Originally called Placidus, he was a distinguished officer of the Roman army under Trajan. While out on a hunt one day, he perceived the image of the crucified savior in between the antlers of a stag. He told his wife Tatiana, who relayed that she too saw a similar apparition. The pair told the pope at the time, who then proceeded to instruct them in the faith and later baptize them with their children. This profound conversion brought many trails for Eustachius.
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St. Valentine was a priest in Rome who, according to Fr. Alban Butler, assisted Christians along with St. Marius and his family under the persecution of Claudius II. He was captured and sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome. The Golden Legend states that the prefect was intrigued by St. Valentine's preaching on Christ being the true light. "I have a daughter who has stricken with blindness for some time," the prefect said. "If you can bring light to her by this Christ, I will do whatever you ask." The saint prayed over the girl and her sight was restored, converting the prefect and his entire household to the faith. Ordered to be beaten with clubs and beheaded, St. Valentine was martyred near the year 270 A.D. In the nineteenth century, an ancient catacomb and church dedicated to St. Valentine was uncovered in Rome. Pope Gelasius officially marked February 14th "Valentines Day," in 496 A.D.
Accounts of the saint say he devoted his early life to the study of Philosophy and became a physician; he would go from healing the body's ailments to that of the souls. Devoting his life to Christ, he was eventually appointed to the bishopric of Sebaste in Armenia. Following the edict of Licinius, the governor of Cappadocia and lesser Armenia began to persecute Christians. Blaise was scourged and beheaded for the faith in 316. His iconography is typified by the holding of two crossed candles. |
AuthorShawn Briggs is a father, musician, and traditional Catholic with a love for the faith and dedication to Christ the King. Archives
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