Valentine’s Day is for Everyone

Last year, I wrote a blog post about the importance that St. Patrick’s Day holds for Christians, celebrating the importance of spreading God’s Word, finding the Gospel in everyday objects, and combining faith with culture, nature, and even seemingly “unimportant” holidays. This year, I thought it was time to dedicate a post to another saint with a holiday named after him – St. Valentine. 

I know, I know – Valentine's Day means a lot of different things to different people. For some, it can be a supremely happy day, allowing for the celebration of love, whether romantic or otherwise, and its presence in your life. However, it can also bring up feelings of loneliness and longing, which is perfectly okay and just as valid. Whatever season of life you may find yourself in this Valentine’s Day, I hope that you can take a few minutes to journey with me back to the third century, where you might gain a completely new perspective not only on this February holiday but also God’s nature and His love for His creation.  

Though the historical record of a definitive single St. Valentine is sparse, one third-century Christian martyr fits the description quite well. This St. Valentine was a priest who died around A.D. 270, beheaded by the Roman emperor Claudius II for helping Christian couples to marry. I suppose that’s where his connection to love came from. Either way, he’s an officially recognized saint in the Roman Catholic Church, which is pretty cool. He also happens to be the patron saint of beekeepers, which I think makes him even cooler. 

“Love,” in fact, is among the most frequently used words in the Bible, showing up over 300 times (depending on the version you’re reading). Matthew 22 records Jesus telling the Pharisees that the greatest commandment is that one should “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The second, He says, is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39 NIV). If the greatest commandment – as stated by Jesus – includes love, then it must be important!  

But God doesn’t only command us to love Him – no, His love for us is even greater than ours for Him. “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies,” writes the psalmist in Psalm 36:5 NIV. God’s love is never-ending, never-changing, and all-sufficient for us, much greater than we can ever return to Him or extend to others.  

So, whether you’re looking forward to Valentine’s Day or dreading it, remember that there’s one type of love that you can always celebrate, no matter the situation you may find yourself in this February 14. God’s love doesn’t need a season, a reason, or any work from you to stay the same every day. The love we feel for others or they feel for us is an earthly reflection of God’s love but can never come close to its all-encompassing fullness.  

So don’t be afraid to celebrate Valentine’s Day. You are always loved enough to do so. Plus, this year, Valentine’s Day is also Ash Wednesday, so you can celebrate while also remembering that “dust you are and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19)! How fun! 

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