Mystery of St. Valentine

There is a romantic legend about Saint Valentine. It says he was a Roman priest. He secretly helped young couples get married. The Roman Empire banned this. Emperor Claudius II learned about the priest’s disobedience. He ordered Father Valentine to be executed on February 14th. But Saint Valentine’s real story is unknown. Thereare at least three different martyrs named Valentine. They all died February 14th. The first was the above-mentioned Roman priest.

The second was a bishop from Terni, Italy. He performed miracles. The thirdwas a priest from Rome. He shared his religion with the masses. All three men were persecuted for their religion. This happened in the third century. Many theories connect Saint Valentine to romance. One is the date of his death. It matched the day of the feast of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a festival of love. Today, Valentine’s Day is acelebration love and romance.