February 14 arrives each year as a blessing to those so shy that they need a disguise for expressing their affections. The custom of sending "valentines" or love notes had its origin in a popular belief of Middle Ages that halfway through the second month birds began to mate. For this reason the day was regarded as especially consecrated to lovers, and the saint whose feast was celebrated that day was inevitably chosen as their patron and protecto. It was nothing more than coincidence, the, that made Valentine the esteemed patron. Probably the first reference to Saint Valentine in his role as love patron was made by the poet Chauce in his poem, "Parliament of Foules":
For this was on Saint Valentine's day,
When every fowl cometh to choose his mate.
Actually, two saints of the same name are honored by the Roman Martyrology on February 14. One was a bishop of Terni, (a city some fifty miles northeast of Rome); the other was a priest and physician in Rome. The Missal gives evidence that it is the Roman Valentine whom we venerate more popularly today, since the Mass for February 14 is the First Mass of Martyr not a Bishop. The few facts known about the priest Valentine not only confuse his life with the bishop Valentine, but also have allowed myth and legend to garther around his name.
It is probably safe to assume that Valentine's priestly life kept him close to his people, for his memory was preserved in their writings and traditions. In 350, a short time after his death, a church was built to Valentine's memory by Pope Julius I, and as early as the seventh century he was honored in the liturgy with a special Mass.
Regarding the character of Valentine, we are again presented with little more than sketchy historical facts, but from them it is possible to discern something of his courage and faithfulness. In an attempt to suppress Christianity without violence, Emperor Valerian issued an edict in 257 forbidding the clergy to celebrate mass or administer the sacraments. He claimed that he was not preventing Christians from worshipping in private, an absurd claim. Christian worship is social, centering on the Mass and the sacraments. He struck at all Christians by attacking the only men capable of offereing sacrifice in the name of the Church.
Although Valentine was martyerd later, during the persecutions of Emperor Claudius, the edict of Valerian was in effect at the time the saint was preparing for his priesthood. It is easy to see the courage and devotion of the young man even before his actual martyerdom --- he proceeded with his studies in spite of obvious clerical persecution while laymen were to remain unharmed. The danger of persecution was so evident that it was the custom, and still is in the Byzantine Rite, to sing the martyers' hymn at the ordiantion of deacons.
"After performing many miraculous cures and giving much wise counsel," Valentine was beaten and beheaded about 269 by order of Emperor Claudius. Most of his relics are now in the Church of Saint Praxedes in Rome.
"The Lives of Saints"
The Cathoilic Press, Inc. Chicago, ILL. 1962
