De sancto Valentino
The Valiant Soldier of Christ
The name Valentine signifies a steadfast soldier of Christ who conquers through faith and suffering.
The name Valentine is said to mean something like 'holding value,' which is to say, persevering in holiness. Alternatively, Valentine is said to mean a 'valiant recruit,' that is, a soldier of Christ. A soldier is called valiant if he never falls, strikes hard, defends himself bravely, and conquers powerfully. In this way, Valentine didn't yield by avoiding martyrdom; he struck down idolatry by emptying it out, defended the faith by communing, and conquered by suffering.
The Confrontation with Claudius
Valentine boldly defends the Christian faith before Emperor Claudius, challenging the vanity of idols.
Valentine was a reverend priest, whom the Emperor Claudius had brought before him and questioned, saying, "What is this, Valentine?" Why don't you enjoy our friendship, so that you might worship our gods and cast off the superstition of your vanity? Valentine replied, "If you knew the grace of God, you would never say such things; instead, you would turn your heart away from idols and worship the God who is in heaven." Then someone who was standing by Claudius said, "Valentine, what do you mean by speaking of the holiness of our gods?" Valentine answered him, "I say nothing of them, except that they were miserable men, full of every kind of filth." Claudius said to him, "If Christ is the true God, why don't you tell me what is true?" Valentine replied, "Christ is truly the only God; if you believe in him, your soul will be saved, the republic will prosper, and you will be granted victory over all your enemies." Claudius, however, turned to those standing by and said, "Men of Rome, listen to how wisely and rightly this man speaks."
The Light of Faith and Martyrdom
Valentine brings the light of Christ to the prefect's household through a miraculous healing before meeting his martyrdom.
Then the prefect said, "The emperor has been led astray; how could we abandon what we have held since childhood?" And then the heart of Claudius was changed. He was handed over to a certain prince for custody, and when he had been led into his house, he said, "Lord Jesus Christ, true light, illuminate this house so that they may know you as the true God." The prefect said to him, "I am amazed that you call Christ the light; truly, if he heals my daughter who has been blind for so long, I will do whatever you command." Then Valentine, praying, healed his blind daughter and converted everyone in his household. Then the emperor ordered Valentine to be beheaded, around the year of our Lord 280.
Read the original Latin
Valentinus dicitur quasi valorem tenens, hoc est, in sanctitate perseverans. Vel dicitur Valentinus, quasi valens tyro, id est, miles Christi. Miles dicitur valens, qui nunquam cecidit, fortiter ferit, se valenter defendit, potenter vincit, Sic Valentinus non cessit martirium vitando, percussit ydololatriam evaeuando, defendit fidem communiendo, vicit patiendo.
Valentinus reverendus presbiter fuit, quem Claudius imperator ad se adduci faciens interrogavit dicens: quid est Valentine? cur amicitia nostra non frueris, ut Deos nostros adores et superstitionem tuae abjicias vanitatis. Cui Valentinus: si gratiam Dei scires, ista nequaquam diceres, sed ab ydolis animum revocares et Deum, qui est in coelis, adorares. Tunc quidam, qui Claudio adstabat, dixit: quid vis dicere, Valentine „de sanctitate Deorum nostrorum ? Cni Valentinus: ego de iis nil dico, nisi quod fuerunt homines miseri et omni immunditia pleni. Ad quem Claudius: si Christus verus Deus est, cur mihi non dicis, quod verum est? Cui Valentinus: vere Christus solus est Deus, in quem si credideris, anima tua salvabitur, respublica augebitur, omnium inimicorum tibi victoria concedetur. Respondens autem Claudius adstantibus dixit: viri Romani audite, quam sapienter et recte homo loquitur iste.
Tunc dixit praefectus: seductus est imperator: quomodo deseremus, quod ab infantia tenuimus? Et tunc cor Claudii immutatum est Traditur autem cuidam principi in custodiam et cum in domum ejus ductus fuisset, dixit: domine Jesu Christe, verum lumen, illumina domum istam, ut te verum Deum cognoscant. Cui praefectus: mìror te dicentem, quod Christus est lumen: equidem si filiam meam diu caecam illuminaverit, faciam, quaecunque praeceperis. Tunc Valentinus orans ejus filiam caecam illuminavit et omnes de domo sna convertit. Tunc imperator Valentinum decollarí praecepit circa annum domini CCLXXX.
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