Every February, as the telephone interviews go on, we are asked for something from St. Valentine. Time and time again I have tried to get something from him, but he is one of those Christians who, though we are allied with his people and have, for ages, worked in close harmony with them, does not like us because we are not of The Kingdom Of God. He has steadfastly refused to give us any comments.
However, in the present emergency when I again sent my Worker to get some comments from him and he refused, Peter, hearing of it, called the good Saint before him and sharply rebuked him, demanding that he fulfill our wishes. Begrudgingly St. Valentine has done so. But he wanted this information put on the beginning of his comments so it would be clearly understood he makes them under duress.
The first question my Worker asked him was this; Why do you think you became the patron Saint of lovers?
St. Valentine answered "I had a talent, a gift from God. I could tell what man and what woman would be happiest with one another. When some came to me asking me to bless their approaching union in holy matrimony, I would tell them if they were not suitable for one another, and suggest who might be more appropriate. I was so good at this the unions I suggested were so blessed that people came from very far away to be counciled by me. I believe this is how my association with lovers came about. "
"Are you pleased with this?" my Worker asked.
"Yes," St. Valentine answered. "But only when the love that is generated is kept within the bounds of holy matrimony, and does not become part of fornication and debauchery, which is the common practice today. Only when two people, a man and a woman, are joined in holy wedlock, should there be any physical contact between them. "
"Surely," my Worker asked, "this doesn't include kissing, holding hands, and other signs of endearment."
"These are permissible," St. Valentine answered, "as long as touching in improper places does not accompany them. "
"What do you think of the giving of Valentine's cards?" my Worker asked.
"It has gotten totally out of control!" St. Valentine answered. "Such terms of endearment should only be exchanged between those already in an intimate relationship, already betrothed to one-another. The disgusting practice of having children in school exchange cards of endearment has taken the meaning away from the tradition. This should be stopped, and the tradition returned to its original purpose."
"I take it" my Guide asked, "that you still believe in an engagement period."
"Yes," St. Valentine answered. "Time should be given for a relationship to mature. People should not meet each other one day, and be married the next day. They should get to know each other, to know if they are compatible before they join in holy matrimony. "
"Well we thank you for your comments," my Worker concluded. "We do wish, however, they had been given more freely. "
"They have been given," St. Valentine answered, "because I was instructed to give them. I, too, wish that they could have been given freely, that we were all, as you say, of one House, so there would be no reason for me to object. I wish this with all my soul."
This ends St. Valentine's comments.