Special: Valentine’s Day
Blog Series Intention Recap
This four-week series for February focuses on Love. Love makes up a major topic in the Bible, which is fitting because Christianity is a faith centered on love, and God Himself is love. As it says in 1 John 4:8, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." In the ancient world, there were many words for different kinds of love, and many of these are mentioned in the Bible. For Christians, four main types of love are significant: agapē (self-sacrificial love), storgē (family love), philia (friendship love), and eros (romantic love).
This post is part of the series “Loves: Defined in the Bible.” Click here to check out the other posts.
Let’s jump into this Special Edition:
St. Valentine's life and the history of Valentine's Day reveal deep spiritual lessons about love, sacrifice, and faith.
Why It Matters
St. Valentine was a third-century martyr who secretly married couples, defying Roman law.
Valentine’s Day originated from a mix of Christian and pagan traditions, evolving into a celebration of romantic love.
In this story, we find spiritual implications that reflect themes of sacrificial love and the importance of expressing love within a faith context.
Celebrating the love of God encourages us to look beyond commercialization and focus on genuine acts of love and kindness.
Going Deeper:
The Life of St. Valentine
St. Valentine was a Roman priest in the third century during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Known for his compassion and dedication, Valentine defied the emperor's decree prohibiting the marriage of young couples. Claudius believed that single men made better soldiers, but Valentine continued to perform marriages in secret, upholding the sanctity of the Christian marriage. His actions, driven by his deep faith and commitment to love, eventually led to his arrest.
While imprisoned, Valentine continued to minister to those around him, including his jailer, Asterius. According to legend, Valentine healed Asterius's blind daughter, restoring her sight. This miracle, along with his unwavering faith, left a huge impact on those around him. Before his execution on February 14, 269 AD, Valentine wrote a farewell note to Asterius’s daughter, signing it "From your Valentine," a phrase that would endure through the ages.
The History of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day has a complex history, blending Christian and pagan traditions. The date of February 14 was first associated with romantic love during the Middle Ages, thanks to the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer. In his poem "Parliament of Foules," Chaucer wrote about birds choosing their mates on this day, linking it to St. Valentine’s feast day.
Before Chaucer’s influence, the date was marked by Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival held in mid-February. This festival celebrated fertility and purification, with various rituals that included the pairing of men and women through a lottery system. As Christianity spread, the church sought to Christianize pagan holidays, leading to the association of St. Valentine’s Day with romance and love.
By the 18th century, Valentine’s Day had become a widely recognized occasion for expressing love and affection through the exchange of letters and tokens. The Industrial Revolution and the advent of mass-produced greeting cards in the 19th century further popularized the celebration.
Finding Spiritual Implications of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day, at its core, offers deep spiritual insights. The life of St. Valentine exemplifies sacrificial love and the courage to uphold one’s beliefs in the face of persecution. His actions remind us that true love often requires sacrifice and selflessness, echoing the teachings and life of Jesus.
The celebration of Valentine’s Day encourages us to reflect on the nature of love—both human and divine. In John 15:13, Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." St. Valentine’s ultimate sacrifice mirrors this teaching, inspiring us to consider how we can express love in our own lives.
Furthermore, Valentine’s Day calls us to look beyond romantic love to the broader spectrum of love that includes familial love, friendship, and love for our neighbors. It challenges us to perform acts of kindness, show appreciation for those around us, and foster genuine connections, aligning with the Christian principle of loving others as Christ loves us.
Modern Celebration of Valentine’s Day
In today's world, Valentine’s Day is often associated with commercialism, with an emphasis on buying gifts and planning elaborate dates. While these expressions of affection are not inherently negative, it is important to remember the holiday’s deeper significance.
Celebrating Valentine’s Day can be an opportunity to renew our commitment to showing love in meaningful ways. We should focus on the Fruit of the Spirit that can grow because of an intentional practice of showing love. This might involve spending quality time with loved ones, writing heartfelt notes, or performing acts of service. It is a chance to embody the spirit of Jesus sacrifice by loving selflessly and sacrificially.
Moreover, we can use this day to extend love beyond our immediate circles. Volunteering, helping those in need, or simply being kind to strangers are all ways to honor Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. By focusing on the spiritual aspects of the holiday, we can transform it from a commercial event into a celebration of the true essence of love.
How does this help me understand, “Loves?”
St. Valentine’s life and the history of Valentine’s Day offer rich spiritual lessons about love and faith. By understanding the origins and significance of this holiday, we can celebrate it in ways that honor its deeper meaning. Whether through acts of kindness, expressions of affection, or moments of reflection, Valentine’s Day provides a unique opportunity to embody the sacrificial love that Jesus and ultimately St. Valentine exemplified and that Jesus calls us to live out each day.
