Every year on the 14th
day of February, lovers exchange candy, flowers,
and gifts, all in the name of Saint Valentine. The
legend of Valentine's Day began in the third century
in Rome, when Emperor Claudius II was having a hard
time getting soldiers to join his military leagues.
He believed that the reason was that Roman men did
not want to leave their loved ones or families.
Therefore, he outlawed marriage for young men.
The good Saint Valentine, who was a priest in Rome,
in the year 269 A.D,. together with Saint Marius,
defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages
for young lovers in secret.
When Claudius II found out Saint Valentine's actions,
Saint Valentine was sentenced to prison to be beaten
with clubs and later to have his head cut off. While
in prison, Saint Valentine was acquainted with his
prison-guard, Asterius, who had a blind daughter.
Asterius asked him to heal his young daughter. Through
his faith, he miraculously restored the sight of
Asterius' daughter. It is said that Saint Valentine
fell in love with the young girl. Before his execution
on the 14th of
February, Saint Valentine wrote her a letter, which
he signed: "From your Valentine"
Later, in 496 A.D, to honor Saint Valentine, Pope
Gelasius set 14th
of February as Saint Valentine's Day. |
