We focused our thoughts during the last few weeks on our freedoms. Going forward, we will attempt to prepare the passion of our hearts for Easter during the season of Lent. Valentine’s Day provides the perfect setting for transition between the two.
A day to think about romance and passion dates back to pagan rituals of the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. As the Christian faith developed, believers established a tradition of setting aside a day to honor and celebrate those who had become Christian martyrs during the days of Roman persecution.
Officially, Pope Gelasius I established St. Valentine’s Day on February 14th in the 5th century to replace the celebrated pagan festivals.
Roman Catholic Traditions
The Roman Catholic Church recognizes at least three different third-century martyred saints named Valentine or Valentinus. One legend holds that Valentine was a priest in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than married men with families, he outlawed marriage for the younger men. The tradition holds that this priest named Valentine defied the order and continued to marry couples in secret. Claudius discovered Valentine’s defiant behavior and ordered him executed.
Others recall a bishop in modern-day Terni, Italy, named Valentine. Claudius executed Valentine for refusing to renounce his faith and continuing to convert others to Christianity.
There are other traditions that link a Valentinus to a martyr’s death for helping Christians escape the harsh Roman prisons. The Romans beat and tortured believers for their faith. One legend identifies an imprisoned Valentine who sent the first “valentine” greeting himself. The story says that while in prison, Valentine fell in love with the jailor’s daughter who would be kind to him and bring him food. Before his execution, the tradition says that he jotted her a note signed, “From your Valentine,” a phrase that is still in use today.
The celebration of a day of passion was high on the minds of the Romans since the day of the Roman founders, Romulus and Remus. As pagan traditions were replaced by Christian rituals and traditions, shifting the celebration of passion to a remembrance of the passion of the Christ seemed almost natural.
The Passion of the Christ
Easter week often refers to the “Passion of the Christ.” You might recall the Mel Gibson produced movie of the same name. It is called the “Passion of the Christ” because the word passion comes from the Latin passio, which means “to suffer” or “to endure.” The intense physical, mental, and spiritual suffering that Jesus endured during his final week of life on earth speaks not only to suffering but to the depth of his love and endurance of pain for others.
The season of Lent is a 40-day solemn time of preparation for Easter. The time begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday. Technically, the time does not count Sundays as a part of the 40 day period.
The days focused on spiritual renewal, repentance, and self-reflection. The Roman Catholic Church defined those reflections through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (giving offerings to the church). Common traditions included giving up the luxury of eating meat on Fridays, sacrificing activities that were done for pleasure, and performing acts of charity for others.
Giving vs Taking
People usually give up items of comfort and pleasure for Lent. Over the years, chocolate, sweets, coffee, alcohol, sodas, and meats were the most common sacrifices for people. Lately, people have given up using social media, watching television, or going out to eat at restaurants.
This year for Lent, what if we thought about “taking up” instead of “giving up.” Jesus said that we were to “take up our cross and follow him.” We usually associate that with total surrender and daily sacrifice.
What if, during Lent this year, I took up the challenge of not arguing with people about politics for 40 days? Perhaps I could be less judgmental towards people who are different than me, or who hold different beliefs.
Maybe that would help me understand what Christ’s passion really was all about.