We all know that the Feast of St. Valentine is held on the 14th February. Most people associate St.
Valentine's Day with romance, greeting cards, chocolate and red roses. However, just how much do
we know about the real Saint Valentine.
We thought that it would be a good idea this year to let you read about St. Valentine from two different sources. The first is St Valentine's Shrine in Whitefriar St. Church and the 2nd is from historical archives.
St Valentine's Relics Temporarily on the Move !
Did you know that after more than 150 years ensconced in the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street, Dublin, the relics of St. Valentine were moved to Kildare on a temporary basis.
The small black & gold casket, which contains the remains of the martyr and a small vessel tinged with his blood was transported from Whitefriar Street to Whiteabbey Carmelite Church in Kildare Town in February 2007.
The journey was a somewhat nervous one for the relic's custodian's because the items lose their authenticity if the seal had been broken. Read the following article from the Irish Independant on 15 February 2007.
** The good news is that St Valentine's Relics are now back in the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street.**
St. Valentine rose to prominence during the reign of Emperor Cladius II who, having difficulty recruiting soldiers, outlawed marriage. St. Valentine secretly blessed the marriages of all those who flocked to him. When caught he was beaten before being beheaded on February 14 in 269 or 270 AD.
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