St. Valentine lived long before Valentine’s Day became associated with cards, chocolates, and romantic gestures. As a priest, and possibly a bishop, in the early Church, he lived during a time when remaining faithful to Christ could cost a person everything.
According to tradition, St. Valentine defended Christian marriage and ministered to the faithful despite persecution. When ordered to abandon his faith, he refused. His love was not sentimental or self-serving. It was rooted in commitment, sacrifice, and obedience to God, even unto death.
That witness still matters today.
In a culture that often reduces love to feelings or convenience, St. Valentine reminds us that authentic love is something deeper. Christian love involves sacrifice, faithfulness, and responsibility. It is lived out in marriage, family life, religious vocation, and service to others.
Many families today want to understand what real love looks like according to the Church, but struggle to find clear, faithful guidance amid noise and confusion. Questions about marriage, relationships, and vocation are more pressing than ever.
This is why Catholic Online School exists.
Catholic Online School provides free, faithful Catholic teaching on marriage, family, and vocation to millions of people around the world. Through articles, prayers, and educational resources, we help ensure that the Church’s understanding of love remains accessible to all.
In honoring St. Valentine, we remember that love is not just something we celebrate; it is something we live.
In honor of St. Valentine’s feast day, we invite you to support Catholic Online’s mission with a gift offered in his name. Your generosity helps share the truth about love with families who are searching for it.
