You will almost certainly send or receive a valentine this Valentine's Day. More than a billion dollars are likely to be distributed in the United States alone. But, like with many of our holidays, there's more to it than simply cards and presents. There is a true story. It's a heartwarming narrative that teaches us a lot about love, sacrifice, and dedication—the genuine meaning of Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day may be linked with romantic love, but its namesake, St. Valentine, has a bloody and heartbreaking history.
There have been several Saint Valentines throughout history, and it is unclear where the legend first originated. Some people think the saint was a fabrication created for religious purposes, while others think he was a genuine person. According to an essay on the saint in the scholarly magazine Repertorio de Medicina y Ciruga, Valentine de Terni is the most plausible historical representative of St. Valentine.
Valentine de Terni, a third-century Roman saint, was imprisoned for secretly marrying couples against Emperor Claudius II's desires, who issued an order prohibiting marriage for military members. Marriage, according to the emperor, would cause his soldiers to become distracted and less effective in combat.
Valentine de Terni was ridiculed by his jailer, a man by the name of Asterius, about his alleged abilities as a Catholic priest, stating he ought to restore the sight to his daughter Julia who was born blind. Julia's sight was regained by St. Valentine through a prayer. Astonished by his abilities, Asterius became a Christian and freed prisoners of faith from prison.
Claudius II, the enraged emperor, made the unlucky decision to behead St. Valentine and Asterius on February 14th, 271 A.D. According to legend, Valentine de Terni wrote Julia a letter addressed as "from your Valentine," which led to the celebration of his martyrdom.St. Valentine was renowned for his abilities to treat epilepsy, a condition characterized by violent convulsions that has afflicted and frightened people for generations. St. Valentine would execute exorcisms to free individuals of the demons and so heal their epilepsy, which was thought to be brought on by demons.
St. Valentine and his supernatural healing abilities are shown in chapels and works of art all across Europe, but his legacy is now recognized as a day to honor romantic love.