With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching I decided to do some research. Every February 14th, mountains and mountains of candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. The history of Valentine’s Day, and its patron saint, is a mystery. We do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. Who was St. Valentine and how did he become associated with this rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend tells that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men, his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for trying to help Christians escape Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. It has been written that Valentine actually sent the first valentine’s greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have been his jailor’s daughter. Before Valentine’s death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter which he signed “From your Valentine”, which is an expression still used today. Love Comes Through the Eyes That See by Nicholas Gordon Love comes through the eyes that see And through the ears that hear, For people are quite beautiful, And words make feelings clear. Love comes through the hands that touch With unabashed affection, For only skin-to-skin can love Maintain its true direction. Love comes through the tastes and smells Of fresh and well-cooked food, For in the gift of nourishment Is much else that is good. But though love comes through senses five, Love comes from the heart, For there resides the greater love Of which ours is a part.