Ok, call me “stupid”, but I never associated St. Valentine’s Day to a saint. The first clue should have been the Saint in front of Valentine. Alas, I live in a secular world, and hence influenced by all the hoopla of the day – the excitement surround this day – roses, flowers, chocolate and all the things associated with “love”.
I can now embarrassingly attest to all the silly things I expected on St. Valentine’s Day from my husband, and the disappoint if he forgot – “Where are the flowers?” I think of all the material things I expected on February 14th! When our own children were growing up, my husband and I would always prepare gift bags of chocolates and little cute stuff animals holding hearts as a symbol of our love for them. I got the love part partially right, but was not mindful of what St. Valentine’s Day really means.
From https://novenaprayer.com/2022/02/05/st-valentine-novena-2/
It is a special and historic day named after a very real and holy saint. San Valentino (St. Valentine) was a Third Century Roman priest and martyr during the reign of Claudius II, known as Claudius the Goth. He was arrested for helping Christians who were being persecuted by Claudius in Rome and for performing marriage ceremonies between young Christian couples in love. While imprisoned and under threat, Saint Valentine would not sway from answering questions of the Emperor regarding his beliefs.
The emperor tried to no avail to convert Saint Valentine. Regardless of what was asked however, Valentine would not renounce his faith so Claudius had him sent away to prison. The guard where Valentine was imprisoned listened as he preached day in and day out. As the legend goes, the guard, Asterius, had a daughter who was blind. He asked Valentine to hear her confession in which he did. Afterwards, Valentine put his hands over the girl’s eyes and chanted: “Lord Jesus Christ, enlighten your handmaid, because You are God, the True Light.” Immediately the little girl regained her eyesight. Because of this miracle, the guard and many of his family members converted to Christianity and were baptized. Upon hearing of the conversions, Emperor Claudius condemned all of The night before his execution, Valentine wrote the young girl a note and signed it, “From your Valentine.” Valentine was then beaten with clubs and stoned and finally beheaded on February 14th, around the year 269. He was buried on the Flaminian Way and a chapel was later built over his remains. On the same day, another Valentine, bishop of Terni, was imprisoned and beheaded by Placidus, prefect of Terni, about sixty miles outside of Rome. Many believe mysteriously that the two are one in the same priest — the same Valentine who was earlier brought to Rome for execution and buried on the Flaminian Way.
Novena to Saint Valentine
Patron saint of courtship, engagement, marriage, Beekeepers, Fainting, Epilepsy, Happy Marriages, Love, Lovers, Young people.
Facts about St Valentine Novena
| Novena Starts: | February 5th |
| Feastday: | February 14th |
| Birth: | 3rd century AD |
| Death: | 270 AD |
The Novena to Saint Valentine
O glorious advocate and protector, Saint Valentine, look with pity upon our wants, hear our requests, attend to our prayers, relieve by your intercession the miseries under which we labor, and obtain for us the Divine blessing, that we may be found worthy to join thee in praising the Almighty for all eternity; through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray, then, O holy Martyr, for the faithful, who are so persevering in celebrating thy memory. The day of Judgment will reveal to us all thy glorious merits. Oh! intercede for us, that we may then be made thy companions at the right hand of the Great Judge, and be united with thee eternally in heaven.
Let us pray: Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who solemnize the festival of blessed Valentine, Thy Martyr, may, by his intercession, be delivered from all the evils that threaten us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Mention your intentions here)
Saint Valentine, advocate and protector, pray for us.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
A shorter version of the same novena can be found: https://novenaprayer.com/2022/02/05/st-valentine-novena-2/
St. Valentine Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious advocate and protector, St. Valentine, Look with pity upon our wants, hear our prayers, relieve by your intercession the miseries under which we labor, and obtain for us the divine blessing, that we may be found worthy to join you in praising the Almighty for all eternity: through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Valentine, pray for us
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be
There are so many beautiful prayers and novena in the Catholic faith. The St. Valentine Novena is particularly special to me, especially now that I know that Valentine’s Day is not some festival secular day, but deeply rooted in faith and commitment to God. It’s meaning is deeper than all the flowers, chocolate and fancy dinners that I once knew.
God Bless as we all reflect on the meaning of St. Valentine’s Day 💖
Be Inspired! 
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