If you are wondering why there's a photo of a beekeeper with this news story, the answer is in the Newsletter!  Valentine's Day is another Christian festival that is almost taken for granted in our society.  There will be people of all ages sending cards, messages and presents; there will be almost as many hoping that they receive one from the person they secretly or openly admire.

What isn't so widely known is that Valentine himself was a priest in the early days of Christianity, ministering to people who were persecuted mercilessly.  When the words were said, 'Greater love has no man than that he lays down his life for his friend', they could be said to describe Valentine.  Knowing the threat to any Christian, he continued to support his people, until the day came when the authorities came for him and slaughtered him for believing in Jesus Christ.  What infuriated the authorities in those days was that Christians were completely passive; they never fought back and they did not refuse to obey laws or pay taxes.  They simply believed.  Of course, in later centuries, when Christianity was 'made official' by the same authorities, many terrible wars and deeds were done in its name.  The message from Christ has never changed, though, and has never supported any of these atrocities.  His message was one of peace, respect and of allowing the violent to do their worst without retaliation.  His own life was a perfect example of that.  In the gospels, it is clear that any time that Jesus had wanted, he could have 'cleared his name' and not been killed.  Instead, he allowed it all to happen as it was meant to, so that his sacrifice could save us and we could all see the reality of eternal life after death.

That was how Valentine lived and died.  That was why he has that word 'Saint' in front of his name.  He was a believer who lived his life through to its end as a faithful follower of Christ, taking his comfort from the fact that he was taking the same path to eternal life with God.