Story of St. Valentine
"The story of
Valentine's Day begins
in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian Martyr. The emperor was Claudius II. The Christian was Valentinus. Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods, and had made it a crime
punishable by death to
associate with Christians.
But Valentinus was
dedicated to the ideals
of Christ; not even the
threat of death could
keep him from practicing his beliefs. He
was arrested and
imprisoned.
During the last weeks
of Valentinus's life a
remarkable thing
happened. Seeing that
he was a man of
learning, the jailer asked
whether his daughter,
Julia, might be brought
to Valentinus for
lessons. She had been
blind since birth. Julia
was a pretty young girl
with a quick mind.
Valentinus read stories
of Rome's history to
her. He described the
world of nature to her.
He taught her
arithmetic and told her
about God. She saw the
world through his eyes,
trusted his wisdom,
and found comfort in
his quiet strength.
"Valentinus, does God
really hear our prayers?"
Julia asked one day.
"Yes, my child, He hears
each one."
"Do you know what I
pray for every morning
and every night? I pray
that I might see. I want so much to see
everything you've told
me about!"
"God does what is best
for us if we will only
believe in Him,"
Valentinus said.
"Oh, Valentinus, I do
believe! I do!" She knelt
and grasped his hand.
They sat quietly
together, each praying.
Suddenly there was a
brilliant light in the
prison cell. Radiant, Julia
screamed, "Valentinus,
I can see! I can see!"
"Praise be to God!"
Valentinus exclaimed,
and he knelt in prayer.
On the eve of his death
Valentinus wrote a last
note to Julia, urging her
to stay close to God. He
signed it, "From your
Valentine." His sentence
was carried out the
next day, February 14,
270 A.D., near a gate
that was later named
Porta Valentini in his
memory. He was buried
at what is now the
Church of Praxedes in
Rome. It is said that
Julia planted a pink-
blossomed almond tree
near his grave. Today,
the almond tree
remains a symbol of
abiding love and
friendship. On each
February 14, Saint
Valentine's Day,
messages of affection,
love, and devotion are
exchanged around the
world."
www.olrl.org/lives/

Love is in the air