Every Feb. 14, millions of people celebrate Valentine’s Day with flowers, gifts and messages of love. But behind the celebration lies a story shaped by legend, faith and history.
St. Valentine and Secret Marriages
One of the most popular stories says St. Valentine was a priest in third century Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II.
According to tradition, Claudius believed single men made better soldiers than married men. He is said to have banned young men from marrying. Valentine defied the order. He secretly witnessed marriages for Christian couples and helped unite lovers in faith.
When the emperor discovered this, Valentine was arrested. He later refused to renounce his faith and was executed around A.D. 269. Because he defended Christian marriage at great personal risk, he became associated with love and devotion.
Historians say the details are difficult to verify, but the image of a priest risking his life to witness weddings has remained central to the holiday’s meaning.
A Saint Not on the Universal Calendar
Here is something surprising. Although St. Valentine is recognized as a martyr, his feast day was removed from the general Roman calendar in 1969 after reforms by Pope Paul VI.
The Church did not “cancel” him as a saint. He remains listed in the Roman Martyrology, the official list of saints. However, because there was limited reliable historical information about him, his feast is no longer celebrated universally in the liturgical Ordo of the Church. Local churches may still honor him, but he is not part of the worldwide calendar in the same way as major saints.
For many Catholics, this is unexpected. A saint linked to one of the most celebrated days in the world is not widely marked in the Church’s official daily liturgical schedule. To the surprise of many, today the Catholic Chuch celebrates Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius.
Roots in Ancient Rome
Before it became a Christian feast, mid February in Rome was marked by Lupercalia, a pagan festival linked to fertility. It included rituals meant to promote health and childbirth.
In the fifth century, Pope Gelasius I is said to have replaced Lupercalia with a Christian observance honoring St. Valentine.
Romance in the Middle Ages
The link between Feb. 14 and romantic love grew in medieval Europe. The poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote that birds choose their mates on St. Valentine’s Day. This idea shaped how people viewed the day.
From then on, Valentine’s Day slowly became known as a time for courtship and affection.
A Global Celebration
Today, Valentine’s Day is marked in many countries. In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Feb. 14, and men return the gesture on March 14, known as White Day. In the United States and parts of Europe, billions are spent each year on gifts and flowers.
Yet at its heart, the day still echoes the story of a man who, according to tradition, stood before couples and witnessed their vows in secret.
Whether legend or history, the image of St. Valentine blessing marriages under threat of death has endured for centuries. It remains one of the most powerful symbols behind a holiday that blends faith, history and modern romance.
