Legends of Saint Valentine

On February 14th, we celebrate Valentine’s Day in honor of a certain Saint: Saint Valentine. This beloved holiday has become synonymous with love, romance, and affection, but the origins of Saint Valentine himself are shrouded in mystery. While most know his name, few are aware of the fascinating legends and historical tales that surround this patron saint of love.

Who is Saint Valentine?

Saint Valentine, who we know very little about other than the fact that he was most likely beheaded, remains an enigmatic figure in history. St. Valentine may be the modern-day god of love but there are three documented possibilities of who this individual really was and all three of these legends end in tragedy. Although there are three different accounts of a St. Valentine, all three of which were martyrs, all three have the date of death documented as February 14th.

The Three Legends of Saint Valentine

One story tells the tale of a priest from Rome, the second a bishop from Terni, and the third from Africa of which the least is known. According to the preserved writings in the “Lives of the Saints,” Valentine was a priest in Rome beheaded under the reign of Claudius II among many other Christian Martyrs. Some legends claim that St. Valentine was condemned to death for marrying in secret Christian soldiers. At the time it was illegal for soldiers to be married, as Rome believed unmarried men fought fearlessly compared to those with attachments.

After refusing to renounce his faith, he was sentenced to death. Valentine was beaten with clubs and stones and ultimately beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate of Rome on February 14th around the year 269 AD. Another legend also has that this Valentine was responsible for healing and converting a young girl’s blindness while in prison. This girl was the daughter of his jailer, and before his execution, Valentine wrote her a note signed "Your Valentine," which is thought to be the origin of the modern Valentine’s Day tradition.

The second story of Valentine, from Terni, consists of a similar story line, beheaded by Emperor Gothicus and buried along Via Flamina. In this version, he was a bishop known for his Christian faith and healing abilities (he supposedly cured a young boy’s seizures, subsequently converting the family). Like the Roman priest, he defied the emperor by continuing to perform Christian marriages in secret. This led to his arrest, and he was beheaded by Emperor Gothicus in 269 AD. Valentine of Terni was buried along the Via Flaminia, a significant Roman road.

The third version of Saint Valentine, from Africa, is the least documented and most obscure of the three. Very little is known about this Valentine, except that he was likely a Christian martyr, like the others. His story is not as well-preserved or celebrated as the Roman priest or the bishop from Terni. According to some accounts, this Valentine may have been martyred alongside other Christians in Africa, but there are no surviving detailed records or legends about his life or deeds. Unlike the other two Valentines, his connection to love or marriage is unclear, and his role in the broader tradition of Saint Valentine remains largely a mystery.

Why is St. Valentine the Patron Saint of Love?

Valentine gained his patronage of love when the Catholic Church attempted “to abolish the heathen’s lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls in honor of their goddess Februta Juno, on the 15th of this month, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints in billets given on this day (Father Alban Butler. “Saint Valentine, Priest and Martyr”. Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints).” In an effort to replace this practice, zealous pastors substituted the names of saints, linking the tradition to Valentine’s Day. This effort helped solidify Valentine’s association with love and courtship in Christian tradition.

Additionally, St. Valentine of Terni’s reputation for secretly marrying couples also reinforced his connection to love. His defiance of the emperor’s orders and dedication to the sanctity of marriage further strengthened the idea of Valentine as a symbol of love, cementing his role as the patron saint of lovers.