Joshua Bennett
Valentine's Day is a widely celebrated holiday, but do Catholics observe it? The day is named after St. Valentine, a Catholic saint, and has been associated with the Catholic Church for centuries. However, in the liturgy, most Roman Catholics do not celebrate St. Valentine on February 14. The Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from its General Roman Calendar in 1969, and the day is now officially dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius. Despite this, many Catholics continue to view Valentine's Day as a time to reflect on their faith and renew their commitment to love in line with Catholic teachings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 14th of February |
| Who celebrates it? | Western culture, Church of England, Lutheran calendar of saints, Roman Rite (until 1969) |
| Who doesn't celebrate it? | Most Roman Catholics, the Catholic Church (officially) |
| What is it about? | Love, faith, charity, kindness, generosity, selflessness, standing up for beliefs |
| Who is it about? | St. Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for his Christian faith |
| Legends about St. Valentine | Secretly wed couples, killed while presiding over the marriage of a Christian couple |
| Other saints celebrated on this day | Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the missionary brothers who spread the Cyrillic alphabet to Eastern Europe |
| Other interesting facts | Chaucer wrote poems associating love, the rites of spring, and St. Valentine; the tradition spread to the US in the late 18th century; by the 1830s, companies were manufacturing Valentine's Day kits |
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What You'll Learn
- The Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar in 1969
- St. Valentine's Day is about faith and love, not just flowers and chocolates
- St. Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for his faith
- St. Valentine's Day is a memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius
- St. Valentine's Day is associated with romantic love and affection
The Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar in 1969
St. Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman saint who was martyred for his Christian faith. Legend has it that he secretly wedded couples, leading to his association with romantic love and affection. February 14 has been associated with St. Valentine for centuries, with the earliest calendars of the Catholic Church marking this date as his feast day.
However, in 1969, the Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar. This decision was made in the Second Vatican Council document, Sacrosanctum Concilium, which suggested that the liturgical year should be revised and certain saints removed from the general calendar. The Church wanted to ensure that the feasts of saints did not take precedence over those commemorating the mysteries of salvation. As a result, St. Valentine's celebration was left to local calendars, and only saints of universal importance would be extended to the universal Church.
The removal of St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar can also be attributed to the uncertainty surrounding his identity. There are multiple saints named Valentine, and it is unclear which one is associated with February 14. Additionally, the legends attributed to the mysterious saint are inconsistent, making it difficult to determine the true history behind the celebration.
Despite the removal of St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar, the Catholic Church continues to recognize him as a saint. He is listed in the February 14 entry of the Roman Martyrology, and his relics can be found in various locations around the world. While the Roman Rite no longer observes February 14 as the feast of St. Valentine, many Catholics continue to celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of love and faith, reflecting on the values of love and charity in Catholicism.
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St. Valentine's Day is about faith and love, not just flowers and chocolates
St. Valentine's Day is a time for Catholics to reflect on their actions and renew their commitment to love in line with their faith. This goes beyond the usual romantic celebrations, making it a day of love grounded in Catholic beliefs. The day is an opportunity to think about the important values that the Catholic Church teaches about love, caring, and thinking about others.
St. Valentine's Day has its roots in the life of Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for his Christian faith. There are several legends surrounding this saint, one of which claims that he secretly wed Christian couples and was killed when he was discovered doing so. This association with romantic love and affection has led to St. Valentine being regarded as the patron of young couples.
However, St. Valentine represents a different kind of love than the popular culture vision of romantic affection. His story serves as a powerful lesson, encouraging kindness, love, and steadfastness in standing up for our beliefs, regardless of the circumstances. Saint Valentine's enduring example of love continues to inspire and resonate today.
In Catholic teachings, love is not merely a superficial feeling but involves doing good things for others, showing generosity, and placing others before ourselves. Recognizing that love can manifest in various forms helps people understand how Valentine's Day aligns with Catholic beliefs.
While the day has become widely associated with flowers, chocolates, cards, and poetry, the true meaning of St. Valentine's Day is about faith and love. It is a chance to honor Saint Valentine's sacrifice and how he demonstrated the pure love of God through his actions.
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St. Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for his faith
Valentine's Day is a time for Catholics to reflect on their faith and the values of love in Catholicism. The day is named after Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for his Christian faith.
Saint Valentine was martyred on February 14 in AD 269. The Feast of Saint Valentine, also known as Saint Valentine's Day, was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496 to be celebrated on February 14 in honour of the Christian martyr.
There are a number of legends that surround this particular saint, including one that claims he secretly wed Christian couples. It is said that Saint Valentine was killed when he was discovered presiding at the marriage of a Christian couple, thus the association of the saint with romantic love and affection.
In the Roman Rite, February 14 is no longer the feast of St. Valentine, although the culture continues to celebrate Valentine's Day. The Catholic Church removed his name from the General Roman Calendar in 1969, leaving his liturgical celebration to local calendars. However, the Church continues to recognise him as a saint, listing him as such in the February 14 entry in the Roman Martyrology.
Despite the removal of Saint Valentine from the official calendar, the day continues to be associated with him and is a reminder of the powerful lesson he embodies: to be kind, loving, and steadfast in standing up for our beliefs, no matter the circumstances.
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St. Valentine's Day is a memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius
While February 14 is widely celebrated as Valentine's Day, the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church designates it as the memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius. These two brotherly saints, born in Thessalonica, Greece, in the 9th century, are known as the "Apostles to the Slavs". They are honoured in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.
Saints Cyril and Methodius played a significant role in spreading Christianity to Great Moravia and Eastern Europe. They were invited by Prince Ratislav of Moravia to evangelise his subjects in their native tongue. To accomplish this, Saint Cyril created the Glagolitic alphabet, based on the Greek alphabet, which later evolved into the Cyrillic script. They used this alphabet to translate the liturgy, the New Testament, and many Psalms into the Slavonic language.
The lives and sacrifices of Saints Cyril and Methodius are commemorated on February 14, the date of Saint Cyril's death in 869. They were praised by the Council Fathers at the First Vatican Council and later venerated by Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical, Grande Munus. In 1980, Pope Saint John Paul II declared them the co-patron saints of Europe.
Although the cultural celebration of Valentine's Day continues, the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar has removed Saint Valentine's feast day from this date. The removal occurred in 1969, following the Second Vatican Council's suggestion to revise the liturgical year and remove certain saints from the general calendar. The focus is now on Saints Cyril and Methodius, whose evangelisation efforts and contributions to Slavic languages are recognised as being of universal importance.
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St. Valentine's Day is associated with romantic love and affection
St. Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14, is associated with romantic love and affection. The day is named after St. Valentine, a Catholic saint.
There are several legends surrounding St. Valentine, one of which claims that he was a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for secretly presiding over the marriages of Christian couples. This legend has led to St. Valentine being associated with romantic love and marriage.
Another legend suggests that St. Valentine was killed while imprisoned and discussing his Christian faith with Judge Asterius. As a test of his faith, the judge brought forward his adopted blind daughter and asked St. Valentine to restore her sight.
In 1969, the Catholic Church removed St. Valentine as the primary saint celebrated on February 14 due to inconsistencies in identifying the saint and the presence of multiple saints named Valentine. However, the Church continues to recognise him as a saint, and his story serves as a powerful lesson on love, kindness, and standing up for one's beliefs.
For Catholics, Valentine's Day is more than just flowers and chocolates. It is a day to reflect on the values of love and faith taught by the Catholic Church, encouraging generosity and placing others before ourselves. It is also a time for Catholics to renew their commitment to love in line with their faith, celebrating love in its various forms.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholics celebrate Valentine's Day. Although the Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar in 1969, the day is still a time for Catholics to reflect on their faith and renew their commitment to love in line with their beliefs.
The Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the calendar due to doubts about which St. Valentine was being celebrated on February 14. There are several saints named Valentine recognized by the Church, and the specific Valentine associated with February 14 and romantic love was not clear.
Catholics celebrate Valentine's Day by reflecting on the life of Saint Valentine and the values of love and charity in Catholicism. It is a time to honor Saint Valentine's sacrifice and to spread love and kindness to others.
