Thought For The Day – Wednesday 14th February 2024
Love
Today is Saint Valentine’s Day, a day that celebrates, and reflects on and remembers, love.
There are many stories about the Saint Valentine, who is said to be the patron saint of love (there are other Saint Valentines as it was a popular name), and died on this day in 270 C.E.
Some traditions state this Saint Valentine was imprisoned and killed for helping Christians being persecuted in the Roman Empire.
Other traditions state that this Saint Valentine was imprisoned and killed for secretly performing Christian weddings for soldiers forbidden to marry by the Roman emperor. One legend claims he wrote the jailer’s daughter a letter signed “Your Valentine“, after restoring her sight, before his death.
This day also links to a springtime Roman festival which celebrated love. There are references to “Valentine’s Day” in the literary work of Chaucer and Shakespeare which may have been key in establishing the festival in popular culture.
Many will celebrate today, others will remember, and miss, others.
But love is for everything, everyone, everywhere.
Love is universal and shown by actions.
Jesus talked of loving our neighbour. All religions advocate this and the importance of loving others and “The Golden Rule”, treating others as we wish to be treated.
As Saint Paul states below, true love is caring, giving, humble, kind, resilient, respectful, selfless, eternal and everlasting.
Love is about valuing people for who they are.
We give thanks for those we love, and for those who love us.
This year, by coincidence, Valentine’s Day falls on the same day as Lent, a period of time in Christianity that prepares for Easter, as true love is further shown, and demonstrated, in the most challenging, difficult, sacrificial, suffering and vulnerable moments.
