Saints in the Spotlight: Saint Valentine

Ella Bradshaw

Staff Writer

From the Early Church to Today

Who are the saints, and why are they important?

According to Catholic Share, saints are regarded as spiritual advocates for the faithful. Their lives are marked by exemplary holiness and sacrifice, often signified by the endurance of great trials or achievements of charity and faith for the universal Church.

Through a process called canonization, in which the Church confirms their presence in heaven following death, a saint is assigned a role as patron, meaning they intercede for specific groups or causes.

Catholic Share asserts that, “This practice reflects the Catholic belief in the communion of saints, where those in heaven remain connected to the living. The idea is not that saints have power of their own, but that they pray to God on behalf of those who ask.”

Praying for the intercession of a saint is not worshipping them – instead, it is like asking a friend to pray for you. Seeking spiritual guidance and assistance from the saints helps us grow in prayer, faith, and Christian community.

Reflecting on the life stories of these moral figures in Christian history inspires us to seek the good, the true, and the beautiful, following in Christ’s footsteps and accepting God’s will.

Meet Saint Valentine

In honor of Valentine’s Day celebrations occurring this week, it is only fitting to kick off the semester by highlighting St. Valentine himself.

St. Valentine of Rome is a third-century saint whose feast day lands on February 14th. He is often represented in pictures with birds and roses.

St. Valentine was a proud Christian during a time of Roman persecution, and was martyred for his testimony. Under the rule of Claudius II, he was imprisoned for his leadership in the marriage of Christian couples and helping other persecuted Christians in Rome, both of which were considered serious crimes. St. Valentine was sentenced to death after trying to convert Claudius II to the Christian faith, and was executed on February 14th.

During his life, his faith was tested by Judge Asterious, who demanded that if the Good News about Christ was true, then St. Valentine must prove so by restoring sight to his blind daughter. Catholic Online describes how “Placing his hands onto her eyes, Valentine restored the child’s vision…(and) On the day of his execution, he left the girl a note signed, ‘Your Valentine.’”

Lessons From Their Witness

St. Valentine’s story highlights the essence of martyrdom, especially in the Early Church, a time of intense persecution for the Christian faith. His testimony relays the virtues of love, hope, and courage, and inspires Christians to love wholeheartedly today.

Love – One of the most fundamental tenets of the Christian faith is love. St. Valentine’s story reveals the power of compassion, especially in a fallen world. True love is a relationship that seeks the good in another. In our own relationships today, whether they be familial, friendly, or romantic, may we reflect on this definition of love to grow in connection with others.

Hope – St. Valentine preached enduring hope that sees no end. Even when the times were unpromising, he continued his mission as a priest. May we embody his perspective and look for the light in our time, even if it sometimes appears like darkness.

Courage – St. Valentine’s public ministry took place under harsh persecution, but he preached the Good News regardless. He chose to pursue love and truth despite the risks. In our modern world, we are lucky enough to enjoy religious freedoms that allow us to pursue our faith with full agency. Let us reflect upon the courage that early Christians took in order to shape the faithful communities that we now enjoy and appreciate.

Saint Valentine, Pray for Us

St. Valentine is the patron saint of love, young people, and happy marriages. Being the patron saint of these groups means that he is recognized for his intercessory abilities to advocate for these specific causes in prayer. For his intercession, consider praying to St. Valentine:

Dear Saint and glorious martyr,

Teach us to love unselfishly and

to find great joy in giving.

Enable all true lovers to bring

out the best in each other.

Let them love each other in God

and in each other.