Stories sometimes obscure the facts, which is something we definitely remember—or don’t—on February 14.
Did you know there are THREE people who are considered by the Roman Catholic Church to be Saint Valentine?
Petal and Poem discusses all three.
Valentine of Rome
This Valentine was a priest in Rome who defied Roman Emperor Claudius II. Supposedly the Emperor believed that single men made better soldiers, but Valentine defied the Emperor and secretly married people. This resulted in his execution on February 14 in about AD 270.
But…there is another.
Valentine of Terni
Elsewhere on the Italian peninsula, Valentine of Terni (or Interamna) ran afoul of the same Emperor, and was executed on February 14 a few years later (in about AD 273).
But…there is another.
Valentine in Africa
Less is known about the third Valentine, other than the fact that he also was martyred. The scant information about him, as well as more extensive information on African influence on Christianity, is contained here.
So the next time that you say that the chocolates your beloved gave you are to die for, ensure you don’t take the phrase literally.
And Cupid, a Roman god, is decidedly NOT Roman Catholic.
Bredemarket 