Like good Ole St. Nick, St. Valentine was very much a real person. Unfortunately for every 13, or 20, year old girls imagination he isn't some magical being who suddenly made all or crushes develop goo-goo eyes for us on February 14th. Much like the jolly old man St.Val was a little more piously occupied. St.Valentine was in fact a Bishop in central Italy, during the middle ages. So although Priest Val probably never handed out a candy heart or wrote any cheesy cards he was still quite a remarkable man.
There are several different myths and stories about who this man was, and what he did but there are a few things that we do know. There was a man by the name of Valentinus who was the former Bishop of Terni, and was condemned to death by Emperor Claudius Gothicus in year 269, on February 14th. St.Valentine was killed for not renouncing his faith, because at the time, being a christian was fairly illigal. Before he was beheaded he restored the sight of the jailers daughter. The reason St.Valentine is most commonly associated with romance is from the Nuremburg Chronicle written in 1493. This hagiography, written lives of saints, also says that he was a martyed roman saint killed by Mr. Gothicus, but this time the initial reason for his time in the slammer was for marrying christians. Again the whole christianity was a big no no so anyone found helping or continuing the faith was in pretty hot water and usually tried for treason and executed. But, there was good St.Valentine helping give people eternal love and matrimonial bliss in the face of adversity. This man literally risked and gave up his life for love. I would say that's pretty romantic. Plus restoring the sight of a poor blind jailer's daughter? That would make any girl swoon. In all seriousness though anyone willing to stand for what they believe deserves something we could all learn.
There are several other legends about St.Valentine that are a little more "chocolate and roses" but are not considered to be fact. One story says that Claudius wanting more soldiers, chose to ban all marriages so as the men would have no reason to stay home. Of course with Valentinus in the lead marriages continued and he fought for love. Another allegation is that he fell in love with the Jailer's Daughter and on the day he was executed signed it " Your Valentine " and come on who could resist that. Any way you spin it, he is always beheaded and died for love.
So the real life Valentine may not have been so mushy sweet and about Hallmark Cards, and he probably wouldn't have gotten caught up in our societies commercialist view of the day he was supposed to have died. He was a man who stood up for his faith and died for what he believed. So, maybe take a lesson from his bravery and courage this February 14th and go do something you believe in.
