The middle of this month brings us to Valentine’s Day. When I was young, I remember decorating a box for my school desk so my classmates and I could exchange little cards. It was always a fun day, filled with fewer lessons and the treats of chocolate or candy. As we get older, Valentine’s Day often shifts toward romantic gestures: date nights, roses, and so on. But who was the original Valentine?
While “Valentine” was a common name in the early Church, two figures are specifically remembered on February 14: Valentine of Rome (martyred in 269) and Valentine of Terni (martyred in 273). Numerous legends surround them, including stories of secret marriages performed for soldiers forbidden to wed, and the healing of a blind girl (a miracle that reportedly led her entire family to convert to Christianity). Though we know little about the true historical figures, we continue to celebrate the day in remembrance of the early martyrs who bore the name.
Personally, I miss the simplicity of exchanging good wishes with classmates. We can choose to see these simple gestures as spiritual acts today. A card can bring warmth to someone who is alone, while sharing a tray of cookies becomes a way of sharing food with a neighbour. This is, after all, what we do as Christians: we gather for the Eucharist to share the bread of life. By extending that same spirit, we can warm the coldest month of the year with generosity, reaching beyond our immediate families to the wider community around us.
Perhaps this year, we can take a page out of our childhood books and ignore the pressure of grand romantic displays. Instead, try sending a friend a card just to let them know that you’re thinking of them. It’s a nice way to bring cheer and warmth to what can be a very cold, frosty month here in Atlantic Canada.
