Happy Valentine’s Day

SAINT Valentine refers to one or more martyred saints of ancient Rome. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the saint whose feast is celebrated on the day now known as St. Valentine’s Day was possibly one of three martyred men named Valentinus who lived in the late third century, during the reign of Emperor Claudius II (died 270).

Saint Valentine was believed to be either a priest in Rome, a bishop of Interamna, or a martyr in the Roman province of Africa. Various dates are given for their martyrdoms – 269, 270, and 273.

The feast of Saint Valentine was formerly celebrated on February 14 by the Roman Catholic Church until the revised calendar in 1969 was issued and the celebration was taken out as part of a broader effort of the Catholic Church to remove saints viewed by some as being of purely legendary origin.
Notwithstanding the omission of the church celebration, Valentine’s Day continued to be celebrated around the world, propelled by many legends that are traced to England in the 14th century, notably to the famous poet Geoffrey Chaucer.

Early celebrations of Valentine’s Day involved lovers expressing their affection through various forms of correspondence.
Outside of greetings, Valentine's Day is now associated with gift-giving among lovers. Flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and any other item that materially express the affection of a person towards a significant other, abound on this day.

To a number, such expressions of love are rightly placed, while an equally significant number have asked for a stop to the commercialization of the celebration and for all to give importance and live out the central virtue around which all Valentines Day celebrations revolve – love.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all! May the love that the Almighty so graciously showed to us reign on this and the days to come.