As far as I know, Valentine was a christian doctor and priest from the III century. He supposedely carried letters from the christians in prison to their loved ones. That's why he became patron Saint of lovers and friends. I have two questions : a) how much of this is true? b) does anyone have more information about this Saint?

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), February 14, 2000

Answers

Enrique, I was just coming into the forum when I saw your post. I wish you a Valentine's Day full of love and grace in the Lord. I am also interested in knowing more about St. Valentine. alberto

-- alberto flores (sabueso2_@excite.mail), February 14, 2000.

Alberto and Enrique,
I will introduce you (and all other visitors) to an outstanding Catholic Internet site about saints.

If you use the URL I will give you, you can read about St. Valentine. Then if you use the first link at the VERY bottom, you will get an idea of what the whole multi-page site is about.

If you use the earlier link to the Catholic Encyclopedia (of 1913), you will find that almost nothing truly dependable is known about St. Valentine. Much (maybe all) may be legendary. Due to the uncertainty, he is no longer on the universal calendar of the Church. Today we instead celebrate the feast of the brothers, Cyril and Methodius (co-patrons of Europe), who brought Christianity to the land of my four grandparents, and without whom I may not be a Christian today.

Enjoy yourselves at the new site ==> http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintv06.htm Click here.
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), February 14, 2000.

In our newspaper in the faith and values section a Catholic priest sought to answer the question of St. Valentine. He said that it probably had something to do with a pagan festival that the church christianized. Evidentally there were three Valentius' who were martyred. One story was that he healed a blind girl. She fell in love with him. He was to be martyred, but the night before his execution sent her a note and guess what it said??? From your Valentine..... Another story was that marrying couples was prohibited, but Valentinus continued to marry couples. He got in trouble for this and was executed. Somehow notes from Valentinus were sent to the couples he had married and who were concerned about his demise. Again the notes were signed , From Your Valentine. Valentine was forever linked to love between couples. <3 <3 <3

-- Pamela (Rosylace @aol.com), February 15, 2000.