Valentine’s Day - a Celebration of Sacrificial Love

Valentine's Day has long been celebrated with roses, chocolates, and romantic dinners, but beneath the surface of these outward expressions lies a deeper, more profound essence: sacrificial love. This type of love, selfless and unwavering, echoes the ancient origins of Valentine's Day, which are rooted in acts of great sacrifice.

The day is named after Saint Valentine, a third-century Roman priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriages for young men. Believing in the sanctity of love and marriage, Saint Valentine secretly officiated weddings for young couples in love, risking his life in the process. His ultimate sacrifice was not one of grandiose gestures but quiet, steadfast acts of defiance and compassion.

True sacrificial love is not about grand declarations or elaborate gifts. Instead, it is about the willingness to put others’ needs before our own, to give without expecting anything in return, and to endure hardships for the sake of those we cherish. This love is found in the everyday acts of kindness and devotion: a parent staying up through the night to care for a sick child, a friend lending a listening ear during tough times, or a partner supporting their loved one through their darkest moments.

This Valentine's Day, let’s remember and honour the selfless spirit of Saint Valentine by embracing the true essence of sacrificial love. It is in these small, selfless acts that we find the purest form of love, one that transcends time, words, and material expressions.