Clergy Corner: February 26, 2026

As mid-February arrives, from teenagers to the elderly, many reach out to loved ones with flowers, heart-shaped chocolates, or jewelry to express what is in their hearts. But where did this tradition begin?

Valentine’s Day is known to have originated as a Christian feast to commemorate several martyrs named after St. Valentine, who was executed for defying Roman laws against Christians. Around 500 A.D., Pope Gelasius I officially set the date for February 14th, likely to “Christianize” the pagan festival of Lupercalia—a chaotic rite involving fertility rituals. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the day blossomed into a celebration of “courtly love,” particularly through the romantic works of Chaucer and Shakespeare. Eventually, it transitioned from a religious commemoration to a secular holiday marked by gifts and cards.

There is a striking irony here for Christians. Just days after Valentine’s Day, we began the season of Lent—a journey from Ash Wednesday toward the glory of Easter. During this time, we seek spiritual renewal through prayer, fasting, and meditating on the Word. We reflect deeply on the suffering of Jesus Christ on the Cross for our sins and His Resurrection, remembering that it is only through the Cross that we can enter the glorious Resurrection.

Isn’t it profound? A tradition that began as a gritty pagan rite for fertility eventually became a tribute to a martyr who died for his faith, then a celebration of romantic poetry, and finally a modern commercial festival. And yet, this season of “love” leads us directly into Lent—the season where we meditate on God Himself being flogged and crucified for our sakes.

Perhaps it isn’t so ironic after all. Through the suffering of the Son—the ultimate proof of God’s love—humanity receives not just new life, but the beginning of a true, holy romance with the Creator who is Love. We see this in the depth of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” Who could have imagined the Creator personally enduring such pain to teach us the meaning of self-sacrificial love?

In our modern world, we face the rising challenge of AI-generated content that is indistinguishable from reality. When the “fake” perfectly imitates the “real,” trust begins to erode. Human love often faces a similar struggle. With our imperfect hearts, we struggle to recognize what real love looks like. We often search for love in people we can see rather than the God we cannot. This is why Valentine’s Day relies on chocolates or rings as “proof” of affection. While these gestures are kind, they often reflect a love that can be fickle or self-centered—a mixture of incomplete romance and commercialism.

True love, however, is found in God’s sacrifice. It is a love that pays the highest price to grant life and forgiveness to the fallen. So, what is “True Valentine’s Day”? The ultimate Valentine’s Day is Good Friday. On that day, instead of giving chocolates or rings, the Lord gave His very life on the Cross as an eternal seal of His love for His brides. In His Valentine’s card, the message is simple: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Dear fellow brides of Jesus! Let us practice this self-sacrificial love toward each other, so that we can experience the joy of a true Valentine’s Day every single day.