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According to history.com, romantics buy about one billion Valentine's Day cards each year. Only for Christmas do consumers buy more cards — 2.5 billion. The sending of notes and cards on February 14 began on a large scale in the 1800s when an entrepreneur began manufacturing them. In this century, Valentine's Day is celebrated with the giving of chocolates, flowers and just about anything you can think of that might endear that special someone to an admirer, spouse or friend.

A look at sources like history.com, Catholic Online and Wikipedia reveals that there is some connection between our Valentine's Day and a Catholic saint of the same name. The connection is sketchy, though, since there are at least three Catholic saints named Valentine or Valentinus.

The legend about one of them helps explain how Valentine became connected with romantic love and how Valentine's Day has become what it is. According to this legend a priest named Valentine lived during the second century when Christianity was forbidden by Claudius II, the Roman Emperor. As part of the persecution against Christians they were not permitted to marry. Valentine, a priest, however did perform Christian marriages and for this Claudius had him executed.

Since then the tables have turned. There is no St. Claudius and no Claudius' Day. Valentine, on the other hand was named a saint, and today he is taken as the supporter of not only marriage but of all things romantic with a special day of his own.

Another legend about a certain Valentine is equally interesting, although, in my opinion, it undercuts his being sainted. (Actually, I don't think it's healthy for the Catholic Church or anyone to be sainting people, but that's another topic.)

According to this legend Valentine was a Bishop of Terni in central Italy. While under house arrest (owing to the fact of his Christianity) the judge, Asterius, said that he would do anything Valentine asked if only he would perform a miracle and heal his daughter of her blindness.

The Bishop obliged. Therefore, on Valentine's instructions, Asterius spent three days preparing and then was baptized so that he became a member of the Christian community. He had all the pagan Roman idols in the house destroyed. And, in fact, his whole household, servants and all, numbering around 40 were also baptized.

This legend, so long as it is attached to Valentine, disqualifies him from being a saint. Why do I say that?

If you look at the stories of Jesus Christ performing miracles, including the healing of the blind, you discover that he never did so for a price as Valentine is alleged to have done in this legend. Jesus did not heal disabled and diseased people on the basis of a pre-arranged bargain with the healee or one of his or her family members. It is true that many trusted him because they observed his healing abilities. However, Jesus did not perform them for any “fee.” He performed them freely — though sometimes grudgingly!

You don't find much in current Catholic observances about St. Valentine. Since 1969 the Catholic calendar of saints' days does not include one for Valentine. And probably that's not a bad thing. Besides, where the Vatican has slacked on Valentine, Hallmark and friends have done pretty good at giving him a second life, though one a little less reputable than that of a highly venerated saint.
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