Why is the bishop and martyr Valentine the Saint of lovers? Legend has it that its celebration, in mid-February, was linked to the ancient celebrations of the Greeks, Italians and Romans which were held on February 15th in honor of the god Bread, Faun and Lupercus. These celebrations were linked to the purification of the fields and fertility rites. Having become too hideous and licentious, they were prohibited from August and then suppressed by Gelasio in 494.
The Church Christianized that pagan fertility rite by bringing it forward to the 14th of February, attributing it to the martyr of Terni the ability to protect engaged couples and lovers headed towards marriage and a union enlivened by children. Some legends arose from this story. The most interesting are those that say the holy martyr loved roses, scented flowers that he gave to engaged couples to wish them a happy union. Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated everywhere in the world “Saint of love”.
His biography: a life of charity that cost him martyrdom
Historical information about him begins in VIII century when a document tells us some details of the martyrdom: the torture, the nocturnal decapitation, the burial by the disciples Proculus, Ephebus and Apollonius, subsequent martyrdom of these and their burial. Other texts from the 6th century say that Valentine’s Day, citizen and bishop of Terni since 197who became famous for the sanctity of his life, for his charity and humility, was invited to Rome by a certain Craton, a Greek and Latin orator, to heal his son who had been ill for some years. Once the young man was healed, he converted him to Christianity together with his family and the Greek scholars of Latin literature Proculus, Ephebus and Apollonius, together with the son of the city Prefect.
Imprisoned under the Emperor Aurelian he was taken to Rome. It was February 14, 273. His body was transported to Terni at mile 83 of the Via Flaminia. He was among the first bishops of Terni, consecrated by San Feliciano bishop of Foligno in 197. Today the “San Valentino Foundation” was born in Terni, which takes care of the cult of the Saint during the entire month of February through various initiatives of faith and culture, art and science, entertainment and entertainment.
The traditions
In the Central Europe (in particular France, Belgium, Germany and Austria) the celebration of Valentine’s Day has been very widespread since the Middle Ages, like saints such as Nicholas and Martin. According to Fair Trade Austria, for example, the turnover from the sale of flowers in Austria coinciding with February 14, Mother’s Day and Christmas Day is equal to a quarter of the total for an entire year. More than 110 million roses alone are sold in the land of edelweiss. Various Austrian dioceses, such as those of Eisenstadt and Linz, Salzburg with Graz-Seckau and Innsbruck, have also equipped themselves for moments of celebration and reflection with loving couples. Among the initiatives, “Love Letters from God”distributed not only in the parishes, but above all outside, around the city by volunteers with a biblical phrase on the love of a couple, wanted and blessed by God. In the cathedral of Santo Stefano in Vienna also a solemn Blessing of the lovers with the laying on of hands and at the end a romantic concert.
