SAINTS VALENTINUS AND CANDIDUS, BISHOPS - 6 FEBRUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY

Saints celebrated on the 6th of February

SAINTS VALENTINUS AND CANDIDUS, BISHOPS

Saint Valentine (Valentinus), bishop of Tongeren

[Tongeren - Maastricht], the 9th in the order in the bishop's catalogues, lived and died in the 4th century, some time after the year 337. Although nothing further is known of his life, he has been venerated as a saint from time immemorial. His body rests in the church of Saint Mary at Tongeren, next to his his eight predecessors in the diocese. It is doubtful that he was also Bishop of Trier at the same time, as is claimed by some writers.

Saint Candidus, too, is listed as a bishop in the Martyrologies; but his original seat is unknown. He made a pilgrimage to Maastricht to pray at the tomb of Bishop Servatius and remained there until his death around A.D. 384.

It is quite likely that became a successor (or predecessor, as it were) of Agricolaus, bishop of Tongeren once this episcpal See became vacant.

His relics, and those of St Valentine, were rediscovered and solemnly raised in 1623 (in 1611, according to Miräus*). Both - along with other saintly bishops - are commemorated in a special liturgy on February 6. The See of Trier [Treves], moreover, celebrates an individual feast of St Valentine on July 16. 

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 5, Augsburg, 1882, p. 641)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saints Valentinus and Candidus may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.