, they gave the celebration a Christian touch by substituting in the lot the name of saints for the name of girls. By the year 496 AD the Christian church had become very powerful. The head of the church, Pope Gelasius didn't like or believe in the Roman gods. He turned the celebration into a church holiday by honoring St. Valentines death on this day. By 1400 people all over Europe celebrated this day as a holiday as love. When the English came to America, they brought the holiday to the New World. What about the symbology of Valentine's day? Red hearts have denoted love since ancient times. Ribbons go back to the days when ladies gave ribbons to their favorite knights when they went to war. Roses and violets both stand for love. Lace comes from a latin word, it means "to catch. " Lace was supposed to catch the heart of a loved one. Cupid was the Roman god of love. Copyright © 1995. Sterling Rose Press, Inc. |
Classes at the Academy for Psychic Studies are enrolling now!
"Freedom
is the Essence of Life"
Academy
for Psychic Studies | International
Spiritual Hypnotherapy Institute | Total
Prosperity Radio
American
Spirit Newspaper | Church
of Common Sense | Retreats
Page last updated February 8, 2008
Sterling Rose Press
PO Box 14341, Berkeley, CA 94712
800-642-WELL
publisher@americanspiritnews.com
© 2008 Sterling Rose Press