In
the city of Rome there once lived an
emperor known in history as
Claudius. Near his palace was a
beautiful temple where the priest
Valentine served.
The
Romans loved him dearly and
assembled into the temple to hear
his words. When war broke out,
Claudius summoned the citizens forth
to battle and year after year the
fighting continued. Many of the
Romans were unwilling to go. The
married men did not want to leave
their families. The younger men did
not wish to leave their sweethearts.
The
emperor was angry when soldiers were
too few. He ordered that no
marriages should be celebrated and
that all engagements must be broken
off immediately. Many a young Roman
went off to the wars in sorrow,
leaving his love. Now the good
priest Valentine heard of the
emperor's command and was very sad.
When a young couple came to the
temple, he secretly united them in
marriage in front of the sacred
alter.
Others
came and quietly were married.
Valentine was the friend of lovers
in every district of Rome. But, such
secrets could not be kept for long.
Word of Valentine's acts reached the
palace and Claudius was angry. He
summoned his soldiers. "Go! Take
that priest in the temple! Cast him
into a dungeon!"
In
spite of the pleading of his many
friends, Valentine was dragged from
the temple where a young maiden and
a Roman youth stood, ready to wed.
In a dungeon Valentine languished
and died. His devoted friends buried
him in the church of St. Praxedes.
When
you go to Rome you can see the very
place. It was the year 270, on the
fourteenth of February. From all
over come customs of sending our
friends loving messages on this day.
With flowers, with heart- shaped
candies, with lacy valentines we
honor Love and the good priest who
disobeyed Claudius.
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