The origin of St. Valentine, and how many St. Valentines there were, remains a mystery. One opinion is that he was a Roman martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Other historians hold that St. Valentine was a temple priest jailed for defiance during the reign of Claudius. Whoever he was, Valentine really existed because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.

The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in a The Nuremberg Chronicle, a great illustrated book printed in 1493. [Additional evidence that Valentine was a real person: archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine.] Alongside a woodcut portrait of him, text states that Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth [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. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate [circa 269].

Saints are not supposed to rest in peace; they're expected to keep busy: to perform miracles, to intercede. Being in jail or dead is no excuse for non-performance of the supernatural. 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."

FEAST

14 February; restricted to local calendars since 1969

PROFILE

Priest. Physician. Possibly Bishop. Martyr.

DIED

martyred c.269 @ Rome; buried on the Flaminian Way

NATIONALITY

Roman

PATRONAGE

affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people

REPRESENTATION

birds; roses

REFERENCE BOOKS

Saint Valentine Oct 1992 by Robert Sabuda

A PRAYER TO ST. VALENTINE

Dear Saint and glorious martyr; Teach us to love unselfishly and to find great joy in giving. Enable all true lovers to bring out the best in each other in God and in God in each other.

LOVE

Love is Patient and Kind,
It doesn't envy or Boast and it's never proud,
Love is not rude or selfish,
It doesn't get angry easily or keep track of wrongs.
Love doesn't delight in bad things
But it rejoices in the truth.
Love always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.
Love never fails.
--- St. Paul to the Corinthians

IMAGE LINKS (Use the BACK button to return)

[30K gif] a tiled picture from the book cover
[29K jpg] a St. Valentine doll
[10K jpg] His Final Resting Place
[15K jpg] a stained glass image
[18K jpg] an illustration
[25K jpg] a St. Valentine Medal
[35K jpg] a St. Valentine Holycard

INTERNET LINKS

The Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Online, Saints & Angels
Catholic Online, St Valentine Page
The Legend of St. Valentine a Christian Legend
Lone Keep Internet Another History of Valentines Day page
Lovelane, Colorado Another History of Valentine's Day page
God's Valentine
Another History Page
A short History
Multimedia presentation with a Quiz
Another History Page
And Another History Page
Encyclopedia Definition
World Wide School History
The History Channel
A History Page