Saint Valentine of Rome – History, Feast Day & Patron Saint of Love

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Saint Details

ST. VALENTINE

Saint Valentine of Rome was a Christian priest who secretly performed marriages during Roman persecution. He was imprisoned and martyred for defying the emperor’s orders and is remembered for his acts of compassion and courage, symbolizing sacrificial love. His feast day, February 14, inspired the modern celebration of love.

Saint Valentine of Rome is one of the most mysterious and enduring figures of early Christianity, whose legacy has transcended the centuries through both spiritual veneration and popular culture. Believed to have lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II, around the 3rd century AD, Valentine was a priest—or in some accounts, a bishop—who ministered to persecuted Christians in Rome. At that time, the Roman Empire was marked by hostility toward Christianity, and Emperor Claudius had issued a decree forbidding the marriage of young men, believing that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families.

Valentine, moved by compassion and commitment to Christian values, defied the emperor’s orders and began conducting secret marriage ceremonies for young Christian couples. His actions soon drew the attention of Roman authorities, and he was arrested and imprisoned. During his time in prison, Valentine continued to minister and spread the Christian faith, even to his jailers.

A widely told legend speaks of his relationship with the jailer's daughter, who was blind. Through prayer and divine grace, it is said that Valentine miraculously restored her sight. Before his execution, he reportedly sent her a letter signed “from your Valentine,” an expression that would centuries later evolve into a hallmark of modern Valentine’s Day messages.

Valentine was eventually martyred for his faith on February 14, around the year 269 or 270 AD. He was beaten with clubs and then beheaded on the Via Flaminia, a historic Roman road. He was buried in a Christian cemetery on the same road, and a church was later built at the site in his honor.

Though there are at least three martyrs named Valentine recognized by the Catholic Church, Saint Valentine of Rome is the figure most closely associated with romantic love. His feast day was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, not only to honor his martyrdom but also to counter the pagan festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated fertility.

By the Middle Ages, the figure of Saint Valentine had been romanticized in poetry and song, most notably by Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem “Parlement of Foules,” which linked February 14 with the idea of birds choosing their mates. From there, the connection between Saint Valentine and courtly love solidified, giving rise to centuries of traditions centered on expressing love, often with cards, gifts, and symbolic gestures.

Today, Saint Valentine is venerated as the patron saint of lovers, engaged couples, beekeepers, and those suffering from epilepsy. His relics are distributed among several churches across Europe, and his legacy lives on not only in religious remembrance but also in a global celebration of affection and partnership each year on February 14.

Feast Day

14-2-

Birth Date

--226 AD

Died Date

14-2-270 AD

Canonised Date

--Pre-Congregation

Via Flaminia, Rome, Italy

St. Valentine, Patron of love and compassion, Pray for us to love others with pure hearts. Help us to spread kindness and joy And follow Christ’s example of love. Amen.
ST. VALENTINE

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ST. VALENTINE

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