St Valentine's Day

The Crucifix in the Cathedral




















St Valentine






















First Station of the Cross Jesus is condemned

















Fr Ramiel

Hello every one and a happy St Valentine’s day to you all. I wonder if you know that there are nine saints who are called Valentine. The Valentine we celebrate on the 14th February was a 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. Valentine really existed because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine and in that church was a woodcut portrait of him. Alongside text states that Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II. He was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned and Claudius took a liking to him until Valentine tried to convert him. Eventually being beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate.

As we know 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, Valentine 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." From those beginnings we now have Valentine Day. St. Valentine is not only the Patron Saint of lovers but also, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, plague, travellers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses. A busy saint!

Talking about St Valentines day on Friday I was visiting a patient when my phone went off. I answered it and the receptionist said that there was a man in the lobby wanting to talk to the catholic chaplain about a problem he had with a member of his family. As a chaplain you are called on to advise on many things. And at times you need to be a big ear to listen to people’s problems. So I went to the lobby and sitting there was this man and woman. I thought I recognise the faces, so my mind was racing trying to put names to the faces. Were they from Burnside or Ashburton parishes nothing registered. This is going to be tricky I thought how am I going to blag this. Hello Fr Kevin nice to see you here the man said and my brain was racing and then I realised it was Don Breakspear and his wife, Sheila and Val (Valentine)’s son and daughter in law. They were out in New Zealand having a holiday and as they were in Christchurch they could not pass by without seeing me. I said how did you know I was at the hospital the reply came because we keep up with your blog. It transpires that Val and Sheila keep up with the blog through them so that they can keep an eye on what I am doing. So hello Val and Sheila I hope you are doing well and that you both have a great St Valentine’s feast day and we congratulate you both on being so much in love with each other after over seventy years of marriage. God bless you both.

Been working quite hard this week with one thing and another and I have had help in the hospital. Sr Patricia who has been working voluntary for over 23 years has come back for a few weeks, before she retires. She work closely with Fr Kevin O’Grady over those years who also was a great support for her. So when Fr Kevin died she lost a great friend. So working in the hospital must have been hard for her, yet she has carried on but I think she will retire soon because next birthday she is seventy-five. And as you know there comes a time when you have to say to your self enoughs enough.

Well that is enough for this week will include another picture of the stations and one of the Crucifix. I have not taken many photographs this week. I have included one of Fr Ramiel who is a priest from the Philippines who will be working here for a couple of years as the Catholic Chaplain to Christchurch university.