St. ValentineSt. Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned.

When he refused to renounce his faith he was beaten with clubs, and afterwards, beheaded on February 14, about the year 270.

One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer’s blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer’s daughter, signing it, “From your Valentine.”

To abolish the heathens lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls, in honor of their goddess Februata Juno, on the fifteenth of this month, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints in billets given on this day. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. “Saint Valentine” is the name of several (14 in all) martyred saints of ancient Rome. The name “Valentine”, derived from valens (worthy, strong, powerful), was popular in Late Antiquity. Of the Saint Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is known except his name and that he was buried at the Via Flaminia north of Rome on February 14. It is even uncertain whether the feast of that day celebrates only one saint or more saints of the same name. For this reason this liturgical commemoration was not kept in the Catholic calendar of saints for universal liturgical veneration as revised in 1969. But “Martyr Valentinus the Presbyter and those with him at Rome” remains in the list of saints proposed for veneration by all Catholics.

  2. I am planning to get background from Every Saint of this year, as many Saints that will fit in 110 GB hard drive to study their uniqueness and relationship to the Trinity. If I choose Theology I want to know the background of it and how it has become today. Want to know their lives how they forfeited them for the sake of love and peace for all. I want to pray to them openly, talk about them and their achievements to save humanity and give gratitude for GOD’s gifts to us all. I want people to see that Catholicism is a part of most nations of the world. And that it is a peaceful religion that involves not just about The Trinity of God the Father, our Lord Christ Jesus, and The Holy Spirit but Mary the Mother of Christ and Apostles and many called upon to speak and abide by the laws of God. And make the ultimate sacrifice courage and understanding to speak the Gospels.

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