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The history of Valentine’s Day–and the story of its
patron saint–is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long
been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as
we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman
tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated
with this ancient rite? The Catholic Church recognizes at least three
different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were
martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served
during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that
single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he
outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of
the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young
lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius
ordered that he be put to death. Still others insist that it was Saint
Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday.
He, too, was beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome. Other stories suggest
that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians
escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first
“valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young
girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his
confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter
signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.
Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories
all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and–most
importantly–romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this
reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in
England and France.
Cute Valentines Day photos