History of St. Patrick's Day!

I just posted in my other blog some information about St. Patrick's Day. For those who are celebrating this memorable day especially for Irish people and other people around the world, enjoy the celebration. I am just sharing a bit history about St. Patrick.

HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY

In the past, Saint Patrick's Day was celebrated as a religious holiday. It became a public holiday in 1903, by the Money Bank. (Ireland) Act 1903, an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament introduced by the Irish MP James O'Mara. O'Mara later introduced the law which required that pubs be closed on 17 March, a provision which was repealed only in the 1970s. The first St. Patrick's Day parade held in the Irish Free State was held in Dublin in 1931 and was reviewed by the then Minister of Defence Desmond Fitzgerald. Although secular celebrations now exist, the holiday remains a religious observance in Ireland, for both the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Church.

It was only in the mid-1990s that the Irish government began a campaign to use Saint Patrick's Day to showcase Ireland and its culture. The government set up a group called St. Patrick's Festival, with the aim to:

—Offer a national festival that ranks amongst all of the greatest celebrations in the world and promote excitement throughout Ireland via innovation, creativity, grassroots involvement, and marketing activity.
—Provide the opportunity and motivation for people of Irish descent, (and those who sometimes wish they were Irish) to attend and join in the imaginative and expressive celebrations.
—Project, internationally, an accurate image of Ireland as a creative, professional and sophisticated country with wide appeal, as we approach the new millennium.

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.

Saint Valentine

Since Valentines Day is fast approaching..got here the story of St. Valentine..so for those who don't know yet its story..here it is...

The story of Valentine’s Day dates back to the third century.

Under Emperor Claudius of Rome, men were expected to volunteer and join the army to fight in wars. Unfortunately, many did not join because of the pain of leaving their wives and children. Emperor Claudius thought that if these men were not married, they would not mind joining the army; thus, he forbade marriage throughout his kingdom.

However, a priest by the name of Valentine did not follow this new ordinance. He continued to marry couples secretly. One night in a wedding ceremony, Fr. Valentine was arrested, put into prison and was sentenced to death. The priest, despite his condition, remained cheerful as young people came to visit, throw flowers and notes, and show support in his belief in love. One of these young people was the daughter of a prison guard. She would often visit and talk with him for hours. Thus, on the day of his execution, February 14, 269, the priest left his new friend a short note, thanking her for the friendship and loyalty. The note read, “Love from your Valentine.”

Thus, every year on February 14, young people, especially couples, remember St. Valentine’s sacrifice for love and friendship.

St. John BosCo – Model of a Christian Educator

Every January 31, the Church honors St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesians, whose good work we also appreciate very much here in our country. His father died when John was only two years old. Because of financial difficulties it was not easy for his mother to bring him up and give him an education that would guarantee a successful future. But she was a pious woman and gave him a good humanistic and Christian education. What mothers can do – even in times of poverty.

John was ordained a priest at the age of 31 years old. Because of his difficult youth, he focused on the education of young men in a time when industrialization caused many problems especially for young people. As a skilled educator, Don Bosco formulated a system of education which today is still very helpful for our younger generation. For his motto was “Reason, Religion, Kindness.” He summarized his program for the youth with a brief sentence: “The young should know that they are loved.”

Unfortunately, many parents and educators today are not always present and so lessen their impact on the young. Don Bosco once told his boys: “Remember, whatever I am, I am all for you, day and night, morning and evening, at every moment.” He advised educators to love the young as they would love their own sons. One of his students became a saint, St. Dominic Savio, who once told a companion, “Here we make holiness consist in being very happy and in performing our duties as perfectly as possible.”

Don Bosco founded the Society of St. Francis de Sales. He sent out missionaries, especially to Latin America. He was known for his humor and inner joy.

We thank God for such a great saint, educator and model for all educators and especially for parents. Fr. Rudy Horst

Reflection Question:
What can I do to spread the ideas of Don Bosco among my relatives and friends?

Lord, today I pray for our educators, especially for all parents. May they realize their great responsibility and privilege to form their children for a better future. May they do it with love and kindness, as St. John Bosco did so well.

GETTING TO KNOW THE SAINTS

Saint Peter Claver

Peter Claver (c.1580) was a Spanish priest under the Society of Jesus. He had a strong desire to serve as a

missionary in South America. When finally given the chance to set foot on his mission, the young priest was surprised to see shiploads of African slaves brought at the seaport of Cartagena. He decided to stay at the port and attend to the sick and suffering in the crowd. He would give them food and medicine, and baptize the babies and the dying. For 40 years, he remained steadfast in his duty. Father Claver was always patient and trusted God. Despite the discouragements from slave owners and criticisms from many, he never failed to visit his converts even after they left Cartagena.

In 1650, the priest grew ill. He only stayed in his room and could not hear Mass. Almost everyone forgot about the priest. And when he died on September 8, 1654, it was only then that the people realized they lost a saint. The people gave him the title, the Apostle of the Slaves .

Saint Peter Claver was proclaimed a saint by Pope Leo XIII in 1888.

http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/saintday/m9.html#BM3

GETTING TO KNOW THE SAINTS

Saint Hadrian

Hadrian was a martyr during the early fourth century. He served as a Roman officer under Emperor Maximian at the imperial court of Nicomedia. When he witnessed the martyrdom of 23 Christians, Hadrian could not control himself and cried out, Let me be counted as one of these, for I too am a Christian. As a result, he was immediately put in prison and tortured to death. His wife Natalia, who disguised herself as a boy, remained faithful by his side. Finally, when her husband was sentenced to die on March 4, 304, Natalia stood witness. Hadrian s body parts were axed and his remains were thrown into fire. A rainstorm came and extinguished the fire, thus, allowing Christians to give him a decent burial.

http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0908.htm#lawr