Saint Valent ine and his Dublin Connect ion

This interesting twist of history happened in 1835 when a basilica built at the siteof St. Valentine's grave in Romewas being renovated and the long forgotten bonesof St Valentine along with a small vessel tinged with hisblood and some other artifacts wereunearthed under an alter

An Irish Carmelite, Friar John Spratt was visiting Rome He was well known in Ireland as an activist and preacher and worked tirelessly among the poor and destitutein Dublin?s Liberties area Another project of Spratt's was the building of the new church to Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Whitefriar Street WhileIn Rome, his preaching skills made him a bit of an ecclesiastic celebrity and the rich and famous flocked in to hear his sermons Thegood friar received " many tokens of esteem from the doyens of the Church." One such gift was from Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846); the authentic and holy remains of Saint Valentine.

The good priest returned to Dublin, continued his mission among the downtrodden and oversaw the completion of the Whitefriar'sChurch. The next year on November 10, 1836, when the Reliquary containing the remains arrived in Ireland; Archbishop Murray of Dublin led a solemn procession to Whitefriar Street Church where they were enshrined.

Sadly, after Father Spratt died in 1871 at the ripe old ageof 75, interest in the relics waned and they went into storage. In the 1950s/60s during a major restoration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; the decision wasmade to construct a shrine and new alter within the church, popularly known as the Whitefriar's Chapel dedicated to Saint Valentine

The idea was a sincere desire to make better use of the precious relics. It proved to bea wise decision as the good Saint Valentine is credited by many for hisgenerosity and intervention in making their lives better.

First time visitors to Whitefriers aredelighted at what they see, it is a beautiful and well cared for church As you enter, the statueof Valentinus, the beloved patron saint of love is on the right sideof the church. It was carved in the early 1960's by Dublin born artist/sculptor Irene Broe (1923 - 1992) and depicts the saint in the red vestments of a martyr, holding a crocus in his hand.

Saint Valentine'sShrine is visited throughout the year by couples who come to pray to the ever caring Valentineand to ask him to watch over them in their lives together.

In the 1800's collecting relics had a brief revival. In the Middle Ages entire towns, cathedrals and monasteries were built around the " Holy Remains of Virtuous Saints" It was a custom that lasted hundreds of years