Happy Valentine’s Day! Today is the feast day of Saint Valentine, read on to learn more about the man who inspired today’s love-filled festivities.
Valentine de Truni was a third century catholic priest in the Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. At the time, the Emperor had enacted an edict that banned marriage because he thought marriage made people less merciless on the battlefield. Valentine however, secretly married people. When this was learned, Valentine was imprisoned.
It was in prison that he performed a miracle. His jailor’s daughter, Julia, happened to be blind. Valentine placed his hands over her eyes, prayed, and she could see! This was an indication of his saintliness.
On 14 February 271 AD, Valentine was executed for the marriages he created. Before he was executed, however, he wrote a love letter to Julia and signed it, “from your Valentine.” Hence where we get that phrase from.
Saint Valentine became patron saint of love, epilepsy, and beekeepers.