Love has a story – Saint Valentine | chapter 10

by Craig on February 20, 2013

The love story of Saint Valentine - and the shadowy asteria

September 269 AD

Every night, outside my prison door…
there is a short whispered conversation…
the rattle of swords…the scuffle of boots…
then the hasty exit of the guards and their torches.

After that, in the absence of light, comes my visitor.
She brings me food, and wine, and welcome conversation.

The story of Saint Valentine, which began here, continues.

She talks of faith.

“I believe there is a Great Good.
It is the best possible thing of all things…
and is that which has no beginning or end.

This I believe to be God.

There can be only one who is such…
and thus, there can only be one God.

I know this by reason, by logic.
But I do not share your faith Valentine.”

The Story of Saint Valentine - and Asteria's path to the cross

source

She is not far from the Kingdom of God.

Tonight, as I eat, she asks if she may touch my face. I seems a strange request. Her fingertips run softly over every detail, every line, every curve…as if searching.

She says, “I see.”

And then she is off like the wind following a spring shower.

October 269 A.D.

It rains interminably now and the water floods the cell. The space between the bars, which was my only source of light, has now been shut by bricks. I have not seen sunlight for a month.

There is no longer debate with the advisors of the Emperor.

Discourse is now torture.

A broken finger…
a hobbled knee…
is a small price to pay…
for love…and for God.

Months ago the answer “I believe in the One True God” was met with argument. But now it is met by the club or the hammer. Once, there was the cause of love itself to give me strength. But now, I have no way of knowing how many of the marriages I performed still remain.

I am told by the guards…
that all whom I have married have been slaughtered.

Have I become a harbinger of suffering throughout the Empire?

The Story of Saint Valentine...

source

I know my God saves my tears.
He is present and understands my sorrow.
Without him there would be no reason to go on.

And there is my daily visitor.
I know she comes once a day…
for the shifts of the guards mark the time.

Rome is very punctual in the rotation of the watch.

Each day guards leave…
the torchlight disappears…
and then the woman returns.

She brings balm for my wounds…
also some bread, but only some…
for now, I am no longer served food.

Her name…

is…

Asteria.

♥✞ღ

I wanted to finish this series by Valentine’s Day…
But things as they are, I just can’t get all the way back on track.

Sorry.

There is more…

to the story of Saint Valentine.

Please come back.

{ 6 comments }

Love has a story – Saint Valentine | chapter 9

by Craig on February 13, 2013

 

source

August 269 AD

I have been here in Rome for two months. The rose petals that once daily adorned the bars to my cage have ceased. Have I been forgotten?

The story of Saint Valentine, which began here, continues.

 

Meals are sparse, but sufficient…bread and water.

It seems I am not here to be summarily executed but to be convinced to end my defiance of the Emperor’s ban on marriage. He, himself has visited me often. We talk of Our Lord, but he only feigns interest.

Last night he arrived just before dawn to offer me dispensation to continue to marry in Interamna…

if…

I promise to keep it spreading from there – and me.

and…

I no longer marry in the name of Christ, but also other Gods.

A hundred offers of freedom…
but not one without conditions.

He says, “We are men of intellect, surely we can reach agreement.” But there is no love in this man, only dark ambition. He will squash love from the Empire. What allegiance can I have with Satan and still ally with God?

source

September 269 AD

Three months now and the air has a distinct Autumn chill. I am deprived more and more of food. Claudius has long since abandoned trying to convince me to cease marrying people in the name of Christ.

Now he sends his court daily to have me stop believing in the One True God. They debate me on patience and kindness and forgiveness. It is relentless, through all hours of the day and night.

I once longed for a visitor…
now I loathe the thought of speech.

I am forgetting much of how to give reason for that which I believe.

Faith is difficult.
Hope is vanishing.

Still…one visitor I do not despise.
She comes in the still dark of night…
confident footsteps but bearing no torch.

Each time there is whispered conversation…
the rattle of swords…the scuffle of boots as the guards exit…
and they carry their torches with them…and with their torches, so all light.

The door opens in the darkness…
and there is meat to go with the bread…and wine.
I can barely see shadow and form because of the near pitch dark.

She is respite from the constant drumbeat of the vile.
She is gentle, kind, and is the only one who does not deny me my faith.

And soon she leaves…
no light to guide her steps…
still she does not stumble or fall.

She promises to return.

She is not imagination…
for the food is real enough.

But I wonder…
is she woman…
or is she angel?

♥✞ღ

There is more…

to the story of Saint Valentine.

I had hoped to finish it by Valentine’s day – but I’ll miss that goal by a few days.

Please come back.

{ 1 comment }

Love has a story – Saint Valentine | chapter 8

February 12, 2013

August 269 AD At first I was imprisoned with others. What’s a priest to do in prison but to speak the Word of God. But since then Claudius has decided I am not to be heard. I am transported to another place… moldy walls, spiders in corners, rats on the floor… and there is not [...]

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Love has a story – Saint Valentine | chapter 7

February 11, 2013

source I leave, hands bound, subject to the law of Rome. I wonder if I should have allowed myself to be captured. I believe the law of Love will break these bonds. But how? I have prayed… I have listened… and I have heard… that one day I’ll be set free. The Story of Saint [...]

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Love has a story – Saint Valentine | chapter 6

February 10, 2013

I’d wondered what my response would be when the Roman soldiers eventually came. Would I hide? Would I pray for them to be blinded… and send them the in the wrong direction… like Elisha the prophet. But there is only one way. The story of Saint Valentine, which began here, continues. While the horses are [...]

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Love has a story – Saint Valentine | chapter 5

February 9, 2013

source They’re calling me “Bishop of Love”… and calling my home “The Fount of Love”. The story of Saint Valentine, which began here, continues. It makes me proud. But Love is humble, not proud. So I find a quiet spot, knees to the ground, and pray. Lord, I am a slave. I serve You… and [...]

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Love has a story – Saint Valentine | chapter 4

February 8, 2013

May 14, 269 AD Like snowflakes in a blinding blizzard… a cascade of hearts is swirling about me. I cannot marry fast enough those who come here. By legions they arrive, from every corner of the Empire. At first it was by invitation. Now it’s as if by siege. This is chapter 4 of the [...]

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