Vol. 3, No. 2 (February 5, 2000)

Who was this Valentine guy, anyway? I overheard someone ask that question other day.
Good question, I thought. All I knew was that he was a priest who lived during the 3rd century. A little homework shed light on this man for whom we celebrate a day of love and romance this month.

It's not known when Valentine was born. It is known that he was a holy priest and healer in the city of Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II (268-270 A.D.). Claudius, who believed that single men made better soldiers, forbade marriage. Valentine, however, continued to marry Christian young people secretly, even though it was against the law. He also was a doctor and healer. People would come to him diseased or injured, usually at night. Valentine prescribed and gave powders, herbs and ointments believed in those days to heal wounds and cure sicknesses.

Once, a Roman jailer brought his young daughter, Asterius, to Valentine. Asterius had been blind since birth. The jailer heard of this holy man's great healing power. At great risk (Christians were still being persecuted during this time), the jailer brought his daughter hoping Valentine could make her see.

Valentine knew that Asterius's affliction was one of the most difficult things to cure, save a miracle from God on high. He prayed for the girl and applied an ointment to her eyes. He asked the jailer to bring her back once a week for the treatment. Between visits, Valentine continued to pray for the girl.

It wasn't long before the authorities learned of Valentine's practice of marrying young couples who sought him out. Soldiers arrested him and brought him before the Emperor. Claudius demanded that the priest renounce his Christianity and pay homage to him. Valentine refused. Claudius condemned him to be first beaten with sticks and then beheaded. Still Valentine remained fast in his love of God and accepted his fate.

While he was awaiting his fate in prison, the jailer who'd brought Asterius to him for treatment, contacted Valentine. Though he could do nothing for the condemned man, he did pass information on about his daughter. Before he died, the priest sent a note to the young girl. When her father brought it to her, she took it from his hand and read it with her own eyes. Her sight had been miraculously restored. The note was signed, "From your Valentine."

Valentine died on the 14th of February, 270 A.D.  It is believed that the Church later established the connection between the saint's date of martyrdom and romantic love to counter the old Roman holiday celebrated on February 15th  honoring the goddess Februata Juno. On this day, single young men drew the names of single women whom they then pursued and courted.

Some of this is fact and some of it is probably legend as there are several versions of the story of Valentine and Asterius. But Valentine's love of God and the love of his brothers and sisters in Christ is present in all of them. After all, the love we give and receive among  ourselves, romantic or other wise, has its source in the great and loving heart of God. Happy
Valentine's Day to you all.

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