The Whitefriar Church in Dublin, Ireland holds the heart of the city – the heart of Saint Valentine, that is!
We’re all likely familiar with the story of Saint Valentine who became a legendary figure of martyrdom following his beheading in AD 270, but to refresh your memory…
After being arrested for continuing to evangelize in ancient Rome, Valentine was sent to Emperor Claudius himself. Although Claudius initially took a liking to Valentine, things took a turn when he attempted to convert the emperor to Catholicism. When Claudius refused, Valentine was faced with a difficult decision: renounce his Faith or be beaten with clubs and killed. He refused to renounce his beliefs and was subsequently executed outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14th.
Fast forward 1~500 years to 1835 when a highly esteemed Irish Carmelite priest, Father John Spratt, was invited to preach at the Gesu in Rome. His sermons impressed the city and he was gifted with unconventional tokens from Pope Gregory XVI, including the heart of Saint Valentine.
Father John Spratt brought the heart back with him to the Whitefriar Church, but for whatever reason it was lost on the church grounds until it was rediscovered in the 1950s when renovations were taking place.
Today, Saint Valentine’s heart is a popular pilgrimage attraction for visitors to the Whitefriar Church, where one can pay homage to his legacy as the patron saint of love!
Photo credit: Blackfish via Wikimedia | Editorial credit: nomadFra / Shutterstock.com
