Officially known as Saint Valentine of Rome, Saint Valentine is a third-century Roman saint who is frequently linked to "courtly love."
It is widely accepted that St. Valentine was martyred and buried on the Via Flaminia, north of Rome, although not much about his life is known with certainty, and that the stories about him may or may not involve two other saints of the same name.
Because there was so little information available about St. Valentine, the Roman Catholic Church decided to remove him from the General Roman Calendar in 1969. Nevertheless, the church continues to acknowledge him as a saint, placing him in Roman Martyrology on February 14.
The stories surrounding the enigmatic saint are just as erratic as the man's true identity.
A widely held belief regarding St. Valentine is that, during his tenure as the previous Bishop of Terni, Narnia, and Amelia, he was placed under house arrest alongside Judge Asterius. Valentine affirmed Jesus' legitimacy to the Judge during their conversation about faith and religion. Valentine's religion was immediately called into question by the judge.
Given the judge's blind daughter, St. Valentine was tasked with giving her back her sight. The judge promised to do everything for Valentine if he succeeded. Valentine put his hands over her eyes and helped the child see again.
Judge Asterius submitted to Valentine's demands after being humbled. Together with his family and the entire 44-person household, Asterius broke all the idols surrounding his home, went without food for three days, and was baptized. And with that, the now-faithful judge released all of his Christian prisoners.
Later on, St. Valentine was detained once more for his persistent efforts to win people over to Christianity. Claudius Gothicus, the emperor, sent him to Rome. As per the widely accepted hagiographical identity and the Nuremberg Chronicle, which is said to be the first depiction of St. Valentine, the saint was a Roman priest who was martyred during the reign of Claudius. According to legend, St. Valentine was put in jail for marrying Christian couples and supporting those who were being persecuted in Rome by Claudius. Both actions were regarded as grave offenses. The saint and emperor had a growing bond before Valentine tried to persuade Claudius to become a Christian. Furious, Claudius gave Valentine the death penalty and threatened to beat him with clubs and have his head severed if he would not give up his faith.
On February 14, 269, St. Valentine was put to death outside the Flaminian Gate because he would not give up his Christian beliefs. Some accounts of St. Valentine's biography, however, state that he was put to death in the years 269, 270, 273, or 280.
Pope Julius I is supposed to have built a basilica near Ponte Mole in his memory, which for a long time gave its name to the gate now known as Porta del Popolo (originally Porta Valetini).
St. Valentine's relics can be seen throughout the world. St. Valentine's skull with a flower crown is housed in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. Other artifacts that were discovered to be Valentine's were unearthed at the Saint Hippolytus catacombs on the Via Tiburtina in 1836. These were moved in preparation for a special Mass honoring the young and in love.
In 1836, Pope Gregory XVI gave Father John Spratt a present that included a "small vessel tinged" with the blood of St. Valentine. This present is currently on display at Dublin, Ireland's Whitefriar Street Church.
St. Valentine is revered as the patron saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, and young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses and his feast day is celebrated on February 14.
Other Saints of the Day
Saint Abraham of Carrhae
Saint Auxentius of Bithynia
Saint Antoninus of Sorrento
Saint Theodosius
Saint Eleuchadius