Mario Ochoa



‘From Your Valentine’



Who exactly is St. Valentine? The Roman Catholic Church recognizes three different saints named Valentine, all of which were martyred. The first story says that Valentine was a priest in Rome when Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men. He did so because he thought they were better for war.  When Valentine found this out he did not agree with the Emperor’s decision so he continued to marry young couples behind his back. When Claudius found out about this he sentenced Valentine to death. 

Another legend says that he was put in prison for helping Christians escape the Roman prisons. While in prison it is said he fell in love with a young lady and that is when he sent out the first “valentine” greeting and that he would write her letter and at the end sign then “from your Valentine,” which is an expression still used today.

At the end of the fifth century Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day but it wasn’t until later that the day was associated with love. In France and England February 14 was the day that birds would begin mating and it was believed to be a day of romance.

Valentine Day greetings go as far back as the 1400’s with a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans. He had written a poem to his wife while he was in imprisoned.

The legend of St. Valentine is still a mystery and even if we don’t know the truth of St. Valentine we do know he was a man that loved to share his love and romanticism. So, today continue to spread love to everyone you know, just as St. Valentine did.

Mario Ochoa

Comments are closed.