At least three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, are mentioned in the early martyrologies under the date of February 14th. For our purposes we will reflect on the life of Valentine, Bishop of Interamna, Italy.

In 270 A.D. Emperor Claudius issued an edict forbidding marriage because he believed that married men made poor soldiers, not wanting to leave their families to go to battle. Bishop Valentine disagreed with the emperor and invited young lovers to come to him in secret to be married. When Claudius found that Bishop Valentine was performing secret marriage ceremonies, he was incensed. He had Valentine seized and brought before him. When Valentine refused to change his views and renounce Christianity, he was imprisoned to await execution. In February of 270, Valentine was clubbed, stoned, and then beheaded.

Tradition tells us that while Valentine was in prison he corresponded with those under his care by sending little letters and love notes to those in his parish. He would always close his letters with the signature, “From your Valentine”. From then on, the tradition grew of sending Valentines, for as it has ever been, those who love~remember.

May you celebrate this day of affection by sending Valentines to those you love as well!

Happy Valentine’s Day  to one and all!

May the LORD bless you and keep you!

May the LORD let his face shine upon you,

and be gracious to you!

May the LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

-Numbers 6:24-26

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Bernadette Soubirous was born to a poor family in Lourdes, in southern France, on January 7, 1844. Her family lived in a small dark cottage that had once been a jail. Bernadette was often sick and had a hard time at school. One day the 14-year old Bernadette went with some friends to gather firewood. Suddenly, in a cave beside a river, she saw a beautiful Lady wearing a blue and white dress and floating above a rose bush. The Lady smiled at Bernadette and made the sign of the cross with a golden rosary. Bernadette knelt down and began to pray.

Crowds began to follow Bernadette to the cave as the Virgin Mary’s visits continued. Our Lady appeared a total 18 times to Bernadette, revealing herself as the Immaculate Conception. Our Lady asked Bernadette to dig at a spot near the grotto, and suddenly a fresh cool spring of healing waters began to flow. Mary asked Bernadette to have a chapel built by the spot, so people could come there to wash and drink. The water from this spring, which now flows at the rate of 32,000 gallons a day, continues to bear remarkable healing power, bringing medically documented healings to many people, and deep spiritual healing to countless more.

Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, France, and died there in 1879 at the young age of 35 from tuberculosis. Lourdes has become the most famous modern shrine of Our Lady. Each year more than five million people come to the grotto of Massabielle, in Lourdes, to pray, honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and seek healing of spirit, soul, and body.

The response of so many has made Lourdes a Town of Friendship, a world center of pilgrimage, and a special place where God meets His people.

Pope Pius XI canonized Saint Bernadette in 1933, and to this day, her exhumed body remains entirely and miraculously incorrupt, at her convent in Nevers, France.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us