History of Saint Valentine

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL MY BLOGGER FRIENDS,
VIEWERS, READERS AND COMMENTATORS!!
I really appreciate all your visits here!!
Please always feel free to leave comments and messages!!
My deepest apology if I cannot visit you one by one
but if given the chance
and time, I always wanted to!!!
Thank you very much for your patient and understanding!!

St. ValentinePatron of Love, Young People, Happy Marriages
269

St. Valentine

Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended, and sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome, who, on finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith in effectual, commended him to be beaten with clubs, and afterwards, to be beheaded, which was executed on February 14, about the year 270. Pope Julius I is said to have built a church near Ponte Mole to he memory, which for a long time gave name to the gate now called Porta del Popolo, formerly, Porta Valetini. The greatest part of his relics are now in the church of St. Praxedes. His name is celebrated as that of an illustrious martyr in the sacramentary of St. Gregory, the Roman Missal of Thomasius, in the calendar of F. Fronto and that of Allatius, in Bede, Usuard, Ado, Notker and all other martyrologies on this day. To abolish the heathens lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls, in honor of their goddess Februata Juno, on the fifteenth of this month, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints in billets given on this day.

The Origin of St. Valentine

The origin of St. Valentine, and how many St. Valentines there were, remains a mystery. One opinion is that he was a Roman martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Other historians hold that St. Valentine was a temple priest jailed for defiance during the reign of Claudius. Whoever he was, Valentine really existed because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.

The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in a The Nuremberg Chronicle, a great illustrated book printed in 1493. [Additional evidence that Valentine was a real person: archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine.] Alongside a woodcut portrait of him, text states that Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth [Claudius II]. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate [circa 269].

Saints are not supposed to rest in peace; they're expected to keep busy: to perform miracles, to intercede. Being in jail or dead is no excuse for non-performance of the supernatural. One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine."

St. Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269 at Rome and was buried on the Flaminian Way. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.

Quote for Valentines Day

Happy Hearts Day to everyone one!!!
hope you have great moments
on this very special day!!!

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.

-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Happy Valentines day!!

One more sleep and the most Romantic Day
of the year is coming esp. for lovers..
I would like to take this opportunity to greet all of my
friends online, visitors,
readers and blogger friends...
Happy Hearts day!!
May your hearts continue to bleed with love!!!

A very special thanks to my beloved husband for
all his love, support and understanding all the time..
Ich liebe dich Schatz..danke fuer alles!!!

Better Late than Never

I joined this group of friends last year. It's so nice knowing fellow bisdak around the globe chatting online and sharing each other's ideas, thoughts and opinions...i'm feeling good and happy to be a proud bisdak...Congratulations to all of us bisdak esp. to the admin who made this site....More Power!!! MABUHAY!!!



special thanks to twinkletoe: ) for this scrapping...really nice!!!

I'm exhausted...hello

Got a lot of phone calls and I also made a lot of phone calls. It is just very important calls. At dawn, I called my beloved Father in the Philippines to greet him on his birthday. He is now 72 years old..Thanks God for the gift of life esp. for giving my Father always good health. My father is still strong and I hope and pray that he will be given more days and years of his life. He is really great.

I want to thank my parents esp. my father for what I am now. Without them, I will not be able to see the beauty of this vast universe. I owe my life to them and whatever happens they always be in my heart and in my mind. I am happy talking to my parents today. At least I got some contact with them.

Even today is quite an exhausting day, I am still happy that I was able to extent my help to someone who really needed help very badly. I hope and pray that everything will be fine soon for this lady.

Lastly, I want to greet again my Papang to this very memorable day!! I wish you always good health, love, peace and happiness always. God bless you in everything that you do!!! I love you Papang and Mamang. I also miss you all there!!! hope to see you soon!!!

guess that's all for today...will see you again tomorrow....

Biblical Significance of Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a time for repentance and the beginning of Lent. Ashes were used in ancient times, according to the Bible, to express penitence. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. An ancient example of one expressing one's penitence is found in Job 42:3-6. Job says to God: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (c. 5-6, KJV) Other examples are found in several other books of the Bible including, Numbers 19:9, 17, Hebrews 9:13, Jonah 3:6, Matthew 11:21, and Luke 10:13.

However, some Christians, who do not celebrate Ash Wednesday, say that the practice is not consistent with Scripture and is of pagan origin.^[11] They usually cite Matthew 6:16–18, where Jesus gave prescriptions for fasting: "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (NRSV) These groups argue that Jesus warned against fasting to gain favor from other people and that he also warned his followers that they should fast in private, not letting others know they were fasting. For these reasons, some Christian denominations do not endorse the practice. Others, however, point out that this very passage from Matthew is the one, not coincidentally, that is appointed by the Revised Common Lectionary to be read on Ash Wednesday. They might also clarify that the ashen Cross on the forehead does not represent the fast, but the mortal condition of human existence.

...to read more pls visit here, here and here.

Fasching in Breitenbrunn, Germany

We finally witnessed today a Fasching or Carnival in Breitenbrunn, a small town in Neumarkt. My husband read about it in the weekend newspaper. We decided to go there at the last minute. I guess sometimes it is better for us to make a quick decision to go somewhere that planning it ahead. We already woke-up late today. After we ate our brunch, we hurried-up driving to Breitenbrunn since we still don't know if the park place is near or far.

Last year, we witnessed the Fasching in Dietfurth. It is always a Chinese Fasching/Carnival there. It was held this year last Thursday, Jan. 31. I read in the Newspaper that around 10,000 people from different places were there just to witness this fascinating Carnival. They usually have more than 50 groups of participants compared in Breitenbrunn who only have around 20 groups.
We enjoyed seeing the different customes and street dancing during the parade. That was really nice. As usual, I am sharing with you again the photos I took during the parade..You can also see more photos here and here.

Carnival is a festival season. It occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February or March. It typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations.

Carnival is mostly associated with Roman Catholic and, to a lesser extent, Eastern Orthodox Christians; Protestant areas usually do not have carnival celebrations or have modified traditions, like the Danish Carnival. The world's largest carnival celebration is held in Brazil but many countries worldwide have large, popular celebrations, such as Carnival of Venice.

Length and individual holidays:

Depending on the area, the carnival may last from a few weeks to several months. While its starting day varies, it usually ends on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. In the Ambrosian rite of Milan (Italy), the carnival ends on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday, and in the area of Eastern Christianity, it ends on the Sunday seven weeks before Easter, since in Eastern tradition lent begins on Clean Monday.

Most commonly the season begins on Septuagesima, the third Sunday before Ash Wednesday, but in some places it starts as early as Twelfth Night or even in November. The most important celebrations are generally concentrated during the last days of the season.

The following holidays, which are all part of the seven days before Ash Wednesday, often have special customs:

• Quinquagesima, the Sunday, when often a break from the festivities occurs;
• Shrove Monday or Lundi Gras or Rosenmontag, in many areas the high point of the festivities;
• Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) or Fastnacht, the high point of the festivities when, according to many traditions, preparations for the parties are made, such as baking goods.