Of the several thousand saints that the Catholic Church venerates, two names are readily recognized by both Catholics and non-Catholics alike – St. Valentine and St. Patrick. Both of these early century saints have secular holidays named in their honor.
St. Valentine
The history of who St. Valentine really was is cloaked in mystery. He is known to be a real person who died around the year 270. But who he really was remains an enigma. In fact, enough confusion surrounds his true identity that the Church discontinued liturgical veneration of him in 1969, though his name remains on its list of officially recognized saints.
One legend says that he was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II who decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families and outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of this decree, continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret and thus was condemned to death.
Other stories suggest he was killed for helping Christians escape persecution. Yet another describes Valentine as the Bishop of Terni, also martyred by Claudius. Whatever the case, he was beaten with clubs and stoned and ultimately beheaded on February 14.
Another legend says, while waiting to be executed, Valentine restored the sight of his jailer’s daughter and, on the eve of his death wrote a farewell note to her, signing it, “From your Valentine.” In the year 496, Pope Gelasius I questioned his true identity. However, because the similarities of these accounts led him to think they may refer to the same person, he referred to the martyr and his acts as “being known only to God” and declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day.
The truth behind the Valentine legends is murky but the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and, most importantly, romantic figure. And, because the heart symbolizes love, it has also become symbolic of Valentine’s Day.
St. Patrick
There are many legends and stories about St. Patrick. Perhaps the most well known is the legend that he drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. However, all evidence suggests that post-glacial Ireland never had snakes.
In his early teens he was captured by Irish raiders in his birth-country of Scotland and taken to Ireland as a slave to tend sheep. During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. Patrick’s captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found sailors who took him back to Britain. He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him “We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.”
He studied for the priesthood and was ordained. Later, he was ordained a bishop, and returned back to Ireland to establish the church. Though the task was difficult and dangerous, he persisted and was able to build a strong foundation for Christianity. The Irish people were very receptive to his teachings especially since that he was able to take several of their Celtic symbols and Christianize them. The most prominent of these is the green shamrock. He used this plant, which was held sacred by the Druids, as a symbol of the Trinity.
Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years, working many miracles and writing of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.
Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, who had total devotion to and trust in God. He feared nothing, not even death; so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.