Take a Moment- February 2025
On the 14th of February we celebrated Valentine’s Day. I hope you remembered and made a fuss of someone dear and, you were made a fuss of!
Valentine’s Day gets its name from the legend of St Valentine but we don’t really know who he actually was. The most popular understanding is that he was a priest in Rome and was martyred in the year 269 AD
Apparently one legend tells us that the then Emperor Claudius the second decided after failure in battle, that married soldiers were not the best soldiers as they were more concerned about their wives and families and wishing to be at home to protect them. So the emperor banned marriage for his soldiers.
Valentine thought this was unfair and arranged to marry couples in secret, this being discovered, Valentine was imprisoned and sentenced to death. According to the legend, in prison he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and sent a love letter on the day of his Martyrdom and signed it Valentine.
Another legend is that Valentine was killed trying to help Christians who in prison, were being poorly treated by the emperor.
The remembrance of St Valentine became part of a number of very jolly celebrations held by the Romans, held in the middle of February the beginning of spring which celebrates new life and new beginnings. By the 20th century it had spread all over the world.
I suppose it’s a matter of choice which legend speaks to you, but which ever, they are about the love of a person towards another. As well as human love, and very importantly, as we remember St Valentine it also reminds us also of God’s love for his creation, for each one of us, as individuals.
The qualities of love, we can read in the Bible and especially words of St Paul, in 1. Corinthians chapter 13, which is often read at Weddings and goes beyond a couples attraction to each other (which of course is important!) to a deeper more meaningful love, which reflects Gods love for us.
‘Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.’
Take care.
Revd Kathy Bush 01790763 266 revkathybush@outlook.com
March Dates for your Diary:
3rd Monday Church Coffee Morning and Raffle-Revesby village Hall 10.00-12.00
9th Sunday Early church Revesby St Lawrence 9.15
23rd Sunday March Holy Communion Revesby St Lawrence 9.15