The History & Idolatry Of The Veneration of Saint Valentine.
The History & Idolatry Of The Veneration of Saint Valentine.
Where we fail to learn from history, the mistakes of the past; the pitfalls of our fathers become our dwelling places and tombs we eventually get buried in.
Worse still, where the history of what transpired in the past is not known, we live in utter ignorance and blindness of soul, not actually knowing where we are and where we are going.
The pendulum of the trend sways the simple, but the wise seek to know why the trend, and what it is all about than to merely/sheepishly follow without asking questions.
Today all over the world, what is trending is Valentine's day with the greeting of happy Val's day flying across the skies and airwaves.
A social trend of the day, which however has it's roots in an ancient religious rite/ritual.
Who was Valentine, and how did he become associated with this religious rite?
The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured.
Since 496 AD the Catholic church set aside
February 14, to be observed as the Feast of Saint Valentine (Saint Valentine's Day); a day in which he was allegedly killed. The relics of Saint Valentine were kept in the Church and Catacombs of San Valentino in Rome, which "remained an important pilgrim site throughout the Middle Ages until the relics of St. Valentine were transferred to the church of Santa Prassede during the pontificate of Nicholas IV". The flower-crowned skull of Saint Valentine is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome; other relics were brought to Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland, where they remain to this day; this house of worship continues to be a popular place of pilgrimage, especially on Saint Valentine's Day, for those seeking love.
The Roman Catholic Church tiil date continues the liturgical veneration of him on February 14.
Whoever St Valentine was and whatever cause he really lived and died for, scripture is replete and rich with the history of saints who lived and died for more worthy causes, yet none of them is to be venerated or celebrated as an icon of love. For God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us; and no greater love has a man than this, thus we are commanded to love as Christ loved, and not as Peter, Paul or anyother saint loved. Whatever draws our attention to any other as an object/icon of love, is idolatry. Romans 5:6-8; John 15:12-13; Ephesians 5:25-28; Colossians 2:18-19.
Don't be deceived by the delusive and elusive love in the air which is according to the course of this world, and powered by the prince of the power of the air; which spirit operates in the children of disobedience. Ephesians 2:2.
A love which is declared to be in the air, while it is not in the heart is a very deceptive/misleading love.
"We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." 1 John 5:19-21.
Where we fail to learn from history, the mistakes of the past; the pitfalls of our fathers become our dwelling places and tombs we eventually get buried in.
Worse still, where the history of what transpired in the past is not known, we live in utter ignorance and blindness of soul, not actually knowing where we are and where we are going.
The pendulum of the trend sways the simple, but the wise seek to know why the trend, and what it is all about than to merely/sheepishly follow without asking questions.
Today all over the world, what is trending is Valentine's day with the greeting of happy Val's day flying across the skies and airwaves.
A social trend of the day, which however has it's roots in an ancient religious rite/ritual.
Who was Valentine, and how did he become associated with this religious rite?
The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured.
Since 496 AD the Catholic church set aside
February 14, to be observed as the Feast of Saint Valentine (Saint Valentine's Day); a day in which he was allegedly killed. The relics of Saint Valentine were kept in the Church and Catacombs of San Valentino in Rome, which "remained an important pilgrim site throughout the Middle Ages until the relics of St. Valentine were transferred to the church of Santa Prassede during the pontificate of Nicholas IV". The flower-crowned skull of Saint Valentine is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome; other relics were brought to Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland, where they remain to this day; this house of worship continues to be a popular place of pilgrimage, especially on Saint Valentine's Day, for those seeking love.
The Roman Catholic Church tiil date continues the liturgical veneration of him on February 14.
Whoever St Valentine was and whatever cause he really lived and died for, scripture is replete and rich with the history of saints who lived and died for more worthy causes, yet none of them is to be venerated or celebrated as an icon of love. For God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us; and no greater love has a man than this, thus we are commanded to love as Christ loved, and not as Peter, Paul or anyother saint loved. Whatever draws our attention to any other as an object/icon of love, is idolatry. Romans 5:6-8; John 15:12-13; Ephesians 5:25-28; Colossians 2:18-19.
Don't be deceived by the delusive and elusive love in the air which is according to the course of this world, and powered by the prince of the power of the air; which spirit operates in the children of disobedience. Ephesians 2:2.
A love which is declared to be in the air, while it is not in the heart is a very deceptive/misleading love.
"We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." 1 John 5:19-21.
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