Inspirational | Pilgrim's Perch

The Legend of St Valentine

St Valentine’s Day falls on 14th February. The precise identity of St Valentine is not known. Several early Christian martyrs were named Valentine; each became a martyr due to their adherence to the Christian faith in the face of persecution. ‘Love’ was the common theme – love of God and love of fellow man, together with a desire to spread the Christian message to as many as possible.

Who was Valentine?

One record describes Valentine as a priest of Rome, imprisoned for aiding persecuted Christians. After arrest he engaged in a long conversation with Emperor Claudius – who was impressed by his arguments but, unable to relent, tried to persuade Valentine to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused. He was unable to convert Claudius to Christianity but on the eve of his execution he allegedly healed Julia, the blind daughter of Asterius, his jailer. Valentine wrote Julia a card and signed it ‘Your Valentine’; this has become a symbol for love and friendship ever since. As a result of Julia’s healing the entire household were baptized and Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near Valentine’s grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship.

Pink spring blossom — Early spring blossom

Why celebrate Valentine?

Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of February, when the days are lengthening in the northern hemisphere and signs of spring appear. Birdsong builds in volume; we see garden and wild birds establishing their territory and many pair up and engage in courtship rituals. Thus Valentine’s Day becomes a special day for all lovers and is celebrated with flowers, hearts and cards.

An 18th Century rhyme gives us a flavour of Valentine romance:

The rose is red, the violet's blue,
 The honey's sweet, and so are you.
 Thou art my love and I am thine;
 I drew thee to my Valentine:
 The lot was cast and then I drew,
 And Fortune said it shou'd be you.

from Gammer Gurton’s Garland (1784)

“The rose is”The rose is red, the violet’s blue,red, the violet’s blue,

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas run from Christmas Day to the Epiphany, 6th January, the day on which the wise men arrived at the stable in search of the new born Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is a time of festivities and partying, taking in New Year celebrations and marking new beginnings. At a dark time of the year it is a time for lights, fireworks – and often, high jinks – as folk let their hair down and enjoy laughter, song and mirth. Harder to do, perhaps, this year as we have to observe social distancing and the restrictions that the current pandemic brings. But there have been many inventive ways in which people have shared fellowship, mirth and goodwill – even at a distance.

Person celebrating with fireworks — Festive fireworks to lighten the darkness

Of course, it’s also a time when folk take stock, looking back over the year that’s passed and thinking ahead to the new year just begun, with all its challenges, opportunities and excitement. Perhaps it’s new resolutions that might spur you on to do something different in your way of living – or maybe you want to take time to be thankful for many good things. However you spend this period, may it be a time of hope and optimism as we ring out the old and ring in the new.

Advent

This year Advent begins on 29th November. It is a time of waiting – expectation and preparation, not only for Christmas and the birth of Jesus our Saviour but also for the second coming of Jesus as king, judge and redeemer. Advent takes us into a period of reflection on what are called the four last things – death, judgement, heaven and hell. Sombre stuff – perhaps not your usual pre-Christmas focus. In these austere times, it might be nice to indulge in a little festive frivolity. But Advent provides – if we allow it to – the chance to reflect on how we prepare for the coming of the one who judges but also saves.

Light is a powerful and potent theme at this time of the year. As a student I loved the Advent carol service in the cathedral of the city where I studied. The service would begin in darkness ; then from the west end a single voice would break the silence with the opening lines of the Advent prose, ‘Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour forth righteousness; let the earth be fruitful and bring forth a Saviour.’ The choir, carrying candles, would proceed up the aisle to their places; as they progressed, the light would grow brighter until the whole cathedral was bathed in the warm light that only candles can provide.

Candles offer a warm, subtle light — The warm light of candles

The light comes so that the darkness can be removed. God comes into the world in human form so that sin can be driven away. Waiting for that light offers a time when we can reflect on how we need to let God’s grace work in our lives; allow his light to push the demons out so that his light can shine and there is simply no space for darkness.

In the cathedral mentioned earlier is the tomb of the venerable Bede. Above it are engraved the words:

‘Christ is the morning star, who when the night of this world is past, brings to his saints the promise of the light of life and opens everlasting day.’

– words that mirror Rev 22:16 at the end of the bible where Jesus says, ‘I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’ Hope and light indeed.

Stars - wonders of the universe — Morning star – just one of the billions visible to us