The History of St. Valentine

In ancient Rome, savage wolves traversed the nearby woods. The Romans called upon Lupercus, a Roman God, to banish the wolves. The Romans would hold a yearly festival to honor Lupercus on February 15th.

One of the traditions of the festival took place on the eve of the festival, February 14th.  The names of the Roman girls were written on pieces of paper.  The young men would draw the name of a girl and she would become his sweetheart for the year.

According to legend, a priest by the name of Valentine was ordered to die by Claudius II, simply for marrying Roman soldiers. Claudius had ordered the soldiers not to marry. Apparently, he never heard the saying “make love, not war’!!

Valentine was put to death on February 14th, the eve of the festival.  He was then canonized by the Catholic Church and in honor and celebration of Valentine . . . .

St. Valentine’s Day!!