I know lots of saints. I know St. Bill and St. Jimmy and St. Jack. I also know St. Travis and St. Jean and St. Della. Those are just a few of the host of saints that I know. They don’t know they are saints because I haven’t broken the news to them yet. Besides, they think saints are dead and they aren’t dead yet. Also, they think only those named by the Pope can be saints and the Pope has never heard of them. Now, I have no quarrel with the Pope on this subject but as I see it, I reckon I can name some saints too. I’d like to name the late Pope John Paul a saint. Right now. Why wait?

     You are probably wondering what my criteria are for dubbing somebody a saint. Well, to be honest, I’m sort of making this up as I go. However, if you want to have your own set of rules, go for it. Make your own list. I’d start with

1. A saint pays attention to God. On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the minor and major prophets from the Bible are portrayed. The way you can tell which are the major prophets is that they are the ones listening to God. Saints are like that too.
2. A saint stays busy. Lots of saints whom I know are in the senior years of their lives. Still they are active and doing good. When they die they’ll keep on doing good. That’s just the way they are. There is too much good needing to be done to allow saints to use death as an excuse to quit.
3. A saint doesn’t wear a halo. Think what a distraction that would be. It would make you look like your head is on fire. The glow would keep you awake at night. Plus, it would keep trying to slide off. Who needs that when trying to work?

     I got to thinking about saints while navigating through a pharmacy yesterday. There was a huge display of valentines and boxes of chocolate candy. So I began to remember St. Valentine. Who was this fellow anyhow? He was honored 1512 years ago when the Pope gave him a day—February 14. I’m glad he got his own day because what he represents is really important to the good life. St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of engaged couples, married couples, bee keepers, travellers and young people among other things. He is usually pictured with birds and roses. Valentine was martyred in 269 in Rome. He got into deep trouble when he was discovered conducting weddings for Christian couples. Also he aided Christians who were being persecuted by the Emperor Claudius II. So, he was thrown into jail. As luck would have it, the Emperor became enamored with Valentine. This was good for a time but then Valentine made a bad mistake. He tried to convert the Emperor. It is hard to get a god to give up being God. This got him condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and was stoned, but finally they had to behead him to stop him. How could the Emperor have predicted that his Royal Highness would be little more than a footnote in history and 1700 years later Valentine, the priest, would prompt the sale of more chocolate, cards, hearts and roses each year than any other man in the world. Poetic justice, I’d say.

     If you are a person in love, young, travelling or a bee keeper, get some chocolate and get ready for St. Valentine’s Day with those you love. Your guess is as good as mine about bee keepers. Maybe it has something to do with birds and bees. Anyhow, this is a good time to give thanks for the saints. It is also a great time to begin living like a saint. Pay attention to God. Do as much good as you can. Stay busy. Keep some romance in your life. Hang your halo inside your closet. It will attract moths away from your clothes and be a dandy nightlight as well. Plus, people will be more comfortable around you. Tell the people that you love you do. Happy St. Valentine’s Day.

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