By JC Leahy
According to Cathlic Online, St. Valentine was a Catholic priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Valentine, together with another guy named Marius, assisted Christians during the time when they were being used for lion food and entertainment. Roman authorities arrested him and threw him in jail. Because Claudius took a liking to him, Valentine proprbably would have remained alive in jail if he hadn't made the mistake of trying to convert the Emperor to Christianity. At that point, Clauidius had him taken out to the gate which today is called Porta del Popolo, beaten with clubs and then beheaded -- on February 14, around the year 270. That's where we get February 14.
Pope Julius I declared Valentine a Saint and built a church near Ponte Mole in his memory. Part of St. Valentine's mission was to assist Christian couples to marry, and so he was cannonized as the patron saint of Love, Young People, and Marriages.
Now you know.
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