St. Valentine of Rome

It seems there were three different martyrs named Valentine; early martyrologies assign February 14 as the feast for each of them. One of these was martyred in Africa and nothing else is known of him. A bishop Valentine of Interamna (Terni, Italy) is thought to have been executed in the last half of the third century and to have been interred on the Flaminian Way. Valentine a priest from Rome, is thought to have also been martyred during this time and buried in the same area. According to some legends, this Valentine sent loving notes to his relatives while he was imprisoned and from this comes the custom of sending Valentines. The association of the day with lovers likely stemmed from the Medieval belief that birds choose their mates on February 14.