Story of St Valentine

"The story of Valentine's Day begins in the third century with
an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian
Martyr. The emperor was Claudius II. The Christian was
Valentinus.
Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods,
and had made it a crime punishable by death to associate
with Christians. But Valentinus was dedicated to the ideals
of Christ; not even the threat of death could keep him from
practicing his beliefs. He was arrested and imprisoned.
During the last weeks of Valentinus's life a remarkable thing
happened. Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer
asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be brought to
Valentinus for lessons. She had been blind since birth. Julia
was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus read
stories of Rome's history to her. He described the world of
nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about
God. She saw the world through his eyes, trusted his
wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength.
"Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia asked
one day.
"Yes, my child, He hears each one."
"Do you know what I pray for every morning and every
night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see
everything you've told me about!"
"God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him,"
Valentinus said.
"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe! I do!" She knelt and grasped
his hand.
They sat quietly together, each praying. Suddenly there was
a brilliant light in the prison cell. Radiant, Julia screamed,
"Valentinus, I can see! I can see!"
"Praise be to God!" Valentinus exclaimed, and he knelt in
prayer.
On the eve of his death Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia,
urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, "From your
Valentine." His sentence was carried out the next day,
February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named
Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried at what is
now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia
planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave.
Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love
and friendship. On each February 14, Saint Valentine's Day,
messages of affection, love, and devotion are exchanged
around the world."
www.olrl.org/lives/

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