It is ironic that one of the more popular holidays in America is named for a saint about whom very little is known — who, in fact, is of questionable historical provenance. In fact, the feast day of St. Valentine is no longer recognized in the current liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. It was removed after the calendar was revised in 1969 by Pope Paul VI.

At that time, many beloved saints lost their places in the calendar because not enough information existed to document their lives and sainthood (e.g., St. Christopher). St. Valentine was a casualty of that revision and lost his standing in the official Catholic canon.

The confusion about St. Valentine begins with reports that there may have been two Valentines who lived and died at the same time — one was a priest in Rome and the other was a bishop in Terne, 60 miles outside of the imperial capital (but again, that information is inconclusive).

Some scholars believe that there was only one Valentine — that first he was a priest who then became a bishop. And that theory does make sense, since it was also reported that both Valentines were beheaded. (No box of chocolates for either of them…)

In pagan Rome, Feb. 15 was the feast of the Lupercalia in honor of the pastoral god Lupercus. The Romans performed a ritual meant to ward off wolves, in which men wore strips of animal hide, dancing and cavorting; in mixed company, it evolved into a fertility ritual. Wolves stayed away and love blossomed!

The night before the feast, young people used to declare their love for one another or propose marriage. They also used to pledge their companionship and affection to a prospective spouse for the next 12 months, with a view toward marriage. It is this custom that provides the original meaning of being someone’s “Valentine.”

And where does love enter Valentine’s story? Well, all the stories of saints and martyrs have strong elements that describe their great love for God and, in the case of the martyrs, their willingness to sacrifice their lives for this love and commitment. In the story of St. Valentine, he both lived and died for love.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-tobin/saint-valentines-day-christian-origins_b_2679323.html?utm_hp_ref=religion