St. Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2019
HAPPY ST. Valentine’s Day!
Here is a pretty love song by King Henry VIII. Yes, the Henry VIII. It’s a reminder that romantic love can be so beautiful and intense. It’s also a reminder that romantic love is not always true. Two of Henry’s wives lost their heads despite all his romantic feelings. Ouch! Sometimes “love” hurts!
Saint Valentine, for whom this day is named, was also beheaded about 270 A.D. — for supernatural love, not romantic feelings. The Romans were very ticked off at him:
Calphurnius immediately cast him into a dungeon, and gave orders to Judge Asterius to accuse him as an enemy of the gods, according to law. Asterius wished first to make an attempt to win over the Priest, who was so universally loved, from the Christian faith, but to the good fortune of the judge, the contrary took place. Valentine restored the sight of the daughter of Asterius, who had been blind for many years, and, in consequence, the judge and his whole family forsook their idolatry and were baptized. When this was reported to the Emperor, he admired the power of the God whom Valentine adored, and endeavored to set the Saint free, but again frightened by Calphurnius with an insurrection, he at length gave orders to behead him. Saint Valentine received his death sentence with great joy, and ended his life by a glorious martyrdom.
More history about this little-known saint and the pagan origins of a day devoted to love can be found here:
Of St. Valentine few particulars are known. He was a holy priest of Rome, put to death about the year 270. One of the great Roman gates was built in his honor and called after him. It is now known as “del Popolo.”
But the name of St. Valentine has come down to us associated with the remnant of a pagan custom, that of choosing for a year some person to whom honor should be paid. The casting of lots was held on the 15th of February, and with it began the Roman festival of Lupercalia, in honor of the god Pan and the goddess Juno. To put down so dangerous a feast-making, the Church, according to Alban Butler, instituted the custom of drawing saints to be venerated for a year on the feast of St. Valentine, the day preceding that of the pagan lot-drawing, thus substituting heavenly for earthly love.
O holy Martyr, St. Valentine, pray for us.
Here is King Henry’s song:
“Whereto should I express”
By King Henry VIII
Whereto should I express
My inward heaviness?
No mirth can make me fain
Till that we meet again.
Do ‘way, dear heart, not so!
Let no thought you dismay ;
Though ye now part me fro,
We shall meet when we may.
When I remember me
Of your most gentil mind,
It may in no wise agree
That I should be unkind.
The daisy delectable,
The violet wan and blo—
Ye are not variable,
I love you and no mo.
I make you fast and sure ;
It is to me great pain
Thus longë to endure
Till that we meet again.
