On St. Valentine's Day

Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we, who celebrate the heavenly birthday of blessed Valentine, Thy Martyr, may by his intercession be delivered from all the evils that threaten us. Through our Lord...
- Collect of the Mass

Today in the Ancient Usage of the Roman Rite is the commemoration of St. Valentine, martyr.

There are two saints in the martyrology that are commemorated on this date. Here is an excerpt from the martyrology for this day:

February 14th anno Domini 2012 The 21st Day of Moon were born into the better life.
At Rome, upon the Flaminian Way, the blessed martyr Valentine, a Priest, who after much healing and teaching was cudgelled and beheaded under Claudius Caesar, [in the year 268.]...
At Teramo, [in Umbria, in the year 273,] the holy martyr Valentine, Bishop of that see. He was heavily flogged and committed to jail, but as he would not yield he was thrown out of the prison in the silence of midnight and beheaded by command of Placidus, Prefect of the city....

The customs related to the feast of St. Valentine had its origin in the Middle Ages in England and France. This was because of the belief that on this day birds look for mates.

So traditionally, Valentine's day had a Christian root before it has become commercialized today. Let us not be blinded by the commercialization of this day. Always keep in mind that love is not always something about "the bed" something on the erotic side. Let us also remember that Cupid (Eros) is a pagan god and should not be used as a symbol for this Christian festival. Let not also be troubled when you do not have a Valentine on this day, if God wills it it will happen.

 Further Readings:

• Thurston, H. (1912). St. Valentine. In The Catholic Encyclopedia.
• Divinum Officium (please click for the Prime of February 13, as the Martyrology is anticipated) 

Unique Ideas to Celebrate St. Valentine's Day

I was supposed to publish this post last year, but for whatever reason it was, I forgot to post it. So for #4, it refers to last years DOH campaign.

UNIQUE IDEAS TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY

As one of my co-teacher was reading a a certain magazine, she came across an article about unique ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. As she was reading them aloud, I was answering her back and giving some of my "unique ideas." So I decided to blog them up. Here they are:

1. ATTEND HOLY MASS. I think there is no better way to celebrate the Day of Love than to express our love to the first one who loved us and that is the Triune God.
2. For married couples, SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH EACH OTHER (or if you have kids with them). Valentine's day should not be equated with the consummation of the love thing, there is more to that!
3. For unmarried couples, DO NOT CONSUMMATE YOUR LOVE UNTIL AFTER YOU GET MARRIED. The let-us-consummate-our-love-to-prove-our-love-with-each-other ideology is based from non-sense. Love is not just physical attraction, there is a much more deeper idea behind it. Also, if you think contraceptives are good, think again you are just making it worst. So the best way to prevent it is to just ABSTAIN FROM IT.
4. If ever you see government officials handing out contraceptives to couples in the middle of a busy street, I advise you to PRAY FOR THEIR SOULS, so that the Almighty God have mercy upon them forgive them their sins and bring them to life everlasting.

valentine's day 2008

When I was in college,we had to present an extemporaneous speech, here is it: love... I think this is apt for Valentines day!

Love

(x) Love...

The word love has become a clichè. It has been mentioned for so many times that it can sometimes be irritating. From TV programs, newspaper articles, books, to loads of other communication mediums.

But there are many kinds of love, love of parents, friendly love, love of nature, and the ultimate love: the love of God. But I won't talk about those kinds, I will concentrate on the love few people can't relate to: Romantic love.

Have you ever been in "love"? Me, no! However do you ever wonder what lovers talk about when they're together? Men talk about boy stuffs: basketball or even sex! Girls talk about "kikay" stuffs: gossips or beauty.

What do lovers do when they're in each others arms? Men play games, girls kikay stuffs.

How do different worlds clash together? Perhaps That's the mystery of love, that no one has ever been able to unlock. For me I'm not after romantic love. I'll just put all my energies on the other kinds of love, especially agape.

☆ Thursday 4th Week of Lent 2004-2005 n.t.