The Friendship of Saint Valentine

            The month of February is notorious for the marketed holiday of Valentine’s Day where sweethearts are given flowers and candy or taken out to a fancy meal to celebrate their love. However, for the sisters of Alpha Sigma Alpha we remember the man behind the lover’s holiday: Saint Valentine. For my organization Saint Valentine is our exemplar for physical growth and friendship. As a sister of Alpha Sigma Alpha I’m proud to explore more of the story and ideals of Saint Valentine and what he means to my sorority.

           

Saint Valentine and Martyrdom

Saint Valentine was born in the 3^rd century AD in Tierni, Italy. During this time it was illegal to practice the Christian faith, and during the time of Saint Valentine’s life many Christians were condemned to die for their beliefs. Valentine became a saint for his helpfulness towards those who believed in Christ, as visited them as they waited in prison for their execution. He faithfully kept them at ease with his friendship and shared belief in God’s grace. In one instance; however, Valentine was able to heal a Roman judges daughter of blindness, which led to the judge to be baptized a Christian and the prisoners in jail at the time to be released.

It wasn’t until 269 AD that he became a martyr for the Christian faith. Valentine was arrested in Rome for marrying Christian couples against the orders of Emperor Claudius II. However, while he was imprisoned Claudius took a liking to Valentine, but he over stepped his bounds when he tried to convert the emperor. As a result he was sentenced to death where he was beaten and clubbed, but then ultimately beheaded. Later, he was named the patron saint of love, young people, and happy marriages.

Saint Valentine and the Ladies of Poise and Purpose

            For Alpha Sigma Alpha, Saint Valentine is the exemplar of physical development and friendship, and he is represented by our gem the ruby. Saint Valentine teaches us that friendship isn’t only a social construct but an actual physical and organic creature. It is both an emotional and physical feat to have friends and to keep a friendship.

            During his life Valentine was a loyal friend of Christ, Christians, and the beliefs that represented both. He steadfastly stood by those who were condemned to die for their faith, and comforted them in their time of need. As sisters, we are taught, by the example of Saint Valentine, to be loyal to our bond of sisterhood, and to support and cultivate friendships between sisters. There is nothing like the bond that forms between a group of women when we take the same oaths and vows just like there is a bond that forms between those who share the same faith. We are to stand by our sisters through their joys and downfalls and to accept them unconditionally for who they are. Saint Valentine also served those who were in need of guidance or help. Alpha Sigma Alpha does this through our three philanthropies: The Special Olympics, S. June Smith Center, and Girls on the Run. We gladly give our time to volunteer and give back to our community because there is a higher calling when serving others. This is how we become pillars of our community.

            Saint Valentine teaches us these lessons of love and friendship:

Giving: “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” – Kahlil Gibron

Faith: There is a story that when Saint Valentine’s friends came to collect his remains after his death. However, instead of finding bones they found a bright red beating heart, which shows that faithful and unselfish love can never perish from the Earth.

Unselfishness: “Love gives only of itself and takes nothing from itself. Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed, for love is sufficient unto love.” – Kahlil Gibron

            I think Saint Valentine has a lot to teach us about friendship and love in general. It is unselfish, unchanging, and faithful. It doesn’t judge and is unconditional. This is the friendship and love we should extend to our sisters. We share a bond with them that we will carry with us no matter where we end up in life, and I know that the bond I share with my sisters of the Theta Beta chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha will always inspire me to be better, to do better, and to care for everyone that I meet.