Valentine and Peace

[Guest guest]

Last weekend I heard a story about Valentine which I had never heard

before. Apparently, when the man who later became Saint Valentine

was living, the king in his country wanted to build up a winning

military force to be victorious over his neighbors. The king made a

law that said that no young men could get married and, if somehow

they were married they definitely should not be allowed to

consummate the marriage or to live together as man and wife. He

wanted to get them into the army and have a force that would not be

distracted by thoughts of wives and children. Older men could

marry, just not the young ones.

 

Meanwhile, Father Valentine did not agree with the king. He let it

be known that he would marry any young man who came to him with a

willing bride. Hundreds of young men came forward, were married and

lived happily with their wives. When the king heard about this, he

was furious, of course, and had Father Valentine thrown into jail

and sentenced him to death.

 

Now I don't remember how there came to be a woman on the scene.

Maybe she was bringing Father Valentine his food. Anyway, Father

Valentine fell in love with her. He behaved himself properly as a

priest should, but after his execution, a letter to the young woman

was found in which Father Valentine expressed his love and

appreciation for her. He signed it "Your Valentine."

 

Whether this is literally true I do not know, however, it is a very

neat story, isn't it? It suggests that anyone, even a Hindu, who is

in favor of peace, should celebrate Valentine's Day.

 

Aikya