BY KAREN GUTKE
karen@newsroom.byu.edu
Modern St. Valentine's Day comes from Christian and ancient Roman legends that have been passed on from generation to generation.
The most prevalent legend is of St. Valentine. According to the History Channel, the Catholic Church recognizes St. Valentine as a priest who lived near Rome in about 270 AD. At that time, the Roman Emperor Claudius II was imprisoning Christians for not worshiping the Roman gods.
During this hunt for Christians, Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death. Some say he was arrested because he was performing Christian marriages, but others say it was for helping Christians escape from prison.
One legend says that Emperor Claudius ordered the Roman soldiers to not marry or become engaged. He wanted single men rather than those with wives and families because married men would want to stay home with their families more than fight wars. He outlawed marriage for young single men.
'The History of Valentine's Day' says Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and secretly married the young couples. He was eventually arrested, imprisoned and put to death.
Another legend behind St. Valentine comes from the Roman Catholic faith.
'God's Valentine St. Valentine: A Christian perspective on Valentines Day' says that St. Valentine was put into prison for being a Christian because he did not worship the Roman gods.
He continued to minister in prison to the guards. One guard had adopted a blind girl and asked if Valentine could help his daughter. St. Valentine prayed and she was given her sight. When Claudius heard about this, he was furious that Valentine was still preaching and had Valentine beheaded.
St. Valentine was the first person to send a valentine greeting. He is believed to have fallen in love with a young girl who may have been the jailer's daughter who visited him there.
Before his death, some people say he wrote her a letter and signed it, 'From your Valentine.'
St. Valentine was beheaded on Feb. 14 and from that time the whole world has honored his kindness by declaring Feb. 14 the day of love.