Saint Valentine's Day - Bible Session Notes - 2-11-13

Saint Valentine’s Day

2-11-13

Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated in many countries.

It began as a customary public worship celebration of one or more Christian saints named Valentinus.

The Legend & Martyrology (a list of martyrs)

The legend says that Saint Valentine was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians who were being persecuted under the Roman Empire. 

It is said that during his imprisonment he healed the jailor’s daughter.  Before being executed he wrote to her and said “from your Valentine” as a farewell.

Romantic Love

Things began to shift from honoring Saint Valentine to romantic love in the High Middle Ages roughly 1000-1299 when the tradition of courtly love flourished.  Courtly love is the concept of nobly and chivalrously expressing love and admiration.  This was generally between a man and a woman where the man was trying to win the love of the woman NOT between a husband and wife.

Modern Day

By the 15^th Century, Saint Valentine’s Day had evolved into an occasion in which people expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, candies and chocolates, and sending greeting cards now known as Valentines.  Since the 19^th Century hand written greeting cards have given way to mass produced greeting cards.  Saint Valentine’s Day is still an official feast day in the Anglican and Lutheran churches.  Although many countries honor Saint Valentine’s Day, it is not a day off from work, and it has become a general holiday for showing love.

Bible Drill Verses (Discussion)

Mark 12:33 To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

I John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.

Colossians 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

I John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth.

I Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.

I John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Questions

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

How can God be a part of your plan this year?

What could you do or whose life could you touch with God’s love this Valentine’s Day?