Rumours swirl around who exactly St. Valentine was and what role he played in the Catholic Church, but genuine artifacts prove that he was a real person. In fact, an entire church dedicated to him has been unearthed by archeologists.
Some stories have him serving as a Roman priest who was killed for refusing to relinquish his Christian faith. Others place him as a temple priest who was put in jail for defying the Roman Emperor Claudius the Goth (Claudius II).
The first mention of him appears in the The Nuremberg Chronicle, an illustrated book published in 1493. The story of Valentine includes a woodcut of him and the information that he was martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth.
Valentine was first imprisoned when Claudius discovered him marrying Christian couples. In an ironic turn, the Emperor Claudius began to grow fond of Valentine, until Valentine tried to convert him. That action cost Valentine his life. He was stoned, beaten, and finally beheaded around 269 or 270 A.D. on February 14.
There was a Roman custom of boys drawing girls’ names on February 15, the day they celebrated their goddess Februata Juno. Because this was looked upon as a pagan practice, some Christian pastors began to substitute the names of saints for this time in February.
However romantically tragic this story may seem, Catholic readings have discovered at least three St. Valentines who were martyred on February 14. One is described as a Roman priest, another as the Bishop of Interamna, and a third is described as suffering and dying in Africa.
But the fact is Valentine, one or all three, existed. And he or they suffered and died for his or their faith.
Though February 14 is the date associated with St. Valentine’s murder, in the Middle Ages, England and France shared a belief that made mid-February much more pleasant and even romantic. They believed that this time of the year, birds began to pair up.
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400) wrote about this popular belief in his Parliament of Foules:
For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.
The day began to be looked upon as a time appropriate for sending lovers’ letters and tokens and expressing love.
Valentine is now the patron saint of happy marriages, engaged couples, epilepsy, bee keepers, fainting, greetings, love, lovers, travellers, plague, and young people. He is represented with birds and roses.
Sources:
Catholic Online http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=159
New Advent http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254a.htm
Pamela Mooman - Pamela Mooman I am an award-winning writer and editor. I have more than 19 years of experience working in a variety of subjects and ...
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