HOW DID VALENTINE'S DAY BEGIN? SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY HISTORY...DID YOU KNOW? (2130 hits)
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The love of God reigns in the hearts of all saints, but there is one who has the joy of being the patron saint of lovers: St. Valentine.
According to a tradition, St. Valentine risked his life to marry couples in a Christian way during the time of persecution. He finally gave his life in martyrdom, which is the ultimate manifestation of love. The love of this holy priest for Jesus Christ and for defending the Sacrament of Matrimony inspires us to raise human love to the heights of the divine love for which we were created. Christians should take advantage of this feast to recover the Christian meaning of love and marriage in the light of Christ.
Valentine's Day is an annual holiday that sees people worldwide celebrate love in all forms. The day sees people exchange gifts, words and other expressions of love and affection for each other.
But how did Valentine's Day begin and what does St. Valentine have to do with the holiday? Newsweek explains below.
Who Was St. Valentine?
The exact origins of Valentine's Day are unclear, explains the U.S. Library of Congress.
But according to legend, St. Valentine was a Christian martyr who was imprisoned for a transgression back in 5th century A.D., said Elizabeth Nelson, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) history professor and 19th-century pop culture expert.
The jailer's daughter was believed to have taken pity on him, bringing him food, and attempted to save him. This allegedly led the man to send her note to thank her, which was signed "From your Valentine," Nelson said.
