Long ago, The Roman Empire had extended its borders to all the known world. But as it stretched its fingers into further and further territory, it began to lose its grip. What it meant to be Roman was changing. The neighbors and newly conquered citizens were not so happy to be under the shadow of Palatine Hill.
Celtic, Germanic, and African tribes fought off Roman legions, and invaded her soil with ever increasing frequency. Emperors at this point were practically only Year-Kings. Quickly killed off and the throne usurped or bribed.
In the third century, A.D., towards the end of the unified Roman Empire, Emperor Claudius, a paranoid, and ruthless leader, who had killed dozens of senators, and forced hundreds of others close to him to be executed or commit suicide, had found himself with a ring of heathen fire around the borders of his empire.
There were too many wars and not enough soldiers. His solution was grim. Emperor Claudius sent forth a decree that every single marriage in The Roman Empire was to be dissolved, and no new marriages were to be performed anywhere in the empire. All able bodied male citizens were ordered to join the Roman Army.
Enter Valentine.
A quiet doctor who later became a Catholic Priest, Father Valentine was a native of Italy. He would take couples deep into the forest, and there they would be married, with the canopy of stars and clouds as their Cathedral and witnesses.
Eventually, he was arrested for disobeying the Emperor's edict, and thrown in prison. He wrote letters to many of his congregants, and to the couples he had wed, teaching them of the love of Christ, and urging them to stay close to Him, and keep Christ as the center of their marriage, and to emulate Him in all their relationships with others.
He also would speak with the jailer, named Asterious, and impressed him with his knowledge and unconditional love and bravery. Asterious asked Father Valentine if he would tutor his blind daughter, Julia. So, there in the prison cell, sat Father Valentine and Julia. He'd read to her and teach her things that no one else would take time to do. He treated her like a human being, as worthy of education as anyone, regardless of disability.
Eventually Emperor Claudius heard of Father Valentine, and was so moved by the stories he heard of this self-sacrificing priest, that he offered to release him, if he would renounce his love for Christ, and bow to Roman gods. Valentine refused. Emperor Claudius sentenced him to death.
Before he was killed, he sent the very first "Valentine". He wrote to sweet Julia, and encouraged her to stay with her studies, and to keep Christ in her heart. He thanked her for being his friend, and signed it with love, "From, Your Valentine".
So on February 14, 270, Father Valentine was martyred. From the courthouse, he was dragged through the streets, beaten with clubs and stoned by an angry mob, and then beheaded in front of everyone.
The people of The Roman Empire were so moved by the story of Saint Valentine, that it became a trend among young men and women, and among the couples he had wed, to give each other love notes, and gifts on the anniversary of his Martyrdom, February 14. They were always signed in his honor, "With Love, From Your Valentine".
And at the site of his grave, young Julia, who truly loved Father Valentine, had an almond tree planted there. Each spring, the wind would cause it to rain pink petals down onto the resting place of her dearest friend. To this day, the almond tree is a symbol of unfailing love and devotion.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Celtic, Germanic, and African tribes fought off Roman legions, and invaded her soil with ever increasing frequency. Emperors at this point were practically only Year-Kings. Quickly killed off and the throne usurped or bribed.
In the third century, A.D., towards the end of the unified Roman Empire, Emperor Claudius, a paranoid, and ruthless leader, who had killed dozens of senators, and forced hundreds of others close to him to be executed or commit suicide, had found himself with a ring of heathen fire around the borders of his empire.
There were too many wars and not enough soldiers. His solution was grim. Emperor Claudius sent forth a decree that every single marriage in The Roman Empire was to be dissolved, and no new marriages were to be performed anywhere in the empire. All able bodied male citizens were ordered to join the Roman Army.
Enter Valentine.
A quiet doctor who later became a Catholic Priest, Father Valentine was a native of Italy. He would take couples deep into the forest, and there they would be married, with the canopy of stars and clouds as their Cathedral and witnesses.
Eventually, he was arrested for disobeying the Emperor's edict, and thrown in prison. He wrote letters to many of his congregants, and to the couples he had wed, teaching them of the love of Christ, and urging them to stay close to Him, and keep Christ as the center of their marriage, and to emulate Him in all their relationships with others.
He also would speak with the jailer, named Asterious, and impressed him with his knowledge and unconditional love and bravery. Asterious asked Father Valentine if he would tutor his blind daughter, Julia. So, there in the prison cell, sat Father Valentine and Julia. He'd read to her and teach her things that no one else would take time to do. He treated her like a human being, as worthy of education as anyone, regardless of disability.
Eventually Emperor Claudius heard of Father Valentine, and was so moved by the stories he heard of this self-sacrificing priest, that he offered to release him, if he would renounce his love for Christ, and bow to Roman gods. Valentine refused. Emperor Claudius sentenced him to death.
Before he was killed, he sent the very first "Valentine". He wrote to sweet Julia, and encouraged her to stay with her studies, and to keep Christ in her heart. He thanked her for being his friend, and signed it with love, "From, Your Valentine".
So on February 14, 270, Father Valentine was martyred. From the courthouse, he was dragged through the streets, beaten with clubs and stoned by an angry mob, and then beheaded in front of everyone.
The people of The Roman Empire were so moved by the story of Saint Valentine, that it became a trend among young men and women, and among the couples he had wed, to give each other love notes, and gifts on the anniversary of his Martyrdom, February 14. They were always signed in his honor, "With Love, From Your Valentine".
And at the site of his grave, young Julia, who truly loved Father Valentine, had an almond tree planted there. Each spring, the wind would cause it to rain pink petals down onto the resting place of her dearest friend. To this day, the almond tree is a symbol of unfailing love and devotion.
Happy Valentine's Day.
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