Saint Valentin
Martyr et évêque de Terni... (+ v. 269)
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/641/Saint-Valentin.html
Saint Valentin
Prêtre et martyr de Rome
Valentin, prêtre de Rome, fut arrêté, dit-on, sous l'empereur Claude le Gothique, qui le fit charger de chaînes et mettre dans les entraves. Deux jours après son arrestation, il fut amené au tribunal de l'empereur et confessa généreusement sa foi. Remis entre les mains du préfet Calpurnius, il fut placé sous la garde d'un officier dont la fille adoptive était aveugle. Valentin guérit la jeune fille, convertit, le père et toute la famille de l'officier. Claude, apprenant tous ces détails, ordonna que le prêtre Valentin fût, frappé à coups de bâton, puis décapité ; l'exécution eut, lieu le 14 février (vers 270), sur la voie Flaminienne.
Le corps de Valentin fut inhumé, au lieu même du supplice, par une pieuse matrone, nommée Sabinilla, qui le déposa dans sa propriété. Au IVe siècle, le pape saint Jules 1er bâtit en l'honneur de saint Valentin une église qui fut restaurée au VIIe siècle, sous Honorius Ier (auj. porta del Popolo). Ce fut pendant longtemps le lieu d'un pèlerinage très fréquenté; on l'abandonna au XIIe siècle, quand le corps de Valentin fut transféré dans l'église Sainte-Praxède. Le nom de Valentin est, célébré comme celui d'un illustre martyr dans le sacramentaire grégorien, dans les martyrologes de Bède et d'Usuard.
L'Évêque et martyr de Terni
La tradition présente ce Valentin comme ayant été sacré évêque de Terni (Interamnæ) dans l'Ombrie, dès l'année 203. Célèbre par ses vertus et ses miracles, il fut mandé à Rome par un philosophe nommé Craton, dont le fils était atteint d'une maladie incurable. Ce Craton était païen. Valentin se rendit à son invitation, mais il ne promit la guérison demandée que si Craton se convertissait avec toute sa famille. La condition fut acceptée et exécutée. Valentin se mit en prière et le jeune homme fut subitement guéri.
A la suite de ce miracle, trois jeunes gens, originaires d'Athènes, qui prenaient les leçons du philosophe se convertirent et il en fut de même du préfet de la ville, Abundius. Apprenant ces conversions, un autre préfet du nom de Placide fit décapiter Valentin. Les trois jeunes Athéniens transportèrent, secrètement à Terni le corps du martyr et, l'y ensevelirent, avec honneur (vers 273). Valentin est honoré comme le principal patron de Terni.
Au XIe siècle, le chef de saint Valentin, martyr (est-ce le prêtre de Rome ou l'évêque de Terni ? l'histoire ne le dit pas), fut apporté à l'abbaye bénédictine de Jumièges, au diocèse de Rouen; Baudry évêque de Dol vers 1020, a fait le récit de cette translation et des miracles qui l'accompagnèrent.
Identification ou distinction ?
Tillemont (Mémoires pour servir..., t. IV p. 679) est pour l'identification des deux martyrs du nom de Valentin. Le fait d'être commémorés le même jour, la ressemblance de plusieurs épisodes caractéristiques qui différent, seulement par les noms des personnages, le fait, d'avoir été victimes d'une même persécution, autorisent à conclure que les deux Valentins étaient un seul et même personnage. On aurait d'abord célébré sa fête à Rome et à Terni, plus tard on aurait cru qu'il s'agissait de deux personnages distincts.
Cependant pour les Bollandistes, l'identification ne paraît guère vraisemblable, et nous sommes en face de deux martyrs du nom de Valentin. Valentin de Rome était simple prêtre, Valentin de Terni était évêque. Le corps du second a toujours reposé à Terni, celui du premier n'a jamais quitté Rome. Pour la coïncidence des dates, on peut, l'expliquer en disant que la date du martyre de Valentin de Terni ayant été oubliée, on a uni son souvenir à celui de son homonyme de Rome au 14 février. Cette distinction, que favorise d'ailleurs le témoignage des anciens martyrologes, est établie aussi par l'étude du cimetière et de 1a Basilique de Saint-Valentin à Terni. Les usages chrétiens aux premiers temps, autorisent à conclure que Valentin a donné soit nom à la basilique parce que son corps y a été déposé. Le lieu de la sépulture devint bientôt un cimetière que M. de Rossi a décrit (bullettino di archeologia, 1871); cet auteur estime que lecimetière remontait à l'époque de la persécution. Or on peut constater qu'il existait en même temps à Rome un cimetière et une basilique de Saint-Valentin, prêtre et martyr ou se trouvait son corps.
A cette date du 14 février, on a noté encore la mention d'un troisième Valentin, martyr d'Afrique, sur lequel on manque de détails. Or au Moyen Age, une opinion s'accrédita spécialement en Angleterre et en France qu'à cette date du 14 février les oiseaux commençaient à s'accoupler; il fut dit que chaque Valentin choisissait sa Valentine. Dès lors, saint Valentin fut revendiqué comme patron des amoureux, fiancés, jeunes gens et jeunes filles à marier. Les uns adressaient aux autres des lettres tendres et moqueuses (et cela particulièrement en Angleterre). La coutume semble tombée en désuétude.
SAINT VALENTIN*
Valentin vient de valorem tenens, c'est-à-dire; qui persévère dans la sainteté. Ou bien de valens tiro, soldat vaillant qu'il fut de J.-C. On appelle un soldat vaillant celui qui n'a jamais succombé, qui frappe avec force, qui se défend avec valeur, qui remporte de grandes victoires. Valentin ne succomba pas en fuyant le martyre, il frappa l’idolâtrie. en l’anéantissant, il défendit la foi en la confessant, et il vainquit en souffrant.
Valentin fut un prêtre vénérable que l’empereur Claude se fit amener et auquel il adressa cette question : « Qu'est ceci, Valentin ? pourquoi ne gagnes-tu pas notre affection en adorant nos dieux et en rejetant tes vaines superstitions ? » Valentin lui répondit : « Si tu connaissais la grâce de Dieu, tu ne parlerais jamais ainsi, mais tu renoncerais aux idoles pour adorer Dieu qui est, au ciel. »Alors un de ceux qui accompagnaient Claude dit : « Qu'as-tu à dire, Valentin, de la sainteté de nos dieux? » Valentin lui répondit : « Je n'ai rien à dire, sinon qu'ils ont été des hommes misérables et souillés en toute manière. » Claude s'adressa à lui : « Si le Christ est le vrai Dieu, pourquoi ne me le dis-tu pas ? » Valentin lui dit : « Oui, J.-C. est le seul Dieu; si tu crois en lui, ton âme sera sauvée, l’Etat s'agrandira, et tu remporteras la victoire sur tous les ennemis. » Alors, Claude, s'adressant à ceux qui étaient présents : « Romains, leur dit-il, écoutez comme cet homme parle avec sagesse et droiture. ». Le préfet dit : « L'empereur s'est laissé séduire comment abandonnerons-nous ce à quoi nous tenons depuis notre enfance ? » Et aussitôt le cœur de Claude fut changé. Or, Valentin fut confié à un des officiers pour être mis sous bonne garde. Quand le saint fut entré dans la maison de cet homme, il dit : « Seigneur J.-C., qui êtes la véritable lumière, éclairez cette maison, afin que vous y soyez reconnu comme le vrai Dieu. » Le préfet lui dit : « Je suis étonné de t'entendre dire que le Christ est la lumière : certes, si ma fille, qui est aveugle depuis longtemps, recouvré la vue, je ferai tout ce que tu me commanderas. » Alors Valentin, par une prière, rendit la vue à sa fille et convertit tous ceux de la maison: Après quoi, l’empereur fit décapiter Valentin, vers l’an du Seigneur 280.
* Philippe de Harvenq, c. XL.
La Légende dorée de Jacques de Voragine nouvellement traduite en français avec introduction, notices, notes et recherches sur les sources par l'abbé J.-B. M. Roze, chanoine honoraire de la Cathédrale d'Amiens, Édouard Rouveyre, éditeur, 76, rue de Seine, 76, Paris mdccccii
SOURCE : http://www.abbaye-saint-benoit.ch/voragine/tome01/044.htm
Saint Valentin
Prêtre et Martyr
(+ 268)
La vertu de saint Valentin, prêtre, était si éclatante, qu'il fut arrêté par l'empereur Claude II. Après deux jours de prison, l'empereur le fit comparaître à son tribunal:
"Pourquoi, Valentin, voulez-vous ainsi être l'ami de nos ennemis et rejetez-vous notre amitié?
-- Seigneur, dit le prêtre chrétien, si vous saviez le don de Dieu, vous seriez heureux, et votre empire aussi; vous rejetteriez le culte de vos idoles, et vous adoreriez le vrai Dieu et Son Fils Jésus-Christ."
Un des juges, prenant la parole, demanda au martyr ce qu'il pensait de Jupiter et de Mercure:
"Qu'ils ont été des misérables, répliqua Valentin, et qu'ils ont passé toute leur vie dans la débauche et le crime."
Le juge, furieux de cette réponse, s'écria:
"Il a blasphémé contre les dieux et contre l'empire!"
L'empereur continua ses questions avec curiosité, heureux de cette occasion de savoir ce que pensaient les chrétiens; Valentin, de son côté, avait le courage d'exhorter le prince à faire pénitence pour le sang des chrétiens qu'il avait répandu:
"Croyez en Jésus-Christ, lui disait-il, faites-vous baptiser, vous serez sauvé, et dès cette vie vous assurerez la gloire de votre empire et le triomphe de vos armes."
Claude commençait à se laisser persuader, et dit à ceux qui l'entouraient:
"Écoutez la belle doctrine que cet homme nous apprend."
Mais le préfet, mécontent, s'écria:
"Voyez-vous comment ce chrétien séduit notre prince!"
Le faible Claude, craignant des troubles, abandonna le martyr, qui eut à subir un autre interrogatoire devant un nouveau juge:
"Comment, lui dit celui-ci, peux-tu dire que Jésus-Christ est la vraie lumière?
-- Il n'est pas seulement la vraie lumière, mais l'unique lumière, dit Valentin.
-- S'il en est ainsi, rends la vue à ma petite fille adoptive, aveugle depuis deux ans; je croirai en Jésus-Christ, et je ferai tout ce que tu voudras."
L'enfant fut amenée; le prêtre, lui mettant la main sur les yeux, fit cette prière:
"O Jésus-Christ, qui êtes la vraie lumière, éclairez cette aveugle."
A ces paroles, l'aveugle voit; le juge Astérius, avec toute sa famille, confesse Jésus-Christ et reçoit bientôt le baptême. L'empereur, averti de ces merveilles, aurait bien voulu fermer les yeux sur les conversions nouvelles; mais la crainte lui fit trahir sa conscience et le sentiment de la justice; Valentin et les autres chrétiens furent livrés aux supplices et allèrent recevoir au Ciel la récompense de leur courage, en l'année 268.
Il existe encore, à Rome, une catacombe de Saint-Valentin, témoin de la vénération dont fut, de tout temps, entouré cet illustre martyr.
Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_valentin.html
Saint Valentin, prêtre et martyr
Une basilique en son honneur fut consacrée à Rome dès
350. Son culte apparaît dans tous les livres romains sans exception depuis,
sauf dans le Missel de Paul VI qui l’a supprimé.
Dom Guéranger, l’Année Liturgique
L’Église honore aujourd’hui la mémoire de ce saint prêtre de Rome, qui souffrit le martyre vers le milieu du troisième siècle. L’injure du temps nous a privés de la plupart des circonstances de sa vie et de ses souffrances ; à peine quelques traits en sont venus jusqu’à nous. C’est la raison pour laquelle la Liturgie romaine ne contient pas de Légende en son honneur. Le culte de saint Valentin n’en est pas moins célèbre dans l’Église, et nous devons le regarder comme l’un de nos protecteurs en la saison liturgique où son nom et ses mérites viennent se joindre à ceux de tant d’autres martyrs, pour nous animer à chercher Dieu, au prix de tous les sacrifices qui peuvent nous faire rentrer en grâce avec lui.
Priez donc, ô saint Martyr, pour les fidèles qui,
après tant de siècles, conservent encore votre mémoire. Au jour du jugement,
nos yeux vous reconnaîtront dans l’éclat de la gloire que vos combats vous ont
acquise ; obtenez par votre suffrage que nous soyons placés à la droite et
associés à votre triomphe.
Ambito umbro, San Valentino (XV secolo),
affresco; Terni, Chiesa di Santa Maria del
Monumento
Bhx Cardinal Schuster, Liber Sacramentorum
La fête de ce martyr de la persécution de Claude II, tout différent du Valentin de Terni, se trouve déjà dans le Gélasien. Sa basilique cimitérale sur la voie Flaminienne, érigée par le pape Jules (337-352) et restaurée par Honorius Ier, était la première que rencontraient les pèlerins, quand, avides de visiter les sépulcres des anciens héros de la Foi, ils approchaient de la Ville éternelle. Le culte de saint Valentin prit un développement intense, spécialement dans la Sabine et dans le Latium, où lui furent dédiées un très grand nombre d’églises. A Rome on en comptait quatre ; mais dès le temps de Paschal Ier, son corps fut transporté à Sainte-Praxède, pour que, hors de l’enceinte de la Ville, il ne risquât pas d’être profané par les Sarrasins.
La messe est celle du Commun des martyrs In virtúte, sauf les collectes propres.
La première prière est la suivante : « Dieu tout-puissant, accordez-nous par l’intercession de votre bienheureux martyr Valentin, dont nous célébrons le natale, d’être délivrés de tous les périls qui nous menacent. »
Au lieu de la lecture de l’Évangile de saint Matthieu prescrite aujourd’hui par le Missel romain (X, 34-42), la liste de Würzbourg en assigne une empruntée à saint Luc (IX, 23-27) [1]. Le glaive qui est venu séparer l’homme, non seulement de sa patrie et de sa famille, mais encore de lui-même, c’est la parole de Dieu qui immole les amis du Christ comme des holocaustes vivants et ne leur permet de vivre que d’une vie divine. C’est en ce sens que saint Paul disait : « Je vis, et ce n’est plus moi qui vis, mais c’est le Christ qui vit en moi. »
La secrète, selon la récente correction du Missel, est la suivante : « Recevez, Seigneur, ces oblations qui vous sont pieusement offertes, et, par les mérites de votre bienheureux martyr Valentin, faites qu’elles profitent à notre salut. » Le Missel assignait précédemment cette autre prière, identique à la formule du Sacramentaire Grégorien : « Soyez propice, Seigneur, à l’oblation que nous vous présentons, et, par l’intercession de votre bienheureux martyr Valentin, délivrez-nous de tout péril. »
On lit avec plaisir la description des solennelles fêtes liturgiques que le Pape célébrait à Rome au moyen âge ; mais il ne faut pas oublier que les splendeurs de ces triomphes religieux furent méritées durant trois siècles par une longue série de papes, de prêtres et de diacres romains qui, affrontant intrépides la cruauté des Césars, gouvernèrent et administrèrent saintement l’héritage de saint Pierre et de saint Paul, jusqu’à ce que le martyre vînt les enlever de ce monde. Être alors élevé aux dignités de la hiérarchie sacrée équivalait à se trouver à la veille de donner son sang pour le Christ ; aussi aujourd’hui encore, quand, dans le rit grec, l’on ordonne les diacres, on chante, sans plus, l’hymne des martyrs, comme pour les déclarer aptes à l’honneur de la confession sanglante de la foi chrétienne.
[1] DIE XIII MEN. FEB. NT. SCI. VALENTINI lec. sci. eu. sec. Luc. K. XCVI Dicebat Ihs. discip. suis si quis uult post me uenire abneget *** gustabunt mortem donec uideant regnum dei.
Dom Pius Parsch, le Guide dans l’année liturgique
La couronne du martyr.
Saint Valentin. — Jour de mort (d’après le martyrologe) : 14 : février 269. Tombeau : à Rome dans sa basilique. Image : On le représente en prêtre, avec un glaive (instrument de son supplice). Sa vie : Ce saint prêtre (par exception, le missel l’appelle prêtre) souffrit le martyre sous l’empereur Claude II. Le martyrologe relate : « A Rome, sur la voie flandrienne, le jour de naissance céleste du saint prêtre et martyr Valentin qui, après de nombreuses guérisons miraculeuses et beaucoup de preuves de sa sagesse, fut battu de verges et décapité sous l’empereur Claude. » L’église de son tombeau s’élevait déjà au 5e siècle et était la première que les pèlerins de Rome visitaient, à leur entrée dans la ville éternelle (Il ne faut pas confondre ce saint avec l’évêque de Terni du même nom).
La messe (In virtúte). — Dans la première messe d’un martyr non pontife règne la joie au sujet de sa passion glorieuse. Dès l’Introït, nous voyons (d’une certaine manière dans la personne du célébrant qui fait son entrée) le saint (justi), dans sa gloire et son bonheur. Il se réjouit dans la force de Dieu, il tressaille de joie au sujet de son salut, ses désirs sont comblés, il apparaît comme vainqueur avec la couronne (tout le psaume 20 convient très bien ici, il suffit de remplacer le mot : Roi par celui de saint). L’Oraison demande que le saint « nous préserve des maux menaçants ». Dans la Leçon, l’Église décrit la vie de notre saint, comment « le Seigneur l’a conduit par des voies droites et lui a montré le royaume de Dieu », comment « il l’a guidé à travers tous les combats ; il ne l’a pas abandonné dans le besoin, il est descendu avec lui dans la fosse du cachot, il a été auprès de lui dans ses chaînes et puis il lui a donné « le sceptre du royaume » et « la gloire éternelle » (Ce passage a trait originairement au patriarche Joseph : la Leçon devient plus plastique si nous nous représentons les souffrances de Joseph vendu par ses frères et la gloire qu’il eut ensuite). Le chant psalmodiques qui suit est un véritable morceau choral où la communauté fait écho à la Leçon. Heureux l’homme qui craint Dieu, puissants sont ses descendants sur la terre. Nous sommes les descendants du saint, nous qui nous unissons à lui dans le Saint-Sacrifice. A l’Évangile, Notre-Seigneur nous parle de la nécessité de le suivre à la Croix. Ceci nous apprend à comprendre le sens du martyre et à en pénétrer notre vie. Le Christ nous dit ces austères paroles : « Je ne suis pas venu apporter la paix mais le glaive. » La vie chrétienne n’est pas une vie d’idylle, mais une vie de combat. Il faut d’abord livrer la guerre à la chair et au sang, il faut surtout « prendre notre croix et suivre le Christ. Le Christ nous montre avec insistance le saint martyr qui a suivi ces prescriptions à la lettre. Nous mêmes qui n’aurons sans doute pas à livrer d’aussi grands combats que notre saint martyr, nous pouvons cependant participer à l’honneur du « témoignage » rendu au Christ, en confessant le Christ dans les petites choses, quand ce ne serait qu’en donnant un verre d’eau en son nom à ses serviteurs. A l’Offertoire nous voyons encore le martyr s’avancer vers l’autel, le front orné de la couronne de victoire. A la Communion. nous ne chantons pas comme à l’ordinaire un chant de gloire pour le saint et pour nous, mais nous répétons une parole sérieuse du Christ : « Que celui qui veut me suivre prenne sur lui sa croix... » Pourquoi ce chant au moment de la Communion ? Peut-être la pensée de l’Église est-elle celle-ci : Après le Saint-Sacrifice, commencera votre chemin de Croix et la source de votre force est dans ce banquet sacré.
SOURCE : http://www.introibo.fr/14-02-St-Valentin-pretre-et-martyr#nh1
(Valere : vigueur, réussir)
Il fut prêtre à Rome vers 268.
Bien que les anglo-saxons nous aient légué la coutume de Valentin comme patron des amoureux, il est aussi invoqué pour nous délivrer des ravages causés par les rats des champs. (Comme sainte Gertrude de Nivelles au 17 mars, représentée avec des rats)
De plus on le prie contre la peste ou contre l’épilepsie. L’épilepsie était appelée soit le mal saint Jean ou le mal saint Valentin ou encore la mal caduc. En Allemagne où Valentin était prononcé Falentin, on l’associait à “Fallen”: tomber. En flamand : “valt heen” : il tombe.
En ce qui concerne les rats et les mulots, il s’agirait plutôt d’un autre Valentin fêté aujourd’hui, (273) évêque de Terni en Ombrie. La presqu’île de Jumièges était infesté de mulots. Les gens invoquèrent saint Valentin de Terni qui jeta les mulots à la Seine. On voit encore le chemin parcouru par les mulots.
C’est le jour où les oiseaux commencent à s’accoupler.
Valentin était un tel baratineur qu’il convertit les juges qui lui reprochaient son état de chrétien. L’empereur Claude II mit fin à cette influence en le faisant décapiter.
C’est peut-être en raison de ses capacités de persuasion qu’il est patron des amoureux ? Mais peut-être aussi est-ce parce qu’il a guérit une jeune fille aveugle.
Le père Cahier l’associe au anciens mots Galantins, galants, de l’ancien français “galer” : faire la noce.
Il fut souvent représenté avec un soleil dans la main ou avec un gaufrier. Un soleil parce qu’il représente le soleil qui commence sérieusement à reprendre des forces à la mi-février; un gaufrier car il annonce les réjouissances de carnaval.
La Saint Valentin clos une période de 12 jours (Celtes) centrés sur la fécondité. De la Chandeleur-Purification-Imbolgh - avec sainte Brigitte au 1 février - au 14 février, la plupart des saints évoquent des thèmes de fécondité. Le printemps s'annonce !
Saint
Valentine of Rome
Profile
Priest in Rome, possibly a bishop. Physician. Imprisoned for giving aid
to martyrs in prison, and
while there converted the jailer by restoring sight to the jailer‘s daughter. While Valentine of Terni and Valentine of
Rome sometimes have separate entries in martyrologies and biographies,
most scholars believe they are
the same person.
There are several
theories about the origin of Valentine’s Day celebrations that relate to love
and sentiment. Some believe the Romans had a mid-February custom where boys drew the names
of girls in honour of the
sex and fertility goddess, Februata Juno; pastors “baptised” this holiday, like
some others, by substituting the names of saints such as Valentine to suppress
the practice. Others maintain that the custom of sending Valentines on 14 February stems from the
belief that birds begin to pair on
that date; by 1477 the English associated lovers
with the feast of Valentine
because on that day “every bird chooses him a mate.” The custom of men
and women writing love
letters to their Valentine started on this day. Other “romance” traditions have
become attached to this feast, including pinning bay leaves to your pillow on
Valentine’s Eve so that you will see your future mate that night in your dreams.
- beaten and beheaded c.269 at Rome
- buried on the Flaminian Way
- relics later translated to the Church of Saint Praxedes
- affianced couples
- against epilepsy
- against fainting
- against plague
- apiarists
- bee keepers
- betrothed couples
- Bussolengo, Italy
- engaged couples
- greeting card manufacturers
- greetings
- happy marriages
- love
- lovers
- travellers
- young people
- birds
- roses
- bishop with a crippled or epileptic child at his feet
- bishop with a rooster nearby
- bishop performing a wedding
- bishop refusing to adore an idol
- bishop being beheaded
- priest bearing a sword
- priest holding a sun
- priest giving sight to a blind girl
Additional Information
- A Garner of
Saints, by Allen
Banks Hinds, M.A.
- Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- Golden Legend, by Jacobus de
Voragine
- Handbook of
Christian Feasts and Customs, by Francis X Weiser, SJ
- Light from the Altar
- Lives of the
Saints, by Father Alban Butler
- Pictorial Lives of the Saints
- Saints of the Day: Saint Valentine of Rome, by Katherine
Rabenstein
- Saints of the Day: Saint Valentine of Terni, by Katherine
Rabenstein
- books
- Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
- Saint
Valentine, by Robert Sabuda
- The Legend of the Valentine, by Katherine Grace Bond and Don Tate
- other
sites in english
- 1001 Patron Saints and Their Feast Days, Australian Catholic Truth Society
- Bella Umbria
- Big Think
- Brief History of
Valentine’s Day at
Intelligent Marketing
- Catholic Exchange
- Catholic Icing
- Catholic Ireland
- Catholic Lane
- Catholic Online
- Catholic Sun
- Communio
- Facebook
- Independent Catholic News
- Irish Times
- Manila Bulletin
- Novena
- Regina Magazine
- Saint Nook
- Saint Valentine remembered at BBC News
- Saints for Sinners
- Saints Stories for All Ages
- uCatholic
- Vatican News
- Wikipedia
- images
- Facebook Gallery:
Painting and Drawings
- Wikimedia Commons
- Catholic Exchange: About the Relics of Saint Valentine
video
sitios en español
- Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
sites en français
fonti in italiano
- Cathopedia
- Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
- Santi e Beati
nettsteder i
norsk
spletne strani v
slovenšcini
MLA Citation
- “Saint Valentine of
Rome“. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 June 2020. Web. 13 February
2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-valentine-of-rome/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-valentine-of-rome/
St. Valentine
At least three different Saint Valentines,
all of them martyrs,
are mentioned in the early martyrologies underdate of
14 February. One is described as a priest at Rome,
another as bishop of Interamna (modern Terni),
and these two seem both to have suffered in the second half of the third
century and to have been buried on the Flaminian Way, but at
different distances from the city. In William
of Malmesbury's time what was known to the ancients as the
Flaminian Gate of Rome and
is now the Porta del Popolo, was called the Gate of St.
Valentine. The name seems to have been taken from a
small church dedicated to the saint which
was in the immediate neighborhood. Of both these St. Valentines some sort
of Acta are
preserved but they are of relatively late date and of
no historical value. Of the third Saint Valentine, who suffered
in Africa with a number of companions, nothing further is known.
Saint Valentine's Day
The popular customs associated with Saint Valentine's Day undoubtedly had their origin in a conventionalbelief generally received in England and France during the Middle Ages, that on 14 February, i.e. half way through the second month of the year, the birds began to pair. Thus in Chaucer's Parliament of Foules we read:
For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.
For this reason the day was looked upon as specially consecrated to lovers and as a proper occasion for writinglove letters and sending lovers' tokens. Both the French and English literatures of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries contain allusions to the practice. Perhaps the earliest to be found is in the 34th and 35th Ballades of the bilingual poet, John Gower, written in French; but Lydgate and Clauvowe supply other examples. Those who chose each other under these circumstances seem to have been called by each other their Valentines. In the Paston Letters, Dame Elizabeth Brews writes thus about a match she hopes to make for her daughter (we modernize the spelling), addressing the favoured suitor:
And, cousin mine, upon Monday is Saint
Valentine's Day and every bird chooses himself a mate, and if it like
you to come on Thursday night, and make provision that you may abide
till then, I trust to God that
ye shall speak to my husband and I shall pray that
we may bring the matter to a conclusion.
Shortly after the young lady herself wrote a
letter to the same man addressing it "Unto my rightwell
beloved Valentine, John Paston Esquire".
The custom of choosing and sending valentines has of late years
fallen into comparative desuetude.
Thurston, Herbert. "St.
Valentine." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York:
Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 13 Feb.
2016 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254a.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Paul Knutsen.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. October
1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal
Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2020 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254a.htm
Alsace, Bas-Rhin, Chapelle Notre-Dame d'Altbronn d’Ergersheim. Autel secondaire (XVIIIe-XIXe) avec tableau "St-Valentin" et buste "St-Ignace":
St. Valentine
St. Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned.
When he refused to renounce his faith he was beaten with clubs, and afterwards, beheaded on February 14, about the year 270.
One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer’s blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer’s daughter, signing it, “From your Valentine.”
To abolish the heathens lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls, in honor of their goddess Februata Juno, on the fifteenth of this month, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints in billets given on this day. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.
SOURCE : http://www.ucatholic.com/saints/saint-valentine
.jpg)
ST. VALENTINE, PRIEST AND MARTYR.
FEAST DAY: FEBRUARY 14TH
VALENTINE was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended, and sent by emperor to the prefect of Rome, who, on finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith ineffectual, commanded him be beaten with clubs, and afterward to be beheaded, which was executed on the 14th of February, about the year 270. Pope Julius is said to have built a church near Ponte Mole to his memory, which for a long time gave name to the gate, now called Porta del Popolo, formerly Porta Valentini. The greatest part of his relics now in the church of St. Praxedes. To abolish the heathen's lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls, in honor of their goddess Februata Juno, on the 15th of this month, several zealous pastors substituted the names of Saints in billets given on this day.
REFLECTION.—In the cause of justice and truth, prudence should not be held in account; otherwise prudence is mere human respect. St. Paul says: "The wisdom of the flesh is death."
SOURCE : http://jesus-passion.com/saint_valentine.htm
Handbook
of Christian Feasts and Customs – Saint Valentine, February 14
Article
On February 14, 270, this saint, a priest, died
through the persecution of Claudius II. His feast was from earliest times
associated with the traditional habit of boys and girls declaring their love or
choosing a “steady partner” for the following twelve months. The selection was
often done, especially in France and England, by a game of chance, the boys
drawing the names of their respective “Valentines.” Our greeting cards on
Valentine’s Day are a modern form of this ancient practice.
How did the saint become associated with this unusual
lore? Various explanations have been attempted. It is said that the practice
originated because people believed that on Saint Valentine’s Day birds started
to mate. However, such legends do not explain the custom. Besides, in central
Europe the Feast of Saint Agnes (January 21) has always been considered the
mating day of birds, although Saint Valentine is venerated as the “patron of
lovers” even there.
Another explanation is found in a medieval legend
which tells how the saint, shortly before his execution, wrote a kind note to
the friendly daughter of his prison master, signing it “from your Valentine.”
This legend was obviously intended to provide a belated reason for the already
existing custom of the day.
There is no doubt that the historical origin of
Valentine lore is based on a coincidence of dates. The pagan Romans annually
celebrated a great feast on February 15 which they called Lupercalia in honor
of the pastoral god Lupercus (an equivalent of the Greek god Pan). On the eve
of the Lupercalia, and as part of it, young people held a celebration of their
own, declaring their love for each other, proposing marriage, or choosing
partners for the following year. (In the Roman republic the new vear started on
March 1; hence the names of the last four months: September, October, November,
December, which mean, respectively, the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth.)
This Roman youth festival with its pledge of love
stood under the patronage of the goddess Juno Februata. When the Roman Empire
became Christian, all worship and patronage of pagan gods naturally ceased. But
the youth festival continued, as affection, love, and marriage are not the
prerogative of a pagan cult only. There was but one aspect of the celebration
that had to be changed: its patronage. And so, in place of the goddess Juno
Februata a Christian saint took over. He was, quite naturally, the saint whose
feast day the Church celebrated on February 14 – the priest and martyr
Valentine.
A proof of the Roman origin of Saint Valentine’s lore
is the fact that in countries of Roman historical background even the smaller
details, like the games of chance, the choice made for the “new year,” and
similar customs, were continued right into the later Middle Ages, while in
other countries these details are missing and only the fact that Saint
Valentine is the patron of young lovers is observed. The American custom of
sending Valentine cards is unknown in countries of northern Europe. It came
from England, where it had developed as a substitute for the ancient Roman
“choice” of partners on February 14. This is actually what the traditional
words imply: “You are my Valentine,” that is, I offer you my companionship of
affection and love for the next twelve months, and I am willing to consider
marriage if this companionship proves satisfactory for both of us.
Liturgical Prayer – Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty
God, that we may he freed from all threatening dangers through the intercession
of Thy holy martyr Valentine, whose birthday we celebrate.
MLA Citation
Francis X Weiser, SJ. “Valentine, February 14”. Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, 1952. CatholicSaints.Info.
15 February 2017. Web. 13 February 2021.
<https://catholicsaints.info/handbook-of-christian-feasts-and-customs-valentine-february-14/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/handbook-of-christian-feasts-and-customs-valentine-february-14/
Heiliger Valentin am Flügelaltar der Filialkirche
St. Michael ob Rauchenödt, Gemeinde Grünbach, Oberösterreich.
Werktagsseite mit geschlossenen Flügeln. Unbekannter Meister, um 1517.
Saint Valentine at the winged altar of the
subsidiary church St. Michael ob Rauchenödt, municipality of Grünbach, Upper Austria. View for
weekdays with closed wings. Anonymous master, around 1517.
February 14
St. Valentine, Priest and Martyr
His acts are commended by Henschenius, but objected to
by Tillemont, &c. Here is given only an abridgement of the principal
circumstances, from Tillem. t. 4. p. 678.
Third Age
VALENTINE was a holy priest in Rome, who, with
St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under
Claudius II. He was apprehended, and sent by the emperor to the prefect of
Rome; who, on finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith
ineffectual, commanded him to be beaten with clubs, and afterwards to be
beheaded, which was executed on the 14th of February, about the year 270. Pope
Julias I. is said to have built a church near Ponte Mole to his memory, which
for a long time gave name to the gate, now called Porta del Popolo, formerly
Porta Valentini. The greater part of his relics are now in the church of St.
Praxedes. His name is celebrated as that of an illustrious martyr in the
sacramentary of St. Gregory, the Roman missal of Thomasius, in the calendar of
F. Fronto, and that of Allatius, in Bede, Usuard, Ado, Notker, and all other
martyrologies on this day. To abolish the heathen’s lewd superstitious custom
of boys drawing the names of Girls in honour of their goddess Februta Juno, on
the 15th of this month, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints
in billets given on this day. See January 29, on St. Francis de Sales.
Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). Volume
II: February. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : https://www.bartleby.com/210/2/141.html
Valentinsaltar, Pfarrkirche in Pörtschach am
Berg in der Gemeinde Maria Saal
Saint-Valentin-altar, Church in Pörtschach am Berg in
the community of Maria Saal
Light
from the Altar – Saint Valentine, 14 February
Of Saint Valentine few particulars are known. He was a
holy priest of Rome, put to death about the year 270. One of the great Roman
gates was built in his honor and called after him. It is now known as “del
Popolo.”
But the name of Saint Valentine has come down to us
associated with the remnant of a pagan custom, that of choosing for a year some
person to whom honor should be paid. The casting of lots was held on the 15th
of February, and with it began the Roman festival of Lupercalia, in honor of
the god Pan and the goddess Jimo. To put down so dangerous a feast-making, the
Church, according to Alban Butler, instituted the custom of drawing saints to
be venerated for a year on the feast of Saint Valentine, the day preceding that
of the pagan lot-drawing, thus substituting heavenly for earthly love.
This old, old custom of choosing some one to love, to
be looked up to, sets one thinking. So widespread a custom, lasting, too, for
so long a time through the pagan era, through the Middle Ages, even to our own
day, seems to point to some natural cause. And it does. We are social beings in
the natural and supernatural order, conscious of weakness and insufficiency
when standing alone. In the garden of Paradise the foundation of society was
laid when Adam said, “a man shall leave father and mother and cleave to his
wife,” showing that at no period of his life need he stand alone. The supernatural
order is based upon the two great laws, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
thy whole heart, and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” And there is
such a stretching out of hands towards our fellow-creatures, such an expansion
of heart at the sight of suffering or sorrow or need, that we have to be on our
guard, lest it work in us merely from a natural goodness without the sacred
stamp of grace.
This custom then of drawing saints to be our patrons
for the year is a happy thought, bearing upon the inward yearning towards
others; it is an expression of the loneliness of the human heart, its want of
sympathy; it is also the bond between Heaven and earth. We are not made like
the beasts with our eyes level with the ground, tending downwards. “We have a
right to invade the unseen world, to choose helpers there, to count upon
assistance and comfort and cheering, where there is so much consolation, help,
and joy.
A certain number of patrons were chosen for us by our
parents without our having a say in the matter. Others we ourselves chose at
confirmation, but without any very distinct idea of what we were doing,
perhaps. But our patron on Valentine’s day can be one of mature deliberation,
based upon a natural attraction and admiration, one whose example in the
battle-field of life will be a help to us in our hour of trial. The more
communion we can have with Heaven the better for us. The more our interests lie
above, the less will the chains of earth rivet us to things below. And the
chains of earth do bind. They bind in childhood and in youth; in middle manhood
and old age. So the spirit that soars upward is the brave spirit, the safest,
the happiest, and the strongest. There have been those who, in extreme old age,
could show a long list of patrons whom they had honored for a year each with
particular devotion, and when the allotted time was over added them to the long
list of their predecessors, and invoked them still with the new Valentine of
the New Year. What an array there would be of choice spirits to meet such as
these when they came to their Heavenly reward.
To some of us who do not love multiplicity our own
namesake may be our perpetual Valentine – the patron given to us at our
baptism, or chosen at our confirmation, or at any other solemn occasion. Let
these then become realities to us, living friends and helpers, substantial
guardians. The Heavenly patron will never be wanting to his earthy client – of
that we may be sure. Let us not be wanting to him. Saint Valentine, pray for
us!
MLA Citation
Father James J McGovern. “Saint Valentine, 14
February”. Light from the Altar, 1906. CatholicSaints.Info.
31 October 2019. Web. 13 February 2021.
<http://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/light-from-the-altar-saint-valentine-14-february/
Józef Buchbinder (1839–1909). Św. Walenty
Pictorial
Lives of the Saints – Saint Valentine, Priest and Martyr
Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with Saint
Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the x execution under Claudius
II. He was apprehended, and sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome, who, on
finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith ineffectual, commanded
him to be beaten with clubs, and afterward to be beheaded, which was executed
on the 14th of February, about the year 270. Pope Julius I is said to have
built a church near Ponte Mole to his memory, which for a long time gave name
to the gate, now called Porta del Popolo, formerly Porta Valentini. The
greatest part of his relics are now in the church of Saint Praxedes. To abolish
the heathen’s lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls, in
honor of their goddess Februata Juno, on the 15th of this month, several
zealous pastors substituted the names of Saints in billets given on this day.
Reflection – In the cause of justice and truth,
prudeixe should not be held in account; otherwise prudence is mere human
respect. Saint Paul says: “The wisdom of the flesh is death.”
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-valentine-priest-and-martyr/
Valentine of Terni BM (RM)
Died c. 269. Valentine of Terni (Interamna) and of Rome are probably the same martyr according to the Bollandists.
The origin of Saint Valentine's Day is obscure, as is the custom of sending valentines. It was supposed, according to the rural tradition (dating in England at least to the time of Chaucer), to be the time of the mating of birds, and among young people the practice grew of choosing on this day, by lot or otherwise, a friend or lover for the ensuing year. It was a light-hearted custom. A folded paper would bear the name of one's secret friend, or through the post would go a card of sentimental verse and fanciful emblems.
Elia tells a story about an artist, who, living across from a young girl whom he did not know, but whose daily passing gave him pleasure, resolved to send her, unknown, a valentine, for she was all happiness and innocence and just the right age to enjoy receiving one. He painted a picture for her one fine, gilt paper, then posted it. From his window the next day he saw his precious gift delivered. He watched her open it with delight, and saw her wonder as she unfolded it, and as she danced and clapped her hands; for she had no lover, and took it as a fairy gift, a God-send, as they used to say when the benefactor was unknown. "It would do her no harm," says Elia, "it would do her good for ever after. It is good to love the unknown." So God sends His gifts to us from His own secret store. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father."
Others claim that the custom of St. Valentine's Day records the survival of elements of the pagan Roman Lupercalia festival, which took place on the Ides of February. To abolish the heathen's lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls, in honor of their goddess February Juno, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints in billets given on this day.
But this day really celebrates sadder memories--and more glorious-- for it marks the martyrdom of the faithful. The Roman Martyrology celebrates the bishop of Interamna (Terni) about 60 miles from Rome, who was scourged, imprisoned, then beheaded there by order of Placidius, prefect of Interamna.
Many scholars believe that Valentine of Rome is identical with Valentine of Terni. It is suggested that the bishop of Interamna had been a Roman priest who became bishop, was sentenced in his diocese, and brought to Rome for his execution. After his death his relics were translated to Terni. The stories of the two bishop martyrs, however, are remarkably similar.
There is no other record of Valentine. Though far removed from the saccharine customs and fancies that now surround his name, his memory shines in the darkest age of persecution as one who helped the followers of Jesus, as one who proclaimed the Good News. Out of the night would come a secret message or through the darkness an unknown hand, bringing hope and comfort. We can imagine what it would mean to some imprisoned or tormented spirit, and the thrill it would bring, that someone loved and cared. Valentine was that unknown benefactor, the secret friend of the martyrs, who gloried in the work of their rescue.
It is interesting to note that, since 1835, the Carmelite church in Dublin has claimed his relics (Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Gill, White).
In art, Saint Valentine is portrayed as a bishop with a crippled or epileptic child at his feet. At times (1) there may be a cock near him, (2) he may be shown refusing to adore an idol, or (3) his martyrdom by beheading may be depicted (Roeder).
Valentine is the patron of beekeepers, engaged couples, travellers, and young people. He is invoked against epilepsy, fainting, plague, and for a happy marriage (Roeder).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0214.shtml
Valentinsaltar – Mittelbild, Pfarrkirche Wolfsberg in der
Gemeinde Wolfsberg
Saint-Valentin-altar - Middle-painting, Parish church in the community of Wolfsberg
Valentine of Rome M (RM)
Died in Rome c. 269. The acta of Saint Valentine seem to derive from those of the Persians SS. Marius and Martha, who with their sons Saints Audifax and Abachum were martyred in Rome and buried on the Via Cornelia. It is likely that this Valentine is the bishop of Terni, which is about sixty miles from Rome.
Saint Valentine was a priest in Rome and a physician who was put in chains for assisting the martyrs. He was arrested by Calpurnius, the prefect of the city, and placed in the custody of Asterius, his chief officer. But Valentine preached to the guard in charge of him, and, like Saint Paul, converted his jailer. God did this through Valentine by restoring the sight of Asterius's adopted daughter. The jailer and his entire household, like that of Saint Cornelius, were baptized. Unfortunately, this led to Valentine's further punishment, for it roused the anger of Emperor Claudius the Goth, who condemned him to be beaten with clubs, then beheaded. Asterius and his entire family are also said to have been martyred.
A little after Valentine's execution, a pious matron named Sabinilla claimed his body and buried on her property on the Via Flaminia, where a basilica was erected in 350. The basilica was destroyed in the 7th century by Honorius I. Today the church is in ruins near a catacomb that presents the double originality of preserving in the vestibule of the entrance one of the most ancient paintings of the crucifixion, dating to the 7th century, and having its galleries in the bedrock of the hill, completely recut by a wine merchant who made it his wine cellar. His relics were translated to the Church of Saint Praxedes. He is probably the same person as Valentine of Terni (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Gill, White).
In art Valentine is portrayed as a priest bearing a sword; or holding a sun; or giving sight to a blind girl (White). He is the patron of lovers (White).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0214.shtml
.jpg)
Giuseppe Carlo Pedretti. San Valentino che guarisce la
figlia del giudice Asterio,1762, Chiesa parrocchiale di San Valentino a Salara
Golden Legend – Saint
Valentine
Here beginneth the Life of Saint Valentine, and first
the interpretation of his name.
Valentine is as much to say as containing valour that
is perseverant in great holiness. Valentine is said also as a valiant knight,
for he was a right noble knight of God, and the knight is said valiant that
fleeth not, and smiteth and defendeth valiantly and overcometh much puissantly.
And so Saint Valentine withdrew him not from his martyrdom in fleeing, he smote
in destroying the idols, he defended the faith, he overcame in suffering.
Of Saint Valentine the martyr.
Saint Valentine, friend of our Lord and priest of
great authority, was at Rome. It happed that Claudius the emperor made him to
come tofore him and said to him in demanding: What thing is that which I have
heard of thee, Valentine? Why wilt thou not abide in our amity, and worship the
idols and renounce the vain opinion of thy creance? Saint Valentine answered
him: If thou hadst very knowledge of the grace of Jesu Christ thou shouldest
not say this that thou sayest, but shouldest reny the idols and worship very
God. Then said to Saint Valentine a prince which was of the council of the
emperor: What wilt thou say of our gods and of their holy life? And Saint
Valentine answered: I say none other thing of them but that they were men
mortal and mechant and full of all ordure and evil. Then said Claudius the emperor:
If Jesu Christ be God verily, wherefore sayst thou not the truth? And Saint
Valentine said: Certainly Jesu Christ is only very God, and if thou believe in
him, verily thy soul shall be saved, thy realm shall multiply, and he shall
give to thee alway victory of thine enemies. Then Claudius turned him unto all
them that were there, and said to them: Lords, Romans, hear ye how wisely and
reasonably this man speaketh? Anon the provost of the city said: The emperor is
deceived and betrayed, how may we leave that which we have holden and been
accustomed to hold sith our infancy? With these words the
emperor turned and changed his courage, and Saint Valentine was delivered in
the keeping of the provost.
When Saint Valentine was brought in an house in
prison, then he prayed to God, saying: Lord Jesu Christ very God, which art
very light, enlumine this house in such wise that they that dwell therein may
know thee to be very God. And the provost said: I marvel me that thou sayest
that thy God is very light, and nevertheless, if he may make my daughter to
hear and see, which long time hath been blind, I shall do all that thou
commandest me, and shall believe in thy God. Saint Valentine anon put him in
prayers, and by his prayers the daughter of the provost received again her
sight, and anon all they of the the house were converted. After, the emperor
did do smite off the head of Saint Valentine, the year of our Lord two hundred
and eighty. Then let us pray to Saint Valentine that he get us pardon of our
sins. Amen.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/the-golden-legend-the-life-of-saint-valentine/
Jacopo Bassano (1510–). St Valentine
Baptizing St Lucilla, circa 1575, Bassano Civic Museum
San Valentino Martire
Patronato: Innamorati, Amanti
Etimologia: Valentino = che sta bene, sano, forte, robusto, dal latino
Emblema: Bastone pastorale, Palma
Martirologio Romano: A Roma sulla via Flaminia presso il ponte Milvio, san Valentino, martire.
La più antica notizia di S.Valentino è in un documento ufficiale della Chiesa dei secc.V-VI dove compare il suo anniversario di morte. Ancora nel sec. VIII un altro documento ci narra alcuni particolari del martirio: la tortura, la decapitazione notturna, la sepoltura ad opera dei discepoli Proculo, Efebo e Apollonio, successivo martirio di questi e loro sepoltura. Altri testi del sec. VI, raccontano che S.Valentino, cittadino e vescovo di Terni dal 197, divenuto famoso per la santità della sua vita, per la carità ed umiltà, per lo zelante apostolato e per i miracoli che fece, venne invitato a Roma da un certo Cratone, oratore greco e latino, perché gli guarisse il figlio infermo da alcuni anni. Guarito il giovane, lo convertì al cristianesimo insieme alla famiglia ed ai greci studiosi di lettere latine Proculo, Efebo e Apollonio, insieme al figlio del Prefetto della città. Imprigionato sotto l’Imperatore Aureliano fu decollato a Roma. Era il 14 febbraio 273. Il suo corpo fu trasportato a Terni al LXIII miglio della Via Flaminia. Fu tra i primi vescovi di Terni, consacrato da S.Feliciano vescovo di Foligno nel 197. Preceduto da S.Pellegrino e S.Antimo, fratello dei SS.Cosma e Damiano.
IL CULTO
S.Valentino fu sepolto in un’area cimiteriale nei pressi dell’attuale Basilica. E’ sicuro che quel cimitero già esisteva in età pagana. Da questa zona provengono alcuni reperti le più antiche risalgono ai secc. IV-V. Si tratta di titoli sepolcrali. Il pezzo più interessante è il sarcofago a “teste allineate” del sec.IV ora conservato in Palazzo Carrara. E’il tradizionale sarcofago paleocristiano dove sono scolpite attorno alla figura del defunto orante, Scene della vita di Cristo. La prima basilica fu costruita nel sec.IV dato che la collocazione dell’edificio, fuori delle mura della città e in area cimiteriale e sopra la tomba del martire. Distrutta dai Goti, insieme alla città nel sec. VI, sarebbe stata ricostruita nel sec.VII. A conferma di questa ultima costruzione fu il rinvenimento di una moneta di Eraclio del 641. Al periodo della prima costruzione o a quella della ricostruzione del sec.VII, dovrebbe risalire la cripta con l’altare ad arcosolio, cioè sotto una nicchia coperta da un arco e sopra la tomba del martire. Intorno al sec.VII la basilica fu affidata ai Benedettini. Nel 742 vi avvenne l’incontro storico tra il papa Zaccaria partito da Roma verso Terni e il vecchio re longobardo Liutprando. La scelta della Basilica di S.Valentino fu fatta dal re perché all’interno di quella si veneravano le spoglie del glorioso martire alle quali egli attribuiva un valore taumaturgico. Da quell’incontro il re donava al pontefice alcune città italiane tra le quali Sutri.
Qui il pontefice ordinò il nuovo vescovo di Terni alla cui morte (760) la città rimase priva del pastore fino al 1218. In questo periodo la basilica fu oggetto di scorrerie prima di Ungari poi Normanni e Saraceni poi degli abitanti di Narni che vantavano pretese su alcuni territori e sulla Basilica. Onorio III nel 1219 vi si recò e consegnò la Basilica al clero locale. Da questo anno in poi non sappiamo più nulla dello stato di conservazione della Basilica. Agli inizi del 1600 doveva apparire fatiscente.
LA RICOGNIZIONE
Nel 1605 il vescovo Giovanni Antonio Onorati, ottenuto il permesso da papa Paolo V, fece iniziare le ricerche del corpo del Santo. Erano partite da tempo anche a Roma le ricerche dei primi martiri della Chiesa e per autenticare la loro esistenza e per accrescerne la venerazione. Il corpo di S.Valentino fu presto rinvenuto in una cassa di piombo contenuta entro un’urna di marmo rozza esternamente ma all’interno intagliata con rilievi. La testa era separata dal busto a conferma della morte avvenuta per decapitazione. Fu portata subito in Cattedrale. Nessuno in città voleva che il corpo del loro martire riposasse nella chiesa madre. Neanche la Congregazione dei Riti era favorevole poiché le reliquie dovevano essere venerate là dove erano state sepolte. Così si decise di ricostruire una nuova Basilica.
LA NUOVA BASILICA
I lavori per la costruzione della Basilica iniziarono nel 1606 e durarono alcuni anni ma già dal 1609 questa poté essere officiata dai PP.Carmelitani, chiamati a custodirla. Nel 1618 il corpo del santo vescovo e martire venne solennemente riportato nella sua Basilica. Nel 1625 l’Arciduca Leopoldo d’Austria, diretto a Roma, fece visita alla Basilica e si assunse la spese per la costruzione di un nuovo altare maggiore in marmo, completato nel 1632, impegnandosi a rendere alla Basilica una parte del cranio del Santo donata alcuni secoli prima ad un suo antenato. Dietro all’altare maggiore è il coro con la “confessione” di S.Valentino, un altare costruito sopra la tomba del martire. Al centro è una tela ovale che ricorda il martirio del santo, opera della fine del sec. XVII. L’episodio del Duca Leopoldo fornì l’occasione per un radicale rinnovamento dell’architettura del tempio, condotto a termine grazie anche all’opera di molti ternani. La Basilica si presenta secondo uno schema caro ai teorici della Controriforma: grande navata unica con attorno cappelle laterali, due grandi cappelle costituiscono il transetto, presbiterio e dietro l’altare del martire con la “confessione”. La facciata del sec.XVII è animata da paraste, un grande portale sormontato da un finestrone. Le statue in stucco raffigurano in alto i santi patroni della città Valentino e Anastasio (+649) e sono state aggiunte nel sec.XIX. L’interno è animato da grandi paraste con capitelli in stile ionico con ghirlande. Queste sorreggono un architrave sporgente dentellato. Due cappelle per lato erano proprietà di alcune famiglie importanti della città. Le più interessanti sono le cappelle del transetto. Quella di destra è dedicata a S.Michele arcangelo ed era la cappella privata della famiglia Sciamanna. Ai lati infatti sono i monumenti funebri di alcuni membri tra i quali un certo Brunoro, vescovo di Caserta morto nel 1647. Al centro è la bella pala con S.Michele che sconfigge il demonio dell’artista romano Giuseppe Cesari detto il “Cavalier d’Arpino”. Esponente di una pittura colta e raffinata, docile alle richieste della Chiesa, che tornava a privilegiare chiarezza dell’espressione e il decoro nella rappresentazione delle figure sacre. Questa immagine è una chiara ripresa del classicismo di Raffaello: equilibrio della posa e fermezza dell’atteggiamento. L’altra cappella è dedicata alla santa carmelitana Teresa d’Avila. La bella pala centrale raffigura la Madonna con il Bambino tra i SS.Giuseppe e Teresa dell’artista Lucas De La Haye, monaco carmelitano della seconda metà del sec. XVII. L’artista fu l’incarico principale della decorazione della basilica. Infatti oltre a questa lascia altri capolavori tra i quali la bella pala centrale con S.Valentino chiede la protezione della Vergine su Terni e ancora una Adorazione dei pastori e una Adorazione dei Magi. Sempre per la basilica realizza le tele con i Quattro evangelisti e una serie con i Martiri ternani (Catulo, Saturnino, Lucio e magno discepoli di Valentino) conservati nella navata. Il suo stile è pienamente barocco: figure ricoperte di sontuosi panneggi che si agitano al vento, intrisi di un colore caldo che fa pensare anche ad un’influenza sull’artista della pittura veneta forse filtrata dal Rubens romano. Al centro del coro è una grande tela raffigurante la Crocifissione dove traspaiono figure intrise di grande drammaticità. Un ultimo capolavoro si può ammirare in una delle cappelle della navata. Si tratta di una tela raffigurante la Madonna con il Bambino ed i SS. Lorenzo, Giovanni Battista e Bartolomeo del 1635, opera di Andrea Polinori, cittadino di Todi. L’ispirazione dell’artista è il Caravaggio ma è abile a regolarizzarlo e depurarlo di ogni aggressività.
L’ambiente della cripta presenta l’antico altare ad arcosolio (inserito in una nicchia voltata a botte sopra la tomba del martire) nel quale furono rinvenute le reliquie di S.Valentino. Alcuni reperti dell’area valentiniana sono stati riuniti nell’ambiente accanto alla cripta.
LA LEGGENDA
La festa del vescovo e martire Valentino si riallaccia agli antichi festeggiamenti di Greci, Italici e Romani che si tenevano il 15 febbraio in onore del dio Pane, Fauno e Luperco. Questi festeggiamenti erano legati alla purificazione dei campi e ai riti di fecondità. Divenuti troppo orridi e licenziosi, furono proibiti da Augusto e poi soppressi da Gelasio nel 494. La Chiesa cristianizzò quel rito pagano della fecondità anticipandolo al giorno 14 di febbraio attribuendo al martire ternano la capacità di proteggere i fidanzati e gli innamorati indirizzati al matrimonio e ad un’unione allietata dai figli. Da questa vicenda sorsero alcune leggende. Le più interessanti sono quelle che dicono il santo martire amante delle rose, fiori profumati che regalava alle coppie di fidanzati per augurare loro un’unione felice. Oggi la festa di S.Valentino è celebrata ovunque come Santo dell’Amore. L’invito e la forza dell’amore che è racchiuso nel messaggio di S.Valentino deve essere considerato anche da altre angolazioni, oltre che dall’ormai esclusivo significato del rapporto tra uomo e donna. L’Amore è Dio stesso e caratterizza l’uomo, immagine di Dio. Nell’Amore risiede la solidarietà e la pace, l’unità della famiglia e dell’intera umanità.
GLI EVENTI
A Terni è sorta la “Fondazione S.Valentino”, che cura
il culto del Santo durante l’intero mese di febbraio:vi sono programmate grandi
iniziative di fede e di cultura, di arte e di scienza, di spettacolo e di
divertimento.Da quest'anno è nata inoltre l'Associazione "San Valentino
Festival" promossa da Comune, Provincia, Camera di Commercio, Diocesi,
Sviluppumbria e Consorzio Cometa per organizzare eventi valentiniani anche nel
resto dell'anno.
Fonte : www.diocesi.terni.it
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/40850
Antonio Arrigoni, San Valentino sacerdote, 1707.
Pozzoleone (Vi) chiesa Parrocchiale
Voir aussi : http://stmaterne.blogspot.ca/2010/02/saint-valentin-pretre-orthodoxe-martyr.html
