Today marks the celebration of Valentinus of Rome, St. Valentine we call him.St. Valentine was a physician and a member of the clergy during the time of the Roman Empire. We know him as the patron saint of love and marriage. He was best known for his ministry to persecuted Christians allowing them to marry in secret after Emperor Claudius banned marriages during wartime to encourage men to battle. But Valentine was also known as a healer and comforter to the sick, those ill from plague, fainting, epilepsy, and other disorders.  He was killed, martyred, on February 14 in the year 270 at the age of 44.[1]

One interesting story about Valentinus had to do with the healing of an aristocrat’s daughter while he was in his custody after his arrest. Father Valentinus told his jailor Asterius “how …