Happy Valentine's Day!

All too often, we tend to take this verse for granted:  

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

John 3:16

For this Valentine's Day, I've unearthed an archived post (again) from the past year's holiday, recognizing the life and death of Valentinius, a third-century Christian martyr.  (I say "again," because this is probably the third time it has been re-posted. . . I guess I am just a wee bit proud of my fictional work that I wanted to share it with our dear new followers, who may or may not have seen it before. . .  This time, it is in letter form!  Thanks to Photoshop :] )

Last year, and maybe the year before, I posted a letter on my Plain & Average blog describing what we know of the life of Valentine, a Christian martyr and saint.  Using what research I found from various websites I put together a brief account of what could have happened during the time of St. Valentine.  My character, Alessandra, is portrayed as the daughter of a warden to the Roman prison where Valentine was held as punishment for his belief in the Christian faith.

Here is part of the original post:

In honor of St. Valentine's Day, I would like to post a letter I wrote from the perspective of someone who might have known the Christian priest, Valentine, in the early 3rd century Rome.

Please note: The names used (Alessandra Donati, Aldo Donati III) are fictitious and were only for the purpose of discerning the writer. However, Emperor Claudius II was indeed the emperor of Rome at the time of Valentine. Places such as Via Flaminia, Apennine Mountains, and Ariminum (known as Rimini, located on the Adriatic Sea) are present-day locations. The dates used in the letter are approximately correct according to various sites from which I found and researched the information regarding this letter. Also, the "fact" that the writer of the letter received Christ as her personal Savior may or may not be true. There is no indication in any of the accounts on the subject of the legend of St. Valentine. Again, this is a fictitious writing, please do not take it as total truth. There are so many different accounts of St. Valentines (plural) that it is hard to discern which are true.

Please enjoy my account.

Happy Valentine's Day!

"For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!"

Romans 8:38