In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Legend of Saint Valentine
The story of Valentine's Day begins in the third century with an oppressive
Roman emperor and a humble Christian martyr. The emperor was Claudius II
Gothicus. The Christian was Valentinus.
Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship
state religion's idols, and he had made it a crime punishable by death to
associate with Christians. But Valentinus was dedicated to the ideals of
Christ, and not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his
beliefs.
During the last weeks of Valentinus's life a
remarkable thing happened. One day a jailer for the Emperor of Rome knocked at
Valentinus's door clutching his blind daughter in his arms. He had learned of
Valentinus's medical and spiritual healing abilities, and appealed to
Valentinus to treat his daughter's blindness. She had been blind since birth.
Valentinus knew that her condition would be difficult to treat but he gave the
man his word he would do his best. The little girl was examined, given an
ointment for her eyes and a series of re-visits were scheduled.
Seeing that he was a man of learning, the
jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might also be brought to Valentinus
for lessons. Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus read
stories of
"Valentinus, does GOD really hear our
prayers?" Julia said one day. "Yes, my child, He hears each one,
"he replied.
"Do you know what I pray for every
morning and every night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see
everything you've told me about!"
"GOD does what is best for us if we will
believe in HIM," Valentinus said.
"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe,"
Julia said intensely. "I do." She knelt and grasped his hand. They
sat quietly together, each praying.
Several weeks passed and the girl's sight was
not restored. Yet the man and his daughter never wavered in their faith and
returned each week.
Then one day, Valentinus received a visit
from Roman soldiers who arrested him, destroyed his medicines and admonished
him for his religious beliefs. When the little girl's father learned of his
arrest and imprisonment, he wanted to intervene but there was nothing he could
do.
On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a
last note to Julia - knowing his execution was imminent. Valentinus asked the
jailer for a paper, pen and ink. He quickly jotted a farewell note and handed
it to the jailer to give to his blind daughter. He urged her to stay close to
GOD, and he signed it "From Your Valentine." His sentence was carried
out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta
Valentini in his memory.
When the jailer went home, he was greeted by his little girl. The little girl opened the note and discovered a yellow crocus inside. The message said, "From your Valentine." As the little girl looked down upon the crocus that spilled into her palm she saw brilliant colors for the first time in her life! The girl's eyesight was restored! A miracle!
He was buried at what is now the
Happy Valentine's Day!
In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.
© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
No comments:
Post a Comment