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In February our thoughts turn to love and St.
Valentine's day. In fact there was a Saint Valentine who was a
bishop in the church who was martyred in Rome in the latter part of the
third century AD. Since he was martyred on February 14th, the
church has, since those early days, remembered him on February 14th.
The popular customs associated with
Saint Valentine's Day undoubtedly had their origin in a
conventional belief generally received in England and France during the
Middle Ages, that on 14 February, i.e. half way through the second month
of the year, the birds began to pair. Thus in Chaucer's Parliament of
Foules we read:
For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.
For this reason the day was looked upon as specially consecrated to
lovers and as a proper occasion for writing love letters and sending
lovers' tokens.
With these things in mind, consider the following scriptures.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that
whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
John 3:16
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he
(Jesus) said, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and
foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22:36-39
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and
gave himself up for her...For this cause a man shall leave his father
and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one
flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak with reference to
Christ and the church." Ephesians
5:25, 31-32 |