Saint Valentine: A Martyr for Marriage

There is a legend that I like to think of on Valentines Day. Forget the modern day holiday that is meant for romance and courting, this legend is about uniting a love that is deeper than crushes and lust.

During the third Century when the Emperor Claudius II reigned, a terrible law came into effect that put marriage on the path to extinction. Claudius outlawed marriage with the belief that his married soldiers were weak because of love; with their families back home they would often be homesick and half hearted while out on the battle field. To create a stronger army, he passed a law that prohibited young men from getting married. By doing this he would have his pick of soldiers with their hearts dedicated to their work, ceasing any worries of their loved ones back home; a strong heartless army.

There was a priest who disagreed with Claudius and began to secretly fight the outlawing of marriage. Soon after marriage became illegal, Valentine risked his life by meeting young lovers in secret to marry them, keeping the sanctity of marriage alive.

When Claudius discovered Valentine’s treasonous act, he had him arrested and sentenced him to death. While Valentine was in his prison cell, young couples that he’d married slipped him notes through the bars of his cell thanking him for his brave acts. It is said that while in his cell, Valentine fell in love with the Jailer’s daughter. The night before he was put to death he wrote her a letter and signed it “from your Valentine.” A saying that is now used every Valentines Day.

There are other legends that portray Saint Valentine a hero to the Christians not only for assisting in keeping marriage alive, but assisting Christians to escape Roman prisons where they were being beaten and tortured.
These acts of bravery and love should be remembered each Valentines Day. Valentine became a hero to love, families, and marriage.

So, where did the idea to give Valentine Cards come from?

Some suggest that Valentine’s letter to the jailer’s daughter started the tradition. While this may be true, the oldest existing valentine today is found to be a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife after being captured in the Battle of Agincourt. He wrote it while he was locked away in the Tower of London in the year 1415. It can now be found at the British Library in London, England.

It wasn’t until the 17th Century that Valentines Day became popularly celebrated in Great Britain and America. By the 18th century it was common to exchange hand written notes or small gifts of affection. Printed cards began to replace the hand written notes by the end of the 18th Century.

Esther A. Howland became the first to sell mass-produced Valentines in America in 1840.

When people hear Valentines Day they don’t think about family and marriage, instead they think of romance, chocolate, flowers and cards. It is unfortunate to the man who gave his life to keep families and marriage alive, that no one today celebrates this day in his honor, but instead believe this holiday was invented by the “card companies.”

Now that you know about Saint Valentine, maybe Valentines Day to you like it has for me will become more of a family celebrated holiday than a quest for romance and candy.