St. Valentine - Rector's Rambling for February 14, 2021

     Although the theme of this Sunday’s readings is for Quinquagesima, the photo above pays homage to the saint for the day, St. Valentine.  Although the world has secularized it into just Valentine’s Day, the reason February 14 has a celebration is because it is a Church feast day, the heavenly birthday of a Saint of the Church.

According to The Anglican Breviary, “St. Valentine was a priest of Rome who was martyred for Christ, 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 sepulchers of the ancient heroes of the faith, and therefore his cultus grew, and spread through the world.  But in the early years of the nineth century, his body was transferred to the basilica of St. Praxedes lest, being outside the walls of the city, it could be desecrated by the Saracens.  The popular story is that holy Valentine was cajoled with promises in order to wean him from Christ, and that when these failed, he was beaten with clubs and finally beheaded.” p. 1120

Not quite the story of cupid and Hallmark greeting cards, but rather the story of ultimate love for Jesus Christ!

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Lent begins on Ash Wednesday this week.  We will be having three services where ashes will be imposed – 12:15 and 6:00 PM Holy Communion, and 5:00 PM Evening Prayer.  Please sign up to attend one of these services, or watch the livestream through our parish Web site, at www.StJohnsDetroit.org.

See the enclosed brochures for information on this year’s Lenten Devotions and Opportunities.