Before there were chocolates and roses, before there were greeting cards and candy hearts, there was a priest in Rome who believed that love was worth dying for.

His name was Valentine.

And the story of how a third-century Catholic martyr became the patron saint of lovers is one of the most romantic, rebellious, and miraculous stories in all of Church history.

This beautifully laminated Prayer to St. Valentine card carries his ancient intercession — a prayer for love, for healing, and for the grace to love as he loved: without counting the cost.

Card Details:

• Laminated cardstock with gold colour accents
• 2.5" × 4.5" — fits perfectly in a wallet, Bible, or pocket
• Classic religious art image on the front
• Full prayer text on the back
• Available in packs of 3, 10, 25, 50, and 100

Prayer to St. Valentine

O glorious advocate and protector, St. Valentine,
look with pity upon our wants,
hear our requests, attend to our prayers,
relieve by your intercession the miseries under which we labor,
and obtain for us the divine blessing,
that we may be enabled to love God and our neighbor
as He has commanded,
and thus merit a place in the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.

❤️ A Valentine Poem for Two Hearts

Not in roses, not in rings,
but in the quiet, holy things —
a hand held fast through joy and grief,
a love that outlasts every leaf.
St. Valentine, who blessed the vow,
pray for our hearts, then and now.

A Personal Note from Shawn

I'm Shawn Kilgarlin — wife, mother of four, mental health clinician, and Life Coach. I have sat with couples in crisis and couples in joy, and I know that love — real love — is not a feeling. It is a decision, made again every single day. St. Valentine understood that. He performed marriages in secret, at great personal risk, because he believed that the love between a husband and wife was sacred and worth protecting. That is the kind of love I believe in. And that is the spirit behind every card we carry at ShopCatholic. When you purchase one of our prayer cards, you're also helping me continue my mission of giving — donating thousands of gifts every Christmas Eve through Holy Angels, and serving those in addiction recovery. Thank you. 🙏

The Story of St. Valentine — The Rebel Matchmaker

In the third century, the Roman Emperor Claudius II made a startling decree: young men were forbidden to marry. His reasoning? Single men made better soldiers. No wife, no children, no reason to come home — and therefore no hesitation on the battlefield.

A priest named Valentine thought this was both cruel and wrong. So he kept performing marriages — in secret, by candlelight, for young couples who had nowhere else to turn. He was the original rebel matchmaker, the underground priest of secret vows.

When Claudius discovered what Valentine was doing, he had him arrested and sentenced to death. While awaiting execution, Valentine befriended the jailer's daughter — a young woman who was blind. According to tradition, Valentine prayed for her, and her sight was miraculously restored. On the eve of his martyrdom, February 13th, he wrote her a farewell note — the very first Valentine — and signed it: "From your Valentine."

He was executed on February 14th, 269 AD. And the world never forgot him.

St. Valentine: A Saint for Two Hearts

Valentine is the patron saint of lovers, engaged couples, happy marriages, and those with epilepsy (he is said to have healed many). He is also the patron of beekeepers — because bees, like love, are industrious, sweet, and occasionally sting. 🐝

His feast day, February 14th, was first associated with romantic love in the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century — but the saint himself predates all the poetry by over a thousand years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was St. Valentine a real person?
Yes! St. Valentine of Rome was a real third-century priest and martyr, canonized by the Catholic Church. His feast day is February 14th. There are actually several saints named Valentine in Church history — at least three — but the most celebrated is Valentine of Rome, the priest who secretly married couples against the Emperor's orders. His relics are venerated in multiple locations, including the Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, Ireland, and the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome.

What is the miracle of sight associated with St. Valentine?
According to tradition, while Valentine was imprisoned awaiting execution, he befriended the jailer's daughter, who was blind. He prayed for her healing, and her sight was miraculously restored. On the night before his martyrdom, he wrote her a farewell letter — the very first Valentine's note in history — signed "From your Valentine." This is why we still use that phrase today, nearly 1,800 years later.

What was the first Valentine ever written?
The very first Valentine is believed to be the farewell note St. Valentine wrote to the jailer's daughter on the eve of his execution, February 13th, 269 AD. He signed it simply: "From your Valentine." Those three words have echoed through nearly two millennia of love letters, greeting cards, and whispered promises. Every Valentine's card ever written carries a tiny piece of a martyr's last goodbye.

Are there Catholic churches named after St. Valentine?
Yes! Here are some notable Catholic churches dedicated to St. Valentine around the world:
• Whitefriar Street Church, Dublin, Ireland — home to the relics of St. Valentine, gifted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1836. One of the most visited Valentine shrines in the world.
• Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome, Italy — also claims relics of St. Valentine; a skull wreathed in flowers is displayed each February 14th.
• St. Valentine Church, Kiedrich, Germany — a stunning Gothic church dedicated to the saint, dating to the 14th century.
• St. Valentine's Church, Jumieges, France — an ancient Norman church with Valentine connections.
• St. Valentine Parish, Bloomington, Illinois, USA — one of several American parishes bearing his name.
• St. Valentine Parish, Redford, Michigan, USA — another beloved American parish in his honor.
Every February 14th, these churches fill with couples seeking his blessing — proof that a third-century martyr still has the power to bring people together.

Is this card only for couples or romantic love?
Not at all! St. Valentine intercedes for all kinds of love — the love of friends, the love of family, the love of God. The prayer on this card asks for the grace to "love God and our neighbor" — which is the greatest commandment of all. Give it to your spouse, your best friend, your mother, your child, or anyone whose love has shaped your life. Love, after all, is the whole point.

Can I order these in bulk for my parish or Valentine's event?
Absolutely! Cards are available in packs up to 100 for standard orders. For larger needs, our custom print option starts at 1,000 cards, takes approximately 5 days, and can be ordered in any quantity. When Pope Francis visited the United States, he ordered 15,000 "Praying with Five Fingers" cards — a reminder of just how powerful a simple prayer card can be. Imagine handing a St. Valentine card to every couple at your parish on February 14th. Contact us to discuss your custom order. 🙏❤️