Who is Valentine? / St. Valentine? 

When people see the words “Valentine’s Day” as are asked what is a valentine they will usually respond something to the effect that a valentine is a symbol of love or a token of affection. Now, this is not an entirely inaccurate statement because that is what the word has commonly come to represent. However, when you ask them “who” Valentine was they may look at you quizzically as most people have no idea that the word Valentine derives from a person’s name. Some people may even venture a guess and say that it refers to an old silent movie star who was known for his romantic films. You can respond to say “Nice guess, but you are thinking of Rudolph Valentino. The correct answer is St. Valentine.” Then again, if you were to say this you would be making an incorrect statement as well as it is not a single St. Valentine, but rather a collective of several St. Valentines that are celebrated under the “feast day” of St. Valentine. 

Originally, there were eleven (yes, eleven!) St. Valentines who were celebrated over the course of a year in the catholic calendar. The actually February 14th holiday of St. Valentine ’s Day actually celebrates two specific St. Valentines: Valentine of Rome and the second was Valentine of Terni both of whom were martyred under the persecution of Christians by the Romans. 

Valentine of Roman was a priest and doctor who lived in the Roman Empire and was sent to prison for giving aid and comfort to those martyrs who were residing in the prison. According to the legend, Valentine performed the miracle of restoring the sight of the blind daughter of his jailers. Performing a miracle was frowned upon by the Romans and he was sentenced to death. He was beheaded circa 269 A.D. Today, St. Valentine of Rome is considered the patron saint of couples and lovers. 

Not much is known about St. Valentine of Terni other than he was a bishop who was ordained by Pope Victor I in 197 BC. The populace loved him as he was a popular preacher who was known for performing the miracle of curing the sick. Under orders by the Roman Emperor, St. Valentine of Terni was kidnapped in the middle of the night and executed by beheading. Part of the reason he was murdered in the middle of the night was the fact that he was so popular with the populace there was fear a riot would occur if he was seized in broad daylight. Opting to avoid such a situation the Romans carried out their plans in stealth. 

Now, there are some historians who profess the belief that both St. Valentine of Rome and St. Valentine of Terni is one and the same person. While this is not out of the realm of possibility, there really has not been any historian who has put forth an overly compelling argument that they really are one in the same. However, there is also no compelling proof that they aren’t either.