Today, let us celebrate love.  It’s St. Valentine’s Day.  Go out and love others.  Forgive them of their trespasses, and do your best to see their bright, best qualities.  Traditionally, Valentine’s Day was a celebration of love between lovers, but I think it should include everyone.  We all need some love, right?

Wikipedia explains that the original “Saint Valentines Day” February 14th namesakes were martyrs, Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae).   The Catholics removed St. Valentine’s Day as an official church holiday in 1969.  But we still celebrate it.

Connecting martyrdom with love and romance happened supposedly in the 14th century, but it wasn’t connected with the martyrs Valentine.  Some believe it was created by, or first mentioned by Geoffrey Chaucer in his 1382 work, “Parlement of Foules:”

For this was on seynt Volantynys day

?Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

[“For this was Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh chooses his mate.”]

Another version of the origin of St. Valentine’s Days is that the Valentine martyrs were martyred because they went against the laws.  One of them disobeyed an emperor’s law that married men could not be soldiers and went ahead and performed marriage ceremonies in secret.

Whatever the beginning, let’s be loving towards each other, seeing God’s reflection in everyone.