Happy Valentine's Day!

This year I am making a conscious effort to view Valentine’s Day as a day to celebrate with everyone I love and not to look at it as a day just for couples. While I have never been a particular fan of the holiday, it is a day to recognize those we love in our lives and to show our appreciation for them.

Valentine’s Day is Monday, but what do many of us actually know about its origins and the true meaning of Valentine’s Day?  The Morris Congregational Church United Church of Christ in Morris, recently sent The Litchfield County Times its newsletter, The Lamplighter,  for February. 

The first two pages are dedicated to fully understanding the meaning of Valentine’s Day and its origins. Pastor Kimberly Wadhams began by talking about who St. Valentine actually is. 

Ms. Wadhams said that if the scarcity of information about St. Valentine isn’t enough, consider that there are two Valentines associated with the third-century Christian Church, both martyred for their faith.

“There was Valentine of Rome, who was executed by order of the Roman Emperor Claudius II in A.D. 269,” said Ms. Wadhams. “His relics are at are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.” 

Ms. Wadhams continues in saying that there are some records of Valentine of Terni, who became a bishop in A.D.  196 and who is said to have been martyred by order of Emperor Aurelian, who, interestingly,  didn’t come to power until A.D.  270.

“Perhaps there was yet another Valentine, whose relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni,” said Ms. Wadhams.

Ms. Wadhams also said she found under the Feb. 14 date a record of a St. Valentine who was martyred in Africa.  There is just that one reference, but no more.

Moving on, Ms. Wadhams said, “Some of our earliest recorded histories show us that human beings existed within the whirlpools and eddies of romance from the beginning of our time. Through the ages as well as today, romance has been a thing of delightful mystery right along with the obscurity of the recorded history of St. Valentine’s Day.”

Referencing Pastor Billy Blackmon from Illinois, Ms. Wadhams spoke about “Valentine Dreams,” Hhow can people make their Valentines Dreams Come True on Feb. 14. 

How can couples rekindle the flame in their marriage, or experience the feelings of love?  Ms. Wadhams later offered her recipe toward realizing dreams.

She began by saying we must encourage one another, and ask ourselves when was the last time we praised those that are important to us in our lives with words of encouragement. 

She continued with the advice to comfort one another. “Valentine dreams do come true, when we learn to share the priceless gift of comforting one another,” said Ms. Wadhams.

Spending  time with one another, Ms. Wadhams said, is vitally important for any relationship, if it is go grow.

“Whether for those who are married, considering marriage, or just wanting to be friends there is no substitute for the love which grows out of knowing and enjoying each other’s company,” said Ms. Wadhams.

She concludes the newsletter with two last recommendations: be tender and compassionate to one another and have a good attitude.