Fides Media Living the Faith
Last Tuesday, February 14, was celebrated worldwide as Valentine’s Day. Although loosely perceived as a day of love, according to the example of St Valentine himself, many have turned the meaning on its head. Thus a day which should witness the practice of agape love is now a day for the practice of all manner of frivolities. Fides Ifeanyi Ndukwe went to town to sample the views of people on what the day means to them.
Eze Chibueze Victor (Agro farmer)
It’s a moment to express love and care to the homeless. I simply understand the Valentine’s Day as a day set aside for celebration of love as instituted by St Valentine of the old. I think the best way to celebrate it is to show love to loved ones by presenting gift items, family reunion and reconciliation, reaching out and showing love and care to the down trodden, charity homes, etc.
Charity Uzoagba (Content creator and fashion designer)
The goal is love without limitations or reservations. There are many tales on why we mark every February 14 as Valentine’s Day, but I think the goal of everything is love and in love we have no limitations. The day is set aside to commemorate the love that we have for our friends, family members, colleagues, and even ourselves.
I call it a day to remind people how they are special to us and also to show how happy we are having them in our lives. We show these affections with them through sharing gifts, love notes, calls, messages and time, But in recent time, many people perceive the Valentine’s Day for romantic love or couple celebrations.
A friend will always say, “love is not seasonal”, celebrate your spouse, friend, family member and all your loved ones on daily basis. Look beyond the day and maintain the affection you have towards them.
It is a time to celebrate your loved ones in any possible means you can. Don’t wait for another Valentine to come before you make them feel special and don’t feel because you didn’t receive a gift that you are not loved by people around you. Love is not about the material items received but rather how we relate with each other every day. Gifts are tangible reminders. Love is a beautiful thing, love all.
Esther Ubani (Research assistant)
It’s a period to extend life to oneself and persons close by. Valentine is a day we celebrate a saint called St Valentine. He was a saint who showed love through helping and tendering love to the poor and needy
Literally, we mean to exhibit such love to people who we are better than. That is what Valentine’s Day is all about, a day of love and we ought to extend love, no matter the way we can, to people we are better than.
I celebrate it first by showing and giving myself the love I deserve by giving myself a nice treat, being happy, as well as putting a smile on the faces of those I can reach out to.
Calista Nwokafor (Investigative journalist)
Valentine is a time to reflect on morals. According to Christendom, Valentine’s Day is indeed the feast of a saint in the Catholic Church known as Saint Valentine. This saint gave a good record on what love is all about. Due to his good deeds, 14th of February was mapped out as his day till date we celebrate the feast of Saint Valentine.
I think Valentine should be celebrated like the way Saint Valentine taught us by helping the poor, giving to people you are better then, showing love to the neglected ones and especially teaching people on how to live a holy and Godly life.
Dr Miriam Alike Ph.D (Department of Philosophy,
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria)
St Valentine inspired faith and fair life towards one another. Growing up years back, Valentine’s Day glowed around every environment from markets, streets, supermarkets. Each displayed goods ranging from flowers to cards.
In my secondary school days, it became very significant among the girls because I attended Queens College, Onitsha. Students had their gifts parked inside their desks. But most times the teachers headed by our Biology teacher then, Mrs Ibeanu, tried to keep us in check by checking the desks and cautioning us too.
However, few days before the feast of St Valentine, we were all assembled to be told the story of Saint Valentine who was a priest in Rome. The Roman Empire was ruled by Claudius who did not allow soldiers to get married so as to have more concentration on their duties. St Valentine secretly did wedding for the soldiers and their wives. Finally, it was found out and he was killed on 14th February. We were however taught that Valentine was a day of love shown to those who never experienced love and needed to be shown one.
Going from the aforementioned brief enlightenment in my secondary school days prepared my mind ahead in years to come. I see The feast of St Valentine as a day to show love to the down trodden, the less privileged, sick ones, beggars and equally pray for broken homes and peace to reign in our families.
St Valentine’s Day should not be a day to engage in immorality by our youths. The atmosphere for them is charged with exchange of gifts which is good but it should not be abused or misrepresented as a day to be legally engaged in immoral acts. We will love people around us because God showed us Love by giving us His only begotten son, Jesus Christ who laid down his life for our salvation. If we do not love, we do not know God, for God is Love. But we should remember about Agape Love which is a genuine one.
Enjoy your Valentine’s Day but remember to touch a soul, lift a soul, put smile on the life of someone, probably a stranger, who deserves this love waiting to be loved by you. Cheers.
Chikaodi Chukwuleta (Journalist and Social Activist)
It’s a clarion call for youths to demonstrate kindness towards the poor in society. Valentine is a time of showing love to one another, kindness, caring for individual needs, visiting the less privileged around us and the down trodden. Checking on one another, sharing gifts. It is not a time for youths to start misbehaving, engaging in immoral attitude.
It is a moment to reflect on the Agape love as Christ did for the Church