St. Valentine - Minister/Priest in Rome. AD - 270

by Kathie Walters

e-mail: kathiewalters@mindspring.com

web: http://www.goodnews.netministries.org

Valentine, along with Marius and his family helped and served the Christians who were martyred under the persecution of Claudius II.

Eventually he stirred up the wrath of Claudius and he himself was arrested and sent by the emperor to the Prefect of Rome.

The prefect tried to make him recant of his faith by promising all kinds of favors. When these had no effect on Valentine and he insisted that Christ was the only way and continued to condemn the idols, he commanded him to be beaten with clubs, and afterwards to be be-headed.

Jailer's Daughter Healed!

He refused to retract his praise of Christ when he was beaten and went gladly to prison. It was said that during his stay in prison he prayed for the jailer's daughter, who was blind. She was healed and when Valentine went to the executioner for execution on 14th Feb, he left her a farewell note of encouragement - "From Valentine."

His name is celebrated as that of a godly servant and martyr in many martyrologies.

Some early church pastors made an attempt at abolishing a custom on 15th February. The boys would draw the name of a girl in honor of the goddess Februata Juna and the Pastors replaced the names and put a list of revered Christians there instead - 

So our St. Valentine's day seems to be a bit of a mixture. So guys instead of buying a card for your wife/sweetheart every year, buy one every week, along with a huge bunch of roses and DO THE DISHES!

Note: Julius is said to have built a church in his honor near Ponte Mole and gave name to the gate now called, Porta Del Popolo, formerly Porta Valentini. His remains are now in the church of St. Praxedes.

Every Blessing,

Kathie Walters

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