(Italian: San Valentino, Latin: Valentinus)
Saint Valentine was begotten on 176 AD. Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed, under the rule of Claudius the cruel. Rome was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns. The emperor had to maintain a strong army, but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues.
Claudius believe that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families. To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defiled the laws of Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers secretly.
When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius threw him into jail. While he was in jail he became the friend of the jailer's daughter through whom he pass out information to young lovers encouraging them to stand firm and worship God and have holy matrimony.
His death sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about the year 270. Before his death, he left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter (his friend) and signed it "From your Valentine". For his great service, Valentine was canonized and named a saint after his death.
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