By Nifemi Onibiyo
February 14th – a day celebrated mainly by lovers all over the world, the atmosphere on this day is usually charged with love, as most lovers look forward to spending intimate time with their partners and receiving gifts or even love letters.
But Valentine’s was not celebrated as a day of Romance until the 14th century; the day marked the remembrance of a man whose selflessness gave birth to this widely celebrated love day.
According to research, at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred can be considered to be the father of this day with different stories surrounding their death.
One of the most popular legends 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, the Emperor decided to bar marriages for young unmarried men.
Saint Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, secretly married couples to spare their husbands from war. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, the Emperor ordered that he be put to death.
Another story suggests that Saint Valentine of Terni, Italy, who was a bishop, was beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to a third legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl who happens to be the jailor’s daughter—who visited him during his stay in jail. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed; “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today in some parts of the world.
Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is not really known because it could be possible that the three saints were actually one person, however, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and most importantly, romantic figure.
In conclusion, love should not be measured on materialistic things, but on what the Holy Book said it is:
“Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]”.
So, decide for yourself what line to tow on this glorious, wonderful, and love-filled day.
Edited by Kevin Madu
