It was a cruel and vicious Roman Emperor Claudius II, as legend has it, who jailed and executed saint and martyr Valentine in 269 AD. Valentine was remembered as a young priest who stood for his belief in Christian marriage and performed secret weddings against the orders of the emperor who wanted many more unmarried men in his army because they were regarded to be better fighters. Valentine died for his convictions like millions of Christians and people of commitment who take a stand against powerful oppressors and sacrifice themselves for justice, truth, freedom and human rights. But perhaps Valentine’s Day is no longer for many a celebration of those mighty moral values and may have long lost its meaning as a day recognizing courageous virtue of those bravely standing for beliefs and principles.
Nowadays at its best, Valentine’s is a day of special acknowledgement of true friendship, loyalty and faithfulness between friends and self-sacrificing love between married couples. In its harmless fun and frolics mode, it might have been a day of romantic messages, some serious, others less so. It was hopefully a day for friends, young and old, to celebrate and express their affection, emotional attraction and unselfish love for each other. Probably the supermarkets and famous food stores did well in the provision of “romantic dinners for two”. At its worst, Valentine’s became a day for hedonistic and lustful excess to gratify animal urges and sexual desires. But here too was a definite chance for a good Christian witness by young Catholics that showed that like others one can certainly enjoy sunshine, enjoyment and fun while seeing that Son-Light, salt-flavour and wholesome fun are our way of getting things done. So I hope you had a nice time, spent some money but not too foolishly on those nice symbols of your special love for someone, indeed that you had fun, but didn’t lose sight of things that nourish real love of the kind that loves others as much as one loves oneself.
There are modern day “Valentine Heroes” who are true to the highest calling to be faithful to oneself, one’s principles and stand for truth, integrity and honesty.
There are always true “Valentine Heroes”, who are an inspiration and role model to those with the courage to choose to live a truly honest life of unshakable values.
Look around; maybe they are still to be found among us too. All of us should admire, support and imitate them when we recognise them. They start out as ordinary mortals like us but rise to heroic heights of virtue. They develop a love higher, greater, more pure and unselfish than most of us can imagine. The love these heroes have is not for mere pleasure or self-gratification, but only to give of themselves daily for the welfare of others, for the community, for those who can give no return, no payback. This is the greatest love of all – “to lay down one’s life for a friend”. Now who first said that?
Nowadays at its best, Valentine’s is a day of special acknowledgement of true friendship, loyalty and faithfulness between friends and self-sacrificing love between married couples. In its harmless fun and frolics mode, it might have been a day of romantic messages, some serious, others less so. It was hopefully a day for friends, young and old, to celebrate and express their affection, emotional attraction and unselfish love for each other. Probably the supermarkets and famous food stores did well in the provision of “romantic dinners for two”. At its worst, Valentine’s became a day for hedonistic and lustful excess to gratify animal urges and sexual desires. But here too was a definite chance for a good Christian witness by young Catholics that showed that like others one can certainly enjoy sunshine, enjoyment and fun while seeing that Son-Light, salt-flavour and wholesome fun are our way of getting things done. So I hope you had a nice time, spent some money but not too foolishly on those nice symbols of your special love for someone, indeed that you had fun, but didn’t lose sight of things that nourish real love of the kind that loves others as much as one loves oneself.
There are modern day “Valentine Heroes” who are true to the highest calling to be faithful to oneself, one’s principles and stand for truth, integrity and honesty.
There are always true “Valentine Heroes”, who are an inspiration and role model to those with the courage to choose to live a truly honest life of unshakable values.
Look around; maybe they are still to be found among us too. All of us should admire, support and imitate them when we recognise them. They start out as ordinary mortals like us but rise to heroic heights of virtue. They develop a love higher, greater, more pure and unselfish than most of us can imagine. The love these heroes have is not for mere pleasure or self-gratification, but only to give of themselves daily for the welfare of others, for the community, for those who can give no return, no payback. This is the greatest love of all – “to lay down one’s life for a friend”. Now who first said that?
