St. Valentine

Saint Valentine of Rome

Martyr

Valentine was a priest in Rome during the third century. In the persecution under Emperor Claudius II, he aided the martyrs, with the help of St. Marius and his family. Eventually Valentine was taken prisoner, and after working a miraculous healing of the Roman prefect’s daughter, which brought about many conversions, the holy priest was beaten with clubs and finally beheaded, around the year of Our Lord 270. Some scholars consider Valentine of Rome to be the same person as St. Valentine of Terni, a bishop who was martyred during the same persecution and who shares this feast day. The origin of Valentine’s patronage of romantic love is obscure, though many embellished accounts of the saint’s life describe various potential reasons for this patronage after the fact. The devotion may have arisen because birds in Western Europe were observed to pair up for the spring at this time of year; as the poet Chaucer wrote in the 14th century, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day/Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.” Others consider the devotion a Christianized replacement for customs related to the pagan Roman feast of Lupercalia. Whatever the origin, Valentine’s patronage endures.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for February 14th

AT Rome, on the Flaminian road, in the time of the emperor Claudius, the birthday of blessed Valentine, priest and martyr, who after having cured and instructed many persons, was beaten with clubs and beheaded.

Also, at Rome, the holy martyrs Vitalis, Felicula, and Zeno.

At Teramo, St. Valentine, bishop and martyr, who was scourged, committed to prison, and as he remained unshaken in his faith, was taken out of his dungeon in the dead of night and beheaded by order of Placidus, prefect of the city.

In the same place, the holy martyrs Proculus, Ephebus and Apollonius, who, whilst watching by the body of St. Valentine, were arrested and put to the sword by the command of the ex-consul Leontius.

At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Bassus, Anthony, and Protolicus, who were cast into the sea.

Also, the holy martyrs Cyrion, priest, Bassian, lector, Agatho, exorcist, and Moses, who perished in the flames and took their flight to heaven.

In the same city, the Saints Denis and Ammonius, who were beheaded.

At Ravenna, St. Eleuchadius, bishop and confessor.

In Bithynia, the abbot St. Auxentius.

At Sorrento, St. Anthony, abbot, who, when the monastery of Monte Cassino was devastated by the Lombards, withdrew into a solitude of the neighborhood, where, celebrated for holiness, he passed calmly to his repose in God. His body is daily glorified by many miracles, and particularly by the deliverance of possessed persons.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.