The Legend of St. Valentine

The history of Valentine's Day--and the story of its patron

 saint--is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February

 has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that

 St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges

 of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who

 was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated 

 with this ancient rite ؟

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different

 saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were

 martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest

 who served during the third century in Rome. When

 Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better 

soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed

 marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice

 of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform 

marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's 

actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put 

t o death