I was born in Terni in Italy. My childhood was a happy one with loving
parents, plenty of siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles. I was the eldest in the
family and I wanted to become a priest so that I could serve God. I loved
reading the Bible out loud and also had the power to create potions and
concoctions.
On becoming a priest, just like the others, I did my share of baptisms,
marriages and deaths. I was celebrated for my singing voice and my solemn
speeches. However, I got into trouble when Emperor Claudius came to power. He
was of the opinion the soldiers loved their families more leading to less
attention to the duties of the nation. This made him antagonistic towards the
instuition of marriage. Oh, I did disagree.
There was Anna and Simon who were in love for years. Moreover, they
could hardly wait as Anna was already in the family way. They were betrothed to
each other since the Lupercalia when Anna came of age. The church took mercy in
the matters of the heart and a special license was issued to get them married.
It was at that time that the Emperor Claudius made a declaration of compulsory
bachelorhood for all soldiers. According to him, men married so that they don’t
have to go for war but stay around in the village looking after their families.
What happened the next week was a secret marriage in the church attended
only by the bridegroom and the bride. Looking at them and the simple ceremony
of exchanging vows, I felt I was God in the Garden of Eden making a match
between Adam and Eve. I blessed the couple and their unborn baby with a special
blessing and sent them home.
It was that night that I received an order from my Abbot asking me to
leave the place immediately. In the letter, it was written that the Priest
Valentinus was asked to enjoy his stay with the jailer Asterius in his castle
for a few days. It meant in a veiled manner, a place of exile away from home
till I was called back. But before, I left what I did was to gather some more
young couples and get them married in God’s name.
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