Story of St. Valentine

"The story of Valentine's Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian Martyr. The emperor was Claudius II.

Valentine was a priest in Rome at the time Christianity was a new religion. The Emperor Claudius II, ordered the Roman soldiers NOT to marry or become engaged. Claudius believed that as married men, his soldiers would want to stay home with their families rather than

fight his wars. Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and secretly married the young couples.

Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods, and had made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians. But Valentine was dedicated to the ideals of Christ; not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his beliefs. He was eventually arrested, and imprisoned.

During that time of Valentine's life a remarkable thing happened. Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be brought to Valentine for lessons. She had been blind since birth. Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentine read stories of Rome's history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about God. She saw the world through his eyes, trusted his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength.

"Valentine, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia asked one day. "Yes, my child, He hears each one." "Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see everything you've told me about!" "God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him," Valentine said. "Oh, Valentine, I do believe! I do!" She knelt and grasped his hand. They sat quietly together, each praying. Suddenly there was a brilliant light in the prison cell. Radiant, Julia screamed, "Valentine, I can see! I can see!"

"Praise be to God!" Valentine exclaimed, and he knelt in prayer. On the eve of his death Valentine wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, "From your Valentine." His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. On each February 14, Saint Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love, and devotion are exchanged around the world." Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, the eve of the Roman holiday Lupercalia. After his death, Valentine was named a saint. As Rome became more Christian, the priests moved the spring holiday from the 15th of February to the 14th - Valentine's Day. Now the holiday honored Saint Valentine instead of Lupercus.*

This great story was sent to my by friend and fellow psychic Louis.
Louis is available for Tarot cards, Tea Leaves, Flower Readings and Handwriting Analysis.
He is New Yorks' #1 Professional Flower Reader. That sounds like a great kind of reading to get for Valentine's Day!


*As pagans, we will not forget the sacred fertility rites of Pan. Any woman wanting to conceive or ease the pain of childbirth must receive some lashes from a whip or scourge dipped in goat's milk.