Queen Mathilda’s Valentine’s Day Plans

Saint Valentine’s Day has lost much of its meaning. I feel it is my responsibility as Queen to guide people according to God’s word and that of the Holy Bible. This was once a day honoring the death of the saint who not only married Christian couples, but also assisted the escape of Christians being persecuted for their faith under the Pagan Roman Emperor Claudius II. Now the celebrations are centered around flowers, chocolate, and other secular choices with the history and religious aspects of this feast day forgotten or pushed aside. This is why I feel that something must be done to preserve this rapidly fading Christian holiday.For Saint Valentine’s Day I will change the celebrations at Wallhausen, the town given to me by my husband Henry I, to promote peace, unity, and bring attention to the religious significance of this holy day.

           To have this Saint Valentine’s Day reflect our gratitude to not only Saint Valentine but to God as well, everyone’s participation is needed. As Saint Valentine is the patron saint of love, the celebration should reflect this theme. To truly be a Christian celebration it should have a charitable aspect to it. To encourage this spirit within the public, I must think of a way for the guests to participate in a  charitable act. All of the community must be involved, either through employment or as guests. This includes all ages, occupations and social class participating with activities and events appealing to all. The most effective, and admittedly fun, way of bringing a community together like this is with a festival.

               To satisfy my love for my faith and philanthropies, a festival will be thrown for the people of Wallhousen with attractions deemed acceptable to honor the memory of a saint that had chosen martyrdom over heresy in the name of love and God.

·       To begin the day, a mandatory Church service will be held so the festivities can begin with God’s blessing.

·       Afterwards the town square, prepared with booths and stages, will be the crowd’s destination.

·       Food will be provided and prepared by our own kitchens and made available to all who are hungry, regardless of payment.

o   To aid in feeding all who are there, the guests in attendance will be asked to bring a small treat or token to share with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.

·       Since Saint Valentine is the patron saint of young people, entertainers will speak with a member of the clergy to create a captivating story to educate the youths in attendance about Saint Valentine.

o   Due to Mass being held in Latin, along with the lower classes of society not being able to read, have not heard these stories or have encountered an inaccurate account.

·       In addition to being associated with young people, Saint Valentine is also the patron saint of both love and happy marriages.

o   To bring attention to all three of his advocacies there will be a play performed to tell what is known about the story of his life, faith, and martyrdom.

To end the day the crowd will be led in a prayer to give thanks to God for our bountiful blessings
bestowed upon us, and for Saint Valentine’s sacrifices in his name.

Content: Carrie Holmes 

The Lost Diary Entry

Dear Diary,                                                                                                             February 14, 974

I received a commission from our liege, Emperor Otto the 2^nd. He has asked me to write about the late Queen Mathilda’s life. At first I wished to refuse. Not only was the wound which her death brought me still fresh, but I a lowly priest and servant of our Lord am unworthy to write about such a glorious and holy person as her. Even with these immediate thoughts circling my head, I accepted the commission because the request came from her grandson.

I did not know how to even begin writing about her life. I only met her a few times in her life span. Before I first met her, I heard of her ferocity in taking care of the less fortunate and her unbinding faith in our Lord. I was intrigued to hear of such a woman at first but I should have known that she was unlike any woman before her. The day I met her had changed my life. Suddenly I understood those poems and songs sung about love. Though I could never be as worthy as a man such as King Henry I imagine he held the same feelings as I when he first laid eyes on her.

My eyes were truly not worthy of the beauty they gazed upon the first day I saw her. It was winter and I was told she was giving out blankets on one had to fear the cold. The first thing I noticed was the way her eyes twinkled like the stars that lead traveling men home. Her cheeks were flushed and delicate like that of rose petals. Her flustered cheeks revealed to me just how long she stood in the cold. It was during those moments of uncharacteristic admiring that she had looked at me. My body became frozen with rigid anticipation, but immediately melted away with the small upturn of her lips that resulted in a smile equivalent to the warmth of a thousand suns. She then turned around and walked back into the monastery. As she walked away I thought angels wings as white and pure as the untouched snow would emerge. It would be after her marriage and birth of her firstborn I laid eyes on her again.

I knew I would never deserve her. In truth I believed no mortal man would either. King Henry was a good man and I delighted when I heard the news that someone as worthy as Queen Mathilda would rule, but a small part of me was not. It was at that time in my life I came to the stark realization I may be coveting another’s wife. It came with wisdom and years later I had realized that I did not covet her but only thought that she was a holy being that no mortal man should truly possess. It was truly a treasonous thought toward the king.

When I saw her next she had fire in her eyes. She witnessed the starving and homeless and determinedly walked to the edge of the tower and threw bread to those down below. I was amazed at what I had witnessed. The bread never broke and fell into the lap she determined it to go to. I had always believed that she had the grace of God on her side but my belief was sanctified with the light of the miracle before my eyes. It was through later years I had heard from a passing abbess of another miracle of hers involving a deer.  

I was not surprised when I had heard of the achievements of the royal heirs for they were her children. No child born of her could be anything but beautiful, godly and kind. I knew our Lord had plans for her and I suffered as she suffered when he tested her. I cried in anguish when I had heard the rumors that were spread and the rights she was given stripped from her.  When I asked of her well being all had told me in awe of how strong and confident she remained. Even with her title taken from her she still was a Queen. Even when I laid in my bed at night filled with apprehension, she remained believing that what God has done was done for a reason. If she were the Eve born of Adam she would never have fallen into temptation and exiled from the garden. She remained poised with humility, kindness, and strength even in her death.

I could never truly tell her story with the praise she deserves.

 

 

 

A Proper Valentine’s Wedding

Valentine's day is right around the corner, and you all know what that means! Everything around you will be trying to lead you down the path of temptation. Decorations, candy, cards, all designed to lead us away from pure holy lives. Remaining pure and celibate can become hard at times like these when it seems as if the whole world has turned against the truest holy path. If you are capable, it is best to resist these temptations and one's own urges and remain pure it is best to do so. Spend Valentine's day in prayer and contemplation rather than out frolicking amongst those who give in to their baser urges.

“But it's hard!” you proclaim, knowing many of your friends have turned away from what is right to find romance. Love is in the air--why avoid it? Isn't there some alternative? You're in luck! If you find you absolutely cannot control yourself and you are at risk of giving in to temptation there is a way to do so without committing a sin. What is this miracle cure? Marriage! That's right: marriage, while not as spiritually fulfilling or pure as celibacy, is a way one can express one's desires without staining one's soul with sin by avoiding “illicit unions” (Or at least not as great a sin as one would have otherwise.)

There are even some benefits to marriage. According to Augustine there are in fact three “goods of marriage”. The first is children. And I have to agree! Who wouldn't want their own little bundles of joy to love and raise to be good Christians? Maybe even better than their parents! And even more importantly, marriage and procreation are arranged by God because of the social nature of humans. Having children through a blessed marriage allows us to bond with our family that hold us all together! The second good of marriage is the fidelity of the spouses who keep each other from straying and entering adulterous relationships. They mutually relieve each other's weakness within the confines of the marriage. In this there is no sin, even if the couple isn't trying to children because they keep each other happy. The third and final good of marriage is the sacramental aspect, which is the very thing that makes the union holy! It symbolizes the future unity with God!

Alright, you think. I've got you convinced. Marriage is certainly the way to go instead of giving in to the sinful temptations of Valentine's day. But how do I get married properly? Luckily we have the answer!

First there is the betrothal, which is to be consented to by both parties. Then vows are made and a ring given to the bride by the groom, along with a proper dowry. What that dowry is isn't set and can be decided by the parties involved. A contract must also be made out in the presence of those invited, documenting the marriage agreement. Which is just good sense, always get it in writing! After this you'll want to wait a little while to get everything ready. Gifts must be bought, clothing made up for the special occasion, not to mention the guest lists and finding a priest to perform the ceremony. All that takes time, but don't worry, it'll be worth it! Then the couple is brought together for the happy day.

But what to do for the wedding? Most of you probably haven't been married before, so we'll give you a step by step instruction. First you must go to the Church, pretty simple. There the couple is stationed by the priest along with offerings to God to be blessed to bless the union. That's definitely something you don't want to forget. Then the couple is blessed by the priest and receives the celestial veil! Now that the ceremony is complete the couple is free to leave the Church with crowns upon their heads. Remember to return those to the Church though, they're not yours to keep. Sadly, if this is your second marriage, the veil won't be a part of the ceremony.

But remember, all of this means nothing if not everyone agrees! Consent from all parties is what's most important otherwise it's not really a wedding!

Now I know this seems like a lot of work. And it’s a lot longer and more difficult than just going out on a date and having a night of fun. But in the end your soul will thank you. It’s the best of both worlds! Romance without sin, what more can you ask for? And think of it this way, you’ll never spend Valentine’s Day alone again!

Ask a Saint

Ask a Saint with St. Jerome: Valentine’s Day Edition

Here at Ask a Saint, we have something a little different for you all this weekend. Since Valentine’s Day is approaching we thought we would ask a very special guest saint to come answer your questions so… This week we have Saint Jerome here to answer all of your Valentine’s Day-related questions!

Saint Jerome has been doling out advice on Christianity, virginity, sex, love and marriage in the city of Rome for years. And we are so honored to have him writing for us. He has chosen three questions related to Valentine’s Day, or what he likes to call “Unimportant Earthly Love Day”!

Dear Saint: I am a young woman living just outside of Rome. My parents died when I was young so my married brother and his wife graciously took me in and raised me. I believe our neighbor, a fine young man who I am not impartial to but who I am not partial to either, is going to ask for my hand in marriage this Friday, on St. Valentine’s Day. He has also hinted his desire for certain unmentionable acts, that I will not embarrass myself and yourself by explaining in detail, so I ask you how I should act. What should I do? I do not particularly want to get married. I am both indifferent towards marriage and indifferent towards this man, but I know my brother would encourage me towards both. How should I act?

Saint Jerome: DO NOT ENGAGE IN EARTHLY DESIRES. I cannot put it more plainly to you. God cannot raise up those who have fallen. You were born a virgin and you should live your life as a virgin. Live a celibate life. You shouldn’t think about marriage. Marriage is of no consequence to your immortal soul. Embrace a Christian life of celibacy like I have already suggested.

Dear Saint: I have been married for a year now and my wife and I are going to be celebrating our first Valentine’s day together. Any advice on how to have a good Christian Valentine’s Day? I want to celebrate Valentine’s day the right way.

Saint Jerome: Don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. That is how you will be a good Christian. Also live a chaste married life. I would recommend a celibate life, but you have most likely already engaged in that most deplorable of acts and are therefore beyond my help. Do not sucumb to your carnal desires!

Dear Saint: I am a young Christian woman and my parents often argue over my future. My father wants me to marry into a good family and my mother wants me to live a good Christian life. I thought that according to Saint Augustine that you could be married and a good Christian, but my parents argue about it so much and I do not know what to think. I think I want to get married, but I am not sure. All of my friends are married and celebrating their first Valentine’s Day with their husbands. I feel like I should get married to, so that I can celebrate too. Help?

Saint Jerome: DO NOT GET MARRIED. There is nothing so deplorable as marriage. Marriage will not help you in the kingdom of heaven. Marriage is an earthly pleasure. Good Christians should deal only with the heavenly. I advise you to take up the habit. To live a celibate life away from earthly desires. You will be God’s bride which is far better than being the bride of any man. I personally find the idea of a whole day dedicated to celebrating earthly love to be unChristian and reprehensible. All good Christians should devote their lives to God’s service and to loving Him.

Saint Jerome has been living a good Christian life in the city of Rome for many years. He has written extensively on the subject of marriage, love and sex. He lives a solitary celibate life.

Next Week’s Ask a Saint topic is… Lent! Saint Augustine will be back answering your queries. So send us your questions so that you can be prepared for the season of Lent.

Dear Jesus: Love letters to Jesus Christ

Dearest Jesus,

            From the day I learned of you, I knew that you would hold my heart in your hands, but baby, you’ve done more than that – you completely own me and every part of me. When I think of you, my heart fills with so much love and passion that I can hardly contain myself. I think of spending every minute of every day praising you, though I cannot do that. But no matter how devoted to my husband I may seem, I promise you that you will always be the love of my life. I thank our Holy Father every day for bringing you to this Earth so that I may love you.

            Yours,

Mathilda

My Beloved Jesus,

I’ve known you were the one for me since I first set foot in that monastery. Before I knew you, truly knew you, I had no idea what love really was – until my heart started aching for you every second I wasn’t in prayer. Every moment I cannot pray, when my life takes me away from truly loving you, I spend holding back tears from the longing I have for you. I never knew it was possible for one to steal my heart and truly made it His; I never knew I could love someone more than my own life. I long for the day when I can finally spend eternity with you. You are my heartbeat, my every gasping breath of life. What I need to survive and make it through this lonely world can only be found by keeping you in my thoughts. Every alm I give, every prayer, I give for you, in case you are approaching me in disguise. I know in my heart that you love me too, from the miracles I experience each and every day. I know it was you who made that deer expel the bottle of wine, and it was on the wind of your breath that the bread I accidentally threw out the window floated down to the starving man.

There aren’t enough words in our language to truly describe the way I feel about you, Jesus. All I know is you, you are the only thing that is in my mind, the only one that is in my soul, the only one who truly and unconditionally has my heart for a lifetime, and for the eternity that awaits (don’t tell my husband). The thought of you keeps me going and going for another breath of fresh air, all to continue my longing for you. You are my inspiration for everything on this Earth – from giving to the poor to building places of worship – all for you. I truly believe that we are meant to be together, and you are the only recipient of all I have to offer, forever. Not even Henry has seen the extent of my love, for it is reserved for you.. Just the thought of you brightens my day completely. I treasure you locked in the safe of my heart. I love you, Jesus, and that is never going to change in my life. Always, and truly, yours forever.

Love,

Mathilda

My love,

I try to put this feeling into words, but fail miserably. This feeling of being both scared and at peace, of having both butterflies and a sense of calm, is a feeling that I had only ever dreamed about. As the days pass, through hardships and happiness, my love for you grows. I never thought I had the capacity to love anybody as much as I love you right now, and I’ve been hit with so much emotion and power that I did not know where to put it all. I’ve stacked it piece by piece in my heart for you. Yet, my love for you continues to mature, growing beyond the realm of my heart. It seems you have become the fiber of my soul, the very reason for my existence. I have no other words to describe the way you make me feel. No words, no actions could even come close. The beloved Saint Augustine stated that the first bond, the natural bond, arises between man and woman, but I think our bond is even stronger than that, for you are more than a man. And while you may not be standing beside me at this moment, I can feel your love raining down on me every day, and so I am at peace.

My eternal adoration,

Mathilda

My Darling,

Oh my love, how I need you in this moment. My Henry, my beloved son, gone. How can I bear it? I spend every moment in prayer, trying to connect my soul to yours – an escape of love. My Jesus, my darling, life seems so dark, though you bring a flickering candle into the darkened cavern. This letter must be short, for I must attend to grieving, but my love, how I need you in this moment.

Love through hardship, always,

Mathilda

My Beloved,

            The time is nearing for me to spend eternity with you. How I’ve waited all these years, hoping I would see you as an angel. How I’ve prayed. I’ve built monasteries and held prayers and dedicated my life to you, and I can only hope that it has been enough. On my dying day, I swear to it that I will consume your body as sacrament, so that I may fend off the attacks of the devil and be united with you, my love. And while I feel the bitter sickness tugging at my frail body, I am at peace knowing that this life will soon pass, and I will be with you forever. Dear Jesus, my love, you have been faithfully the love of my life. I beg of you to receive me well after my journey to you, so that we may live in heaven together for all of eternity.

For always and eternity,

Mathilda

The Modern Medieval Girl Magazine: Is marriage right for you?!

The Modern Medieval Girl Magazine

Is marriage right for you?!

A magazine advice column written by Verity Ahlin

Worried about marriage and you’re not even fifteen yet?! You are not alone! The expectation to resolve your future right now can be stressful, but this article can help. Don't feel pressure to decide right away if marriage is your path or perpetual virginity is. Read these questions from real girls just like you and maybe it will help you figure it out! And remember, sometimes your Mom isn’t always right!

            Question: “My mother wants me to stay a virgin, but I think it’s just because she is afraid of loosing me. She always says ‘what would I do without you?’ The other day, I asked her why it was okay for her to get married. She told me that I should do as she says, not at she does! She never listens to me. How do I tell her I don’t want to be a virgin forever?!”  ~Liliana, 14

            Answer: That’s a tough one Liliana! First of all, find out if your Mom’s motivations are really to keep you home. Tell her that if you are going to stay a virgin, you want to take it seriously and become a nun and go to a convent far away. If she thinks that is a great idea, then maybe she does think virginity is best. However, if she tries to persuade you to stay home then she is definitely motivated by selfish reasons. To me it sounds like you want to get married, so remember that it's totally fine! Paul says in 1Corinthians 7:28 “if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin”. As hard as it is, try to be firm in your decision; pressure from parents can be tough.

            Question: “Jerome says that by being a virgin I can be closer to God, but Augustine states that marriage represents the fundamental bond between God and humanity. I’m feeling a lot of pressure because Jerome wrote this letter directly to my mom and me. I feel like I HAVE to be a virgin forever now. HELP! Is there a right or a wrong answer to this?” ~Eustochium, 16

            Answer: There is no wrong answer because this is your decision and your relationship with God. You can be just as close to God in a chaste marriage as you can as a virgin. Neither Jerome nor Augustine is wrong, although they are just not as clear as they should be; neither path is better than the other. It is true that being a perpetual virgin is a way to honor and worship God but that does not negate the significance of marriage. Marriage allows you to worship God in another way. The flesh is not bad; God made us intrinsically good. It is simply sex outside of marriage that is a bad appropriation of the flesh. This may seem like a lot to take in but you should really think about this on your own, and without the outside influence of Jerome or your mother.

            Question: “My parents recently made me read Jerome’s letter to Eustochium, and it made me scared. I think that I want to be a perpetual virgin, but Jerome said that if I failed that that would be the worst thing I could do! Jerome said, “[God] cannot raise a virgin up after she has fallen. He is able to free one who has been corrupted from the penalty of her sin, but he refuses her the crown … Virginity therefore can be lost even by a thought”. Now I’m terrified that after I promise to be a virgin I’ll have an impure thought and God will never be able to forgive me! Should I just get married and forget about being a virgin?” ~Mirabelle, 15

            Answer: Mirabelle, don’t be scared! God loves you! Sinning is human nature; that’s why Jesus died on the cross for us. Living a pure life for Him is a good thing, so you should not be afraid to disappoint Him because of something Jerome said. If you are sure in your heart that you want to be a virgin for God then that is all that matters! You go for it girl, and don’t be afraid! Paul says in 1Corinthians 7:17 “let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you”. It sounds to me, Mirabelle, like God has given you a calling; it is up to you to follow that calling without doubt or fear.

A Page from Saint Jerome's Diary

14 February

It is that day of the year again, my absolute favorite one! The day when all who are in love celebrate it; couples flock to the streets, the restaurants, the coffee shops, the hotels, and the only place, it seems, where you can escape from this charade is the solitude of your own home. If you have something to attend to and dare to go outside, you cannot escape the numerous couples holding hands, kissing in public places, as if they felt it necessary to make everyone a witness of these inappropriate displays of affection.  They think they are blessed because they are in love, while all I can think is “What damned fools!” But let them enjoy the pleasures of love while they can. They feel themselves in the Heavens, exalted by love; they don’t think about the consequences of their actions and sins, but when love falls apart, they will certainly feel the fires of Hell on their bodies.

When I dare give voice to my opinion on all of this, I get accused of being an emotionless, bitter old man, who judges everyone so harshly because he’s never had love in his life. That is what people say behind my back, thinking that they know all about my life simply because I am celibate. They don’t know how wrong they are, however! They don’t know how mad in love I once was, and they don’t know anything about that damned woman, whose name I don’t even want to put in writing.

Even to this day I remember vividly the first time I saw her. So struck was I by her beauty, thinking she must be an angel, that my heart was not able to keep a steady beat. The first time I actually gathered enough courage to speak to her, I was astonished that I had been able to utter a word because my body was shaking so uncontrollably and my mind was in such a feverish state. When I believed that she shared my feelings, how overjoyed was I! How I thought I must be in Paradise, because only that could have explained the pure happiness that seemed to flow through me. How I was lost in the lust that would come over me when I was with her; how I was completely and utterly lost in my desire to be lost in her! I admired her even more when she would stop us from committing the sins of the flesh, since I thought her soul must be so very pure to enable her to control such strong desires. It was not purity that helped her do that, however. She was a most vile creature who in reality did not share any of my feelings, but kept me close just out of boredom, or because she enjoyed the attention, or even worse, because it was in her custom. I saw her in bed with only one man, and I don’t know if there were others, but even that was enough to nearly destroy me. I was utterly shocked by her betrayal and felt completely broken. For days I did not know where I was or who I was; the image of her making love to another man would not leave my thoughts. As I felt myself in agony, hate began to infest my heart and my mind. Oh the sinful thoughts that crossed my mind then!

As hate had my mind in its grip, I was scared of what I might do in a state of animalistic rage. The only way out I saw was to get as far away as possible from that miserable place. Then I found the only salvation there was for my soul; I found enlightenment in my belief in Him, who is the only one worthy of our love, even though we may not be worthy of His. I dedicated my life to God and to teach others about the only true love that can exist in this world – the love of God.

Contrary to popular opinion, I do not advise against love and sex because I have never felt those passions, but quite the opposite. I know how consuming the power of lust can be. In that state of mind not only friends and family cease to exist, but even God fades from our thoughts. I know also the power of hatred, which love so very often leads to, and how hate brings us further away from God even more so than lust. In the end, it is not me that has never felt love in his life. Instead, maybe it is those that claim that devotion to God can coexist with devotion to a lover, that have never loved as madly as I. 
                                                                                                        Jerome