Valentine

Recruitment for the Roman army was very low in the year of 268 A.D. The ruling Emperor Claudius kept hearing the voice of the people stating the men did not want to leave their homes, their wives, their children. War did not hold the same allure as their hearth and home.

Claudius clearly viewed home life, and marriage in particular, as the culprit to low army recruitment. He therefore passed an outrageous law, banning all marriage from that point. Leaving the men no other recourse, but to fill the ranks of his army.

The priests of the time could not condone such a law, as they attempted to uphold the traditional mores of marriage. Several priests ignored the law, and conducted late night, clandestine meetings between bride and groom. They would indeed be married, and therefore embracing hearth and home.

The priest Valentine was discovered as one of the priests performing such ceremonies, and had him imprisoned for violation. While in prison, the priest had many visitors and well-wishing young lovers. In the loneliest of the hours, however, the jailer's blind daughter would visit the priest Valentine.

Valentine was to be put to death by beating, stoning and finally decapitation on Feb. 24th, 270 A.D. On the day of his death, he wrote a note of affection to the blind girl, and signed it "love from your Valentine". Thus, the tradition of love began.

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