By CNA Staff
CNA Staff, Feb 14, 2025 / 04:00 am
In most stores in the weeks leading up to St. Valentine’s Day, you’re likely to find a plethora of pink-and-red cards, heart-shaped boxes of Russell Stover chocolates, and decor with nearly-naked chubby cherubs shooting hearts with bows and arrows.
It’s a far cry from the real St. Valentine, an early Christian martyr who was bludgeoned and beheaded for his faith.
So how did a saint with such a gruesome death come to be associated with a holiday all about love, chocolates, and chubby cherubs?
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, at least three different St. Valentines were recorded in early histories of martyrs under the date of Feb. 14. There are also accounts of an African St. Valentine, an early Christian who was persecuted along with his companions. But it seems that nothing else is known about this possible saint.
The St. Valentine celebrated today may have been two different people.
One account holds that St. Valentine was a priest in Rome, and the other says he was a bishop of Interamna (modern-day Terni). Both of these men were persecuted and ultimately killed for their faith, and buried somewhere along the Flaminian Way. It is also possible that they were the same person, however.
“He was either a Roman priest and physician who was martyred, or he was the bishop of Terni, Italy, who was also martyred in Rome, around 270 A.D. by Claudius the Goth” (the Roman emperor at the time), said Father Brendan Lupton, an associate professor of dogmatic theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Illinois.
St. Valentine — whether priest or bishop — was martyred on Feb. 14, now celebrated as Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day holds a special place in the hearts of many, as it is a day to celebrate love and affection. One of the most famous legends associated with this day is that of St. Valentine, a Christian martyr who was believed to have been beaten and beheaded after a period of imprisonment.
Local devotion to St. Valentine grew over time, leading Pope Julius I to commission the construction of a basilica in his honor near Rome. Today, his skull is preserved in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Rome, adorned with beautiful flower crowns on his feast day.
According to historical accounts, St. Valentine was one of the first Christian martyrs during a time of widespread persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. The Third Century Crisis, marked by economic instability and political turmoil, led to the persecution of Christians on a large scale.
Many Valentine’s Day traditions can be traced back to St. Valentine’s life and legacy. The tradition of exchanging cards may have originated from St. Valentine sending notes to fellow Christians from his prison cell. Another popular legend suggests that he secretly married soldiers in defiance of an edict by Claudius the Goth, who had banned marriage among soldiers.
On this day of love and romance, let us remember the courage and compassion of St. Valentine, who sacrificed his life for his beliefs. May we continue to honor his memory by spreading love and kindness to all those around us. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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