St. Valentine

St. Valentine’s Day remains a popular celebration even though it is not celebrated as a liturgical holy day in the Church.  When it was celebrated in the martyrology, there were three Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, mentioned on February 14th. Two were from later in the 200s.  They were buried on the Flaminian Way.  In fact, the Flaminian Gate was once called the Gate of St. Valentine.  The third St. Valentine was martyred with several companions in North Africa.  

During the Middle Ages, in England and France, it was commonly held that the birds chose mates around February 14.  This is mentioned in a poem by Chaucer which says,

For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.

It is likely that customs of writing love letters and exchanging gifts on Saint Valentine's Day came of this understanding.   French and English literature of the time relate accounts of these traditions.  (www.newadvent.com)