14/02/2015
Story of St. Valentine
"The story of Valentine's Day begins in
the third century with an oppressive Roman
emperor and a humble Christian Martyr.
The emperor was Claudius II. The Christian
was Valentinus.
Claudius had ordered all Romans to
worship twelve gods, and had made it a
crime punishable by death to associate with
Christians. But Valentinus was dedicated to
the ideals of Christ; not even the threat of
death could keep him from practicing his
beliefs. He was arrested and imprisoned.
During the last weeks of Valentinus's
life a remarkable thing happened. Seeing
that he was a man of learning, the jailer
asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be
brought to Valentinus for lessons. She had
been blind since birth. Julia was a pretty
young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus
read stories of Rome's history to her. He
described the world of nature to her. He
taught her arithmetic and told her about
God. She saw the world through his eyes,
trusted his wisdom, and found comfort in his
quiet strength.
"Valentinus, does God really hear our
prayers?" Julia asked one day.
"Yes, my child, He hears each one."
"Do you know what I pray for every
morning and every night? I pray that I might
see. I want so much to see everything
you've told me about!"
"God does what is best for us if we will
only believe in Him," Valentinus said.
"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe! I do!" She
knelt and grasped his hand.
They sat quietly together, each praying.
Suddenly there was a brilliant light in the
prison cell. Radiant, Julia screamed,
"Valentinus, I can see! I can see!"
"Praise be to God!" Valentinus
exclaimed, and he knelt in prayer.
On the eve of his death Valentinus
wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay
close to God. He signed it, "From your
Valentine." His sentence was carried out the
next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate
that was later named Porta Valentini in his
memory. He was buried at what is now the
Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that
Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree
near his grave. Today, the almond tree
remains a symbol of abiding love and
friendship. On each February 14, Saint
Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love,
and devotion are exchanged around the
world."