Celebrate St. Valentine’s Day – First Sunday in Lent 2016
Not much is known today about St. Valentine, a third century Roman Saint. His feast day was commemorated on February 14th, but many Catholics just remember the day as a secular holiday.
And no wonder, the Roman Catholic Church after Vatican II removed his name from the Catholic Liturgical Calendar.
Being imprisoned for holding to his Catholic Faith, Valentinus (St. Valentine) was executed for not worshiping 12 gods as demanded by the Roman Emperor Claudius II.
This holy Roman priest ministered to a great number of martyrs and was martyred himself by the hand of the Roman Emperor Claudius II on February 14th around 270 AD for refusing to renounce his faith.*
Valentinus by the request of his jailer gave lessons to his daughter Julia. She asked Valentinus one day, “Does God hear our prayers?” His reply was “yes my child, he hears each one.” A note was passed to Julia on the eve of his death imploring her to stay close to God. It was signed “From Your Valentine.” To this day, notes and cards of affection are exchanged throughout the world on February 14th.
*St. Joseph Daily Missal Breviary, 1959
Today’s Traditional Catholic Gospel is Matt. 4:1-11
At that time, Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry. And the tempter coming said to him: “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Who answered and said: “It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.”
Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple, And said to him: “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written: That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him: “It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, And said to him: “All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me.” Then Jesus saith to him: “Begone, Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.”
Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and ministered to him.
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