valentine's history lesson

Today is St. Valentine's Day.

Who the heck is/was Saint Valentine?!

I, like most of you, did not really know either--except for the part about him being a "saint."

So, here it goes:

**Disclaimer: I am not Catholic and am just compiling what I could find online. Thank you.**

Saint Valentine = Valentinus

Valentinus was a priest who assisted those in Rome who were being persecuted--and performed marriage ceremonies at a time when marriage was outlawed (i.e. the Emperor needed "single" soldiers for his army). He was captured, beaten, and then beheaded on February 14 (suprise!) in 270 AD by Emperor Claudius II. Thus, making him a martyr. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom...and to replace a pagan holiday of Juno Februata, Roman goddess of the "fever" (google it).

He is the patron saint of (this is where it gets interesting): affianced couples, bee keepers (?!?), engaged couples, epilepsy (?!?), fainting (?!?), greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague (?!?), travellers, and young people.

It is said that before being beheaded, he wrote a farewell letter, and signed it "From your Valentine..."

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!



Valentinus



Emperor Claudius II



Pope Gelasius