Love and St. Valentine

It's February ~ the month of hearts and flowers and love!

Symbols of Love:

ROSES - from ancient mythology, roses are associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Often depicted walking through rose gardens, Aphrodite's tears mixed with the blood of her fallen love, Adonis, stained white petals red.

DOVES - also associated with Aphrodite. In addition, doves mate for life, showing great love and devotion.

ROSE QUARTZ - again, associated with Aphrodite who, while protecting her wounded love, Adonis, was wounded herself. Their blood, co-mingled with white quartz becoming then pink, is the fusion of love's association with Rose Quartz.

And, of course, we can't have Valentine's Day without St. Valentine, right? Who was St. Valentine?

While there's not much we can say for sure, there was a third-century Roman Saint, Saint Valentine of Rome, who was martyred and buried on the Via Flaminia to the north of Rome.

Saint Valentine lives on in legend.

One story of St. Valentine has him on "house arrest" with a Judge Asterius. While discussing religion and faith with the judge, Valentine pledged the validity of Jesus. Then the judge put Valentine's faith to the test. The judge told Valentine he would do anything he asked if he restored his blind daughter's vision. It was done.

Judge Asterius made good on his word, he broke all the idols in his house, fasted for three days, and was baptized (as well as his family and entire household). The judge then freed all of the Christian inmates.

But what does that have to do with "love"?

More stories claim that St. Valentine, while in times of imprisonment, would secretly marry couples so husbands wouldn't have to go to war. Another story claims that before his execution, for refusing to renounce his faith in Christianity, he left a note for the former blind girl and signed it, "Your Valentine".

I'll let you find the love in all that.

But there's one well documented historical figure who demonstrated the purest of love, and that was Jesus Christ. It may not have been February, but Jesus was filled with unfathomable love as He endured incomprehensible pain, cruelty, and injustice for us. Through His love for us, He rose above otherwise insurmountable barriers. His love knows no barriers. When we follow Christ we become part of that love and through that purest of love we are able to rise above pain and cruelty and injustice, we become the help and forgiveness and blessing the world needs.

Once you ask for forgiveness and receive THAT power of love, you become a healing force no one can deny.

When you speak and act in the way of Love, your energy permeates that which is around you. The work you do from Love causes great healing on a level you will may never know.

I pray your burdens be lessened and your spirits rise. Our belief and hope in Love is never lost.