What do St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, and St. Valentine have in common? Both lived during the persecutions. Nicholas was a bishop. Valentine was a priest and then a bishop. Both were martyred. Most importantly, both of their famous activities were done in secret. Emperor Claudius had banned marriages of young men in order to recruit more young men to the army. Valentine secretly married those who were in love. The story goes that this was discovered and he was exe
