Perhaps the relics of Saint Valentine are closer than you think. Today we explore the story behind Saint Valentine’s Roman Catholic Church. We will uncover the history of its namesake. Saint Valentine was a Roman saint who lived in the 3rd century. The Catholic Church removed his name from the General Roman Calendar in 1969. So little was reliably known about him. The church still recognizes him as a saint.
The life of Saint Valentine is shrouded in mystery. Legends and stories intertwine making it hard to separate fact from fiction. One common story describes Saint Valentine as a priest in Rome. Another account identifies him as the Bishop of Interamna now Terni in Italy. Both were said to be buried on the Via Flaminia outside Rome. This suggests a single person with a shared history.
Legend says that Saint Valentine was imprisoned for marrying Christian couples. Emperor Claudius II believed that unmarried men made better soldiers. Saint Valentine defied this decree by secretly performing marriages. This act of defiance led to his arrest and imprisonment. While jailed Saint Valentine befriended the jailer’s daughter. Before his execution he penned her a goodbye letter signed “From your Valentine”. This may have inspired today’s romantic missives.
Another tale tells of Judge Asterius’ blind daughter. Asterius challenged Saint Valentine to restore her sight to prove the validity of Jesus. Saint Valentine laid his hands on her eyes. He prayed to God and the child’s vision was restored. Humbled Asterius converted to Christianity along with his family.
Saint Valentine was eventually arrested again. He was commanded to renounce his faith by Emperor Claudius. He refused. Saint Valentine was beaten with clubs and beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14 around 269 AD.
The Feast of Saint Valentine was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It was meant to be celebrated on February 14. However, the association of Saint Valentine’s Day with romantic love emerged later. It gained popularity during the High Middle Ages. People began writing love letters to their “Valentine”.
There are several churches dedicated to Saint Valentine. One is the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome. It houses the flower-crowned skull of Saint Valentine. Other relics can be found around the world. They are in Ireland, Czech Republic, Poland, Greece and France.
Saint Valentine is the patron saint of love, young people and happy marriages. He is also the patron of beekeepers and those suffering from epilepsy. He is often depicted with birds and roses. His legacy continues to inspire love and devotion around the world. Saint Valentine’s Roman Catholic Church stands as a testament to his enduring influence.