St Valentine's Day

You've heard it before on St Valentine's Day. And I am once again amazed (appalled? depressed? all of the above?) to realize that the ecclesiastical calendar mavens of the western rites thought it a good idea to drop one of the only two saints universally recognized by most of the known world, regardless of religion, and replace him with . . . Ss Cyril and Methodius.

Great saints, to be sure. Universally honored in the eastern churches and pillars of Christianity. But ask the man in the street in most of English-speaking world about Ss Cyril and Methodius Day and be prepared for a blank look. And what was wrong with their old feast day on July 7 anyway?

Fortunately, St Valentine is still in the traditional Roman calendar of 1962 which may still be used by those who will.

Here's a bit about him and his day from the old Anglican Breviary:

On this day is commemorated blessed Valentine, a priest of Rome who was martyred for Christ, probably in the persecution of Claudius the Goth, about the year 269. He was buried on the Flaminian Way; and about 350 a church was built over his tomb, and later a catacomb was constructed thereunder, wherein were buried the remains of many Martyrs. This church, with its cemetery, was the first to greet the eyes of pilgrims coming to Rome to visit the sepulchres of the ancient heroes of the Faith, and therefore his cultus grew, and spread through the world. But in the early years of the ninth century, his body was transferred to the basilica of St Praxedes lest, being outside the walls of the City, it should be desecrated by the Saracens. The popular story is that holy Valentine was cajoled with promises in order to wean him from Christ; and than when these failed, he was beaten with clubs, and finally beheaded.

In England, from the time of Chaucer onwards, there was a belief that on his feast-day the birds began to choose their mates. From which arose the custom of arranging betrothals in Saint Valentine's Tide; and in honour of the fidelity of this servant of God, those who were betrothed called each other Valentine, as a pledge of their mutual fidelity, in token that those who wed are united together in Christ, of whose unbreakable union with humanity in his Church the Sacrament of marriage is ever an outward and visible sign.