Rome

St. Valentine is remembered as a third-century Roman martyr whose witness to Christ transformed his name into a symbol of sacrificial love. Though historical details vary across ancient accounts, tradition holds that he was a priest (or bishop) who ministered courageously to persecuted Christians during the reign of Emperor Claudius II.One enduring tradition recounts that Valentine secretly performed Christian marriages when the emperor sought to forbid them, believing unmarried soldiers fought more effectively. Arrested for his defiance, Valentine remained steadfast in faith. Before his execution, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer and left her a note signed “from your Valentine,” a phrase that would echo through centuries.St. Valentine’s martyrdom, likely around A.D. 269, testifies that authentic love is not mere sentiment but self-giving fidelity rooted in Christ. The Church honors him not as a patron of romance alone, but as a witness to covenantal love, courage, and unwavering devotion to the Gospel.