Changes

[[Image:Stval.jpg|right|thumb| St. Valentine]]

[[Image:Stval.jpg|right|thumb| St. Valentine]]

'''St. Valentine''' (birthdate unknown; d. February 14, 269) [[Catholic]] Bishop of Terni who was persecuted and martyred by Roman Emperor Claudius II (Gothicus) for refusing to give up his [[Christian]] faith. In 496, Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as "[[Saint Valentine's Day]]," a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. St. Valentine became well known for the way he cared for others.

'''St. Valentine''' (birthdate unknown; d. February 14, 269) was the [[Catholic]] Bishop of Terni who was persecuted and martyred by Roman Emperor Claudius II (Gothicus) for refusing to give up his [[Christian]] faith. In 496, Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as "[[Saint Valentine's Day]]," a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. St. Valentine became well known for the way he cared for others.

==Legend==

==Legend==

==Circumstances Under Roman Authority==

==Circumstances Under Roman Authority==

Valentine was a priest of [[Rome]] that spoke with courage regarding his faith in Jesus. At the time, the Roman Empire officially sanctioned the worship of pagan Roman gods. This would lead to challenges, confrontation and eventually Valentine's arrest. St. Valentine's official charge against him was marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under [[Emperor Claudius]], a Roman crime. His strength to proclaim and refusal to deny Christ ultimately led to his death. Emperor Claudius fearing rebellion, ordered Valentine beaten with clubs then beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate, Feb. 14th. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=159 St. Valentine] Catholic Online</ref>

Valentine was a priest of [[Rome]] that spoke with courage regarding his faith in Jesus. At the time, the Roman Empire officially sanctioned the worship of pagan Roman gods. This would lead to challenges, confrontation and eventually Valentine's arrest. St. Valentine's official charge against him was marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under [[Emperor Claudius]], a Roman crime. His strength to proclaim and refusal to deny Christ ultimately led to his death. Fearing rebellion, Emperor Claudius ordered St. Valentine beaten with clubs then beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on Feb. 14th. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=159 St. Valentine] Catholic Online</ref>

==Relics==

==Relics==

A Church was built in his honor by Pope Julius I (337-352) at Porta del Popolo, Rome which was once called the Gate of Valentine. St. Valentine's relics were found and exhumed from a Roman catacomb in 1836. They now reside in [[Dublin]], [[Ireland]] at  Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church.

A Church was built in his honor by Pope Julius I (337-352) at Porta del Popolo, Rome, which was once called the Gate of Valentine. St. Valentine's relics were found and exhumed from a Roman catacomb in 1836. They now reside in [[Dublin]], [[Ireland]] at  Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church.

==Feast==

==Feast==