Claudius the Second was the ruler in Rome in the 3rd Century. This was before Christianity was recognized as a legal religion within the empire. Claudius II declared that all people would worship the 12 gods of his religion or be put to death.
A man by the name of Valentino was arrested by the Roman authorities for worshiping for not worshiping to Claudius' 12 gods. He was sentenced to death. But for a short period, he was thrown into a jail cell where he would await his ultimate fate.
His jailer had a family and a daughter named Julia. The jailer observed Valentino closely and saw that he was a well educated man. He made a deal with Valentino that he would educate his daughter until the day of his execution. Julia was blind and required such special attention. Valentino taught her history, math, and about nature. But most importantly, he taught her about Jesus.
Julia desperately wanted to see. She never dreamed that a day would come in which she would have sight. As she listened to the stories about Jesus, she asked Valentino if Jesus could give her sight. To this, Valentino replied, if it is in his will, then yes. They prayed together and at the moment that they had asked God to give her sight, her eyes opened up and she could see. They praised God for the miracle he performed.
On the eve of Valentino;s execution, he wrote a letter urging Julia to stay close to Jesus. At the end of his note, he signed it:
From Your Valentine.
He was executed February 14, 270 A.D. We now celebrate February 14 to display our affection, love, and to one another.
Not everyone knows the story of Saint Valentine or the origin of Valentine's day. Most people perceive it as a hokey day where lovers go on dates, exchange gifts, and express their committed love to one another. The story of Saint Valentine has a deeper message to it than that.
There was nothing romantic about Valentino's relationship to Claudia. She was a student, he was her teacher. Even more important to remember is that he was a prisoner being watched after by her father. Nonetheless, it is clear that they loved one another. Not in a Romeo and Juliet sort of way, but in a kindred sort of way. She loved him, because as a man marked for death, he invested the last days of his life educating her and leading her to God. He loved her because she was a precious creation of God Most High.
If only we could remember what love is in our society. The love between a man and a woman is something special. But this special bond known as agape (uh-gop-eh, the most holy form of love) is a form of love that can be shared between any two individuals and it has nothing to do with romance.
Have a happy, romantic, and blessed Valentine's Day.
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