St. Valentine's Finger Bone: A Coventry Mystery

A sacred relic, purportedly a finger bone from St. Valentine, an early Christian martyr, is carefully preserved within St. John the Baptist church in Coventry. This significant artifact, housed in a golden reliquary, is a tangible link to the patron saint of love.

However, the relic's presence in Coventry is shrouded in mystery. Historical records that might explain how it traveled from its original burial site in Italy to England have likely been lost due to past incidents of fire and flood at the church. This leaves its provenance a subject of speculation.

It is suspected that the relic arrived in Coventry from Dublin, Ireland, where most of St. Valentine's bones were relocated from the Vatican catacombs in 1836. A former Irish rector of the Coventry church, Reverend George Cuffe, who served in the mid-19th century, is a potential link, though no direct confirmation exists.

Despite the historical enigmas, the church embraces the relic's significance. Each year, particularly around Valentine's Day, the relic is made available for public display, offering blessings to couples and visitors. This year, with Valentine's Day falling on a Saturday, the relic will be accessible throughout the weekend, inviting people to pray and receive a blessing.