2/14/25 - Friday Forget-Me-Nots by Jim Silcott

Photo Caption: A sample of the tremendous artwork being produced by our students under the skillful direction of Mrs. Michelle Lerner.

Dear Our Lady of Peace Family,

Just before school started in my first year as principal at St. Timothy in 1989 a parent requested a meeting with me. Her concern was the two class parties traditionally held there: Halloween and St. Valentine’s Day. 

She started with her concern that Halloween was satanic in nature and thus non-Christian. Not having a ready reply for her I deflected by saying, “I understand your concern about Halloween. What is your objection to a St. Valentine’s Day celebration?” With a straight face the woman replied, “I think that it is awful that we celebrate those gangsters getting murdered in that garage in Chicago!” 

Obviously, February 14 has nothing to do with Al Capone and his infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre back 100 years or so ago. There really was a Saint Valentine who lived in Rome in the third century. It is said that he performed a miracle by restoring the eyesight of a pagan Roman judge’s daughter. Later it is thought that he was martyred for refusing to renounce his faith. 

The connection between the saint and the annual expression of love is probably more coincidental at best. In medieval times, according to Catholic online: “The romantic nature of Valentine's Day may have derived during the Middle Ages, when it was believed that birds paired couples in mid-February. According to English 18th-century antiquarians Alban Butler and Francis Douce, Valentine's Day was most likely created to overpower the pagan holiday, Lupercalia.” 

Kids in school have been exchanging Valentine’s Day cards for well over 100 years, probably when penny postcards became available. The little heart candy with words on it goes back even further to 1847. When I was a kid, the tiny sweets contained messages such as “kiss me, I love you, give me a hug.” This has been replaced with more politically correct messages of friendship rather than romance, probably not a bad thing. 

Regardless, I appreciate the inclusiveness of children giving Valentine’s Day cards and little sweets to their entire class rather than simply their friend group. Everyone is kind to one another and, all sugared up, they are happy and content. 

Last Friday, Father Pete gave a short homily at our school Mass about the fact that as Christians we are called to love and care for all people. In this day and age people who are not completely in agreement with others, especially in regard to politics and sports, are demonized. In an age where many Christians hear some of the Gospel message and not all of it, especially as it regards to loving your neighbor as yourself, wouldn’t it be nice if we all had pockets full of simple Valentine’s Day messages of affection and friendship and a small sweet to accompany it to the people we encounter, both friends and strangers every day. 

St. Valentine, rightly or wrongly, gets the credit for encouraging love once a year. But it is Jesus Christ who asks us to love each other every day. His Kingdom would be built much quicker if we all heeded this message of love simple enough to be put on a penny postcard. 

Jim Silcott