Joshua Bennett
Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed annually on February 14th. It was originally a Christian feast day commemorating a martyr named Valentine, and it has evolved into a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 14 February |
| History | St. Valentine was a Roman priest and physician from the third century who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus about 270 CE. |
| St. Valentine was buried on the Via Flaminia, and Pope Julius I reportedly built a basilica over his grave. | |
| St. Valentine is the patron saint of affianced couples, beekeepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, and young people. | |
| St. Valentine is also known as Saint Valentine of Rome, Saint Valentine of Terni, and Valentino (Italian) or Valentinus (Latin). | |
| St. Valentine's feast day was removed by the Catholic Church from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 due to historical uncertainty about the saint. | |
| St. Valentine's Day is still celebrated in Balzan, Malta, and by Traditionalist Catholics who follow the older, pre-Second Vatican Council calendar. | |
| Catholic Traditions | Catholics may start the day with a morning Mass or a special church service, where they reflect on the theme of love and thank God for the people they care about. |
| Catholics may also say prayers for their loved ones, asking for blessings and protection, and volunteer or give to charity. | |
| Sharing a meal with family is another tradition. |
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What You'll Learn
St. Valentine was a Roman priest and physician
Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It is a cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of love and romance in many parts of the world. The day is named after Saint Valentine, a Roman priest and physician, who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus around the year 270 CE.
Saint Valentine, also known as Saint Valentine of Rome, was a 3rd-century Roman saint widely celebrated on February 14 and associated with "courtly love." While not much is reliably known about his life, it is believed that he was a priest who was imprisoned and martyred for aiding Christians and performing Christian weddings for couples during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Saint Valentine is said to have healed the jailer's blind daughter and signed a letter to her, "from your Valentine," before his execution.
According to popular belief, Saint Valentine was a Roman priest of exceptional learning who converted the daughter of Judge Asterius and many others to Christianity. He defied the emperor's orders by secretly marrying Christian couples, which was considered a serious crime. Despite the emperor's rage and the sentence of death upon him, Saint Valentine refused to renounce his faith and was executed outside the Flaminian Gate in Rome.
The legends and stories surrounding Saint Valentine are inconsistent, and it is unclear if they refer to a single person or multiple saints with the same name. However, it is widely agreed that he was martyred and buried on the Via Flaminia in Rome. Archaeologists have discovered a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to him, providing evidence of his existence. Relics of Saint Valentine can be found in various churches around the world, including his skull on display in Rome and other artifacts in Dublin, Ireland.
In terms of religious observance, the Catholic Church removed Saint Valentine's Day from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 due to a lack of reliable information about the saint. However, he remains recognized as a saint, and his feast day is still celebrated by Traditionalist Catholics who follow older calendars. In the Roman Rite, February 14 is no longer officially dedicated to Saint Valentine, but popular culture continues to celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of love and romance.
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St. Valentine was martyred during the persecution of Christians
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honouring a martyr named Valentine and, through later folk traditions, it has also become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
St. Valentine was a third-century Italian bishop and Roman priest who was martyred for his Christian faith during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus about 270 CE. He was buried on the Via Flaminia, and Pope Julius I reportedly built a basilica over his grave. According to the popular hagiographical identity, believed to be the first representation of St. Valentine, the Nuremberg Chronicle, St. Valentine was imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Both acts were considered serious crimes.
There are a number of martyrdom stories associated with various Saint Valentines connected to February 14, including an account of the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century. According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer, leaving her a note signed, "Your Valentine" on the day of his execution. Other narratives identify him as the bishop of Terni, Italy, who was martyred, apparently in Rome, and whose relics were later taken to Terni and can now be found in the Catholic church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Jean-l’Evangéliste, located in the southern French town of Roquemaure, Gard.
In the Roman Rite, February 14 is no longer the feast of St. Valentine, although popular culture continues to celebrate Valentine's Day. The Catholic Church removed St. Valentine's Day from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 due to historical uncertainty about the saint, replacing it with the feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius. However, Saint Valentine's feast day continues to be celebrated on February 14 in some local liturgical calendars and by traditionalist Catholics who use the pre-Vatican II General Roman Calendar.
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St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers
The Catholic Church recognises St. Valentine as a saint, and he is commemorated in Western Christianity on February 14, or Valentine's Day, which is celebrated annually across the world. In the Roman Rite, however, February 14 is no longer the feast of St. Valentine, although his feast day remains celebrated on this date in some local liturgical calendars and by traditionalist Catholics.
St. Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman priest and physician who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus around 270 CE. He was imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. He was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14, which has been observed as the Feast of Saint Valentine since at least the 8th century.
St. Valentine is widely associated with 'courtly love' and is known for his remarkable compassion and love. His romantic nature may have derived from the Middle Ages, when it was believed that birds paired couples in mid-February.
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St. Valentine's Day is celebrated in France as 'Saint Valentin'
Valentine's Day is a globally celebrated day of love, marked by millions exchanging gifts and gestures with their loved ones on the 14th of February. The day is widely observed by the Church of Rome, Anglicans, and Lutherans as the feast day of Saint Valentine.
In France, a traditionally Catholic country, Valentine's Day is known as "Saint Valentin" and is celebrated in much the same way as in other Western countries. However, there are some unique traditions and nuances to the French celebration of Saint Valentin. For example, in France, preschoolers do not typically give valentines to all their friends and family, but rather to a special "love" interest. The French also generally do not send cards or gifts to friends, only to their lovers.
The relics of Saint Valentin de Terni, the patron of St Valentine's Day, can be found in the Catholic church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Jean-l’Evangéliste, located in the southern French town of Roquemaure, Gard. The village of St. Valentin in Indre, named after St. Valentine himself, also holds various events dedicated to the celebration of love, including marriage vow renewals, concerts, and the sale of speciality chocolates and jewellery.
Every two years, on the Sunday closest to February 14th, the village of Roquemaure celebrates the "Fête des Amoureux", during which the village dresses in 19th-century costume and puts on a program with over 800 people.
The origins of St. Valentine's Day are somewhat shrouded in mystery, with various legends and myths surrounding the day. One popular account is that of Saint Valentine of Rome, a 3rd-century Roman priest who was imprisoned and martyred for conducting weddings for soldiers forbidden to marry. During his imprisonment, he is said to have fallen in love with the daughter of his jailer and left her a letter signed "Your Valentine" before his execution. Another legend claims that St. Valentine refused to renounce his Christian faith and was executed outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269.
Despite the various legends and the day's ancient origins, the romantic nature of Valentine's Day is believed to have flourished during the Middle Ages, with the renowned poet Geoffrey Chaucer contributing to this romanticisation in his poem "Parlement of Fowls", written around 1381.
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St. Valentine's Day is not on the Church's calendar
St. Valentine's Day, celebrated annually on February 14, is a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many parts of the world. While the day is named after Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest and physician, it is no longer officially recognized as a feast day in the Roman Rite or the Church's General Roman Calendar.
In 1969, the Catholic Church removed St. Valentine's Day from its General Roman Calendar due to historical uncertainty about the saint. The Second Vatican Council document, Sacrosanctum Concilium, recommended revising the liturgical year and removing certain saints from the general calendar. As a result, St. Valentine's Day was replaced with the feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
However, it is important to note that Saint Valentine is still recognized by the Catholic Church as a saint. He is listed in the Roman Martyrology, which is the official list of saints. Additionally, his feast day continues to be celebrated in some local liturgical calendars and by traditionalist Catholics who follow the older, pre-Second Vatican Council calendar.
The relics of Saint Valentine can be found in various places, including the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Jean-l’Evangéliste in southern France and the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland, making these sites popular pilgrimage destinations.
Despite St. Valentine's Day not being officially included in the Church's calendar, many Catholics continue to associate the day with the values taught by the Catholic Church, such as love, caring, and thinking about others. Some Catholic traditions on Valentine's Day include attending a morning Mass, saying prayers for loved ones, and volunteering or giving to charity.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Valentine's Day is a Catholic feast day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine.
Valentine's Day is celebrated to commemorate the life of Saint Valentine, a Roman priest and physician from the third century who is distinguished for his remarkable compassion and love.
Catholics may start the day with a morning Mass, a special church service where they reflect on the theme of love and thank God for the people they care about. They may also say prayers for their loved ones, asking for blessings and protection. Some Catholics volunteer or give to charity, showing love to the wider community.
Saint Valentine was martyred for his Christian faith and was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14. His feast day has been celebrated since at least the eighth century. In 1969, the Catholic Church removed his name from the General Roman Calendar, leaving his liturgical celebration to local calendars.
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