Heroes of the Faith: Saint Valentine

CatholicHero of the Faith
Written By Abigail Harmon

I started to do research on Saint Valentine. There are two… Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. I will talk about both of them. But I also want to say that historical record is so thin, the Catholic Church actually removed him from the General Roman Calendar in 1969. That doesn’t mean that he is not a saint. It just means that there is a lot of legend around him and we are not sure about the details.

Saint Valentine of Rome

Saint Valentine of Rome lived under Emperor Claudius II or Claudius the Goth. This Valentine never left the city of Rome. At this time Christianity was still illegal. Claudius was also fighting a lot of wars known as the "clash of kingdoms." To fight wars you need soldiers and no one wanted to fight in these wars. These young men didn’t want to leave their wives and children. So Claudius out lawed marriage. As you do.

Valentine believed that marriage was (is) a sacred duty. So he performed these ceremonies in secret by candlelight. Until Claudius found out about it. Valentine was hauled in front of the Emperor and put on trail. Claudius supposedly took a liking to Valentine during their initial meeting, attempting to convince him to save his own life by worshiping the Roman gods. Classic move in these stories. Valentine flipped the script and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity. This didn't go over well. The Emperor, fearing a riot if he showed mercy to a Christian proselytizer, handed Valentine over to the prefect of Rome for execution.

While in jail waiting for death Valentine became friends with Julia. Julia was the daughter of Asterius the Jailer of Valentine. Asterius decided to challenge Valentine’s faith and asked Valentine to heal Julia. Julia was blind. Valentine prayed over Julia and she was give her sight back. All of Asterius’ household converted to Christianity and being baptized. This is was about 44 people in total.

Valentine was beaten with clubs and beheaded after. His last letter was to Julia and it was signed, “your Valentine.” I am not sure what happened to Julia’s family after this. He was executed on February 14, 269 or 270 AD, on the Via Flaminia. The gate now known as the Porta del Popolo was called the Porta Valentina for centuries because of its proximity to his original church. His flower-crowned skull is currently on display in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome.

Saint Valentine of Terni

While the stories of the Roman priest and the Bishop of Terni are very similar, and some historians believe they are actually the same person, the tradition in the city of Terni (ancient Interamna) provides some unique details and legends specifically attributed to their former bishop. I think the reason why historians think that they might be the same is because they both lived under Emperor Claudius II.

Unlike the Roman Valentine who healed a jailer's daughter, the Bishop of Terni is famously associated with a Greek philosopher named Craton. Craton’s son, Cherimon, suffered from a physical condition that left his spine so contorted that his head was permanently bent toward his knees. Which sounds horrible and painful. Craton invited Valentine to Rome to help. Valentine spent a night in prayer with the boy, who was healed the next morning. This miracle led Craton, his family, and three of his students, Proculus, Ephebus, and Apollonius, to convert to Christianity.

In Terni, the saint is less of a "secret wedding priest" and more of a mediator. One local legend says Valentine was walking in his garden when he heard a young couple arguing. He approached them with a rose and asked them both to hold it by the stem, being careful of the thorns. As they held the flower together, their anger softened, and they reconciled. This is why roses are the primary symbol of the holiday today. The romantic in me finds this super cute.

Valentine might have also been a part of a Romeo and Juliet story. Sabinus and Serapia were forbidden from getting married for a really good reason though. Sabinus was from a pagan family while Serapia was from a Christian family. Sabinus went to Valentine to be baptized so he could marry Serapia. Serapia fell terminally ill with tuberculosis, Sabinus begged the bishop not to let them be separated. Valentine prayed, and the legend says they both died at the same moment, "united for eternity."

The end of the Bishop of Terni’s life was reportedly more political. He was arrested in Rome for his success in converting the elite (including the son of the city prefect). This was very illegal. To avoid a public riot, he was executed at night on the Via Flaminia. Valentine’s disciples, the same students of Craton he had converted, retrieved his body and secretly transported it back to Terni for burial. If you visit Terni today, you won't find his skull (which is in Rome), but rather his main tomb in the Basilica di San Valentino.

Statue of Saint Valentine

Feast Day

While Saint Valentine is the patron saint of lovers and couples he is also the patron of bees and beekeepers. Instead of chocolate, try a honey-tasting flight or make a meal using local honey. It’s a subtle, sophisticated nod to his actual patronage. Honor the legend of the note to Julia by writing a handwritten letter. In a world of digital DMs, a physical letter is the closest you can get to the 3rd-century original. In Terni, Valentine is celebrated for stopping a couple's argument with a rose. Take a "reconciliation walk" in a park or garden. The point of the walk is to not argue, but to focus on peace and connection.

Peddling

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Thank you for reading my little blog. I am praying for you.

Abigail Harmon
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Heroes of the Faith: Saint Agatha