Every year, we celebrate Valentine’s Day with hearts, roses, and chocolates. It’s a holiday dedicated to love – a reminder to appreciate the people who matter to us. But have you ever wondered where it came from? Who was Saint Valentine?
Valentine or Valentines?
Due to varying historical records, scholars struggle to pinpoint the “Valentine” recognized by the Catholic church. The official consensus is that he was a martyr who died around A.D. 270, when he was beheaded for helping Christian couples wed. However, several other accounts about a martyr named Valentine exist, and they all tell slightly different stories:
Some say Valentine was imprisoned and fell in love with his jailer’s daughter. Before he was beheaded, he sent a note to her and signed it “your Valentine.”
Others claim Valentine was killed as he tried to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons.
Still more people say that Valentine healed a child while he was in prison, leading to a household-wide conversion.
Of all the historical accounts and speculation, one thing is clear: Valentine’s story has little to do with romance. In fact, he was not associated with romantic love until a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer, titled “Parliament of Fowls,” referenced Saint Valentine’s Day as a day for birds to choose their mates. From there, the idea took off, and soon nobles were writing “valentines” to their love interests.
The Truth About Valentine’s Day
It is hard to separate the myth of Saint Valentine from the man he was. Even in our historical accounts, he consists mostly of legend. Still, from what we do know, it seems clear that honoring his memory involves more than just celebrating the romance in our lives.
Valentine’s Day is more than roses, gifts, and dinners. It’s about deep, sacrificial love – and you can find it anywhere. This February, we celebrate love – the love of married couples, the love of parents and children, the love of siblings, and the love of best friends. We celebrate God’s love for the world and His love for us.
Maybe we don’t need to know exactly who Saint Valentine was. Regardless of his true story, every account of his life shows a man deeply committed to his faith – a man willing to put everything on the line for what he believed. That’s a powerful kind of love.