Rector's Letter - February 2012
Dear Friends,
St Valentine's Day is the only widely celebrated Saints Day these days. The strange thing is that very little is known about him. In fact, on February 14th we actually remember at least three Valentines, all martyrs of the early Roman Church. The legend goes that Emperor Claudius II ordered that young men should remain single, as they made better soldiers. One of the Valentines, a priest, secretly performed marriages, and was caught and brought before the Emperor. Claudius ordered Valentine to convert to paganism, but Valentine would have none of it and boldly tried to convert the Emperor to Christianity. You didn't speak to despots like Claudius like that, and Valentine was executed on 14th February, much to the regret of engaged couples. He (they) were made saints by Pope Gelasis in 497AD.
Years later, Chaucer, started the association with "romance" in his "Parlement of Foules" (1382), where he remarked that St Valentine's Day was the day when every bird chose mate. But it was the Victorians, of course, who really got our St Valentine's traditions going!
And so it is that an unknown martyr has become the Patron Saint of Lovers and his "Day" has become a great money-spinner for florists and card makers. I expect that he would be rather surprised! But perhaps, St Valentine's example of commitment is an important reminder of the true nature of love. Louis de Bernieres puts it beautifully in his novel, "Captain Corelli's Mandolin",
"Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like a volcano, then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should part. Because that is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement... that is just 'being in love', which any fool can do.
Love itself is what is left over when 'being in love' has burned away. Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom has fallen from their branches they find that they are one tree and not two."
So here's to St Valentine and all who have loved! And thank God for this extraordinary, wonderful gift, love, which truly makes life worth living.
With my love, prayers and best wishes,
Yours in Christ, John.
Verse for the Month
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not rude or self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
