Valentine’s Day is here, and so I thought, as the resident Catholic at Daily Wire (take that, Michael Knowles!), it would be appropriate and, who knows, maybe even helpful, to talk about it.
Now, the first thing I should tell you is that I am not American. I&#8217;m Australian. When I moved to America back in 2005, I was genuinely shocked at how many holidays you guys have. Hallmark and unbridled capitalism. That’s who I’m blaming!
But the truth is that I have a knee-jerk reaction to being told that I must celebrate something. When that happens, I take the reverse position and refuse to celebrate it. This is how I feel about Valentine&#8217;s Day. As my dear wife can attest, not once in our 20 years of marriage have I bought her flowers on Valentine’s day. It’s my petty way of fighting back against the commercialization of Catholic feast days. That’ll show ‘em!
But enough about me, who is this St. Valentine fella, anyway? How might we as Catholics celebrate a day named for him despite — or even in answer to — the marketing blitz that accompanies it?
<h3>St. Valentine</h3>
Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about St. Valentine is how extraordinarily little we know about him. Almost nothing. Maybe nothing at all.
One thing we can say with certainty is that “Valentine” is English for the Latin Valentinus, a fairly common name in the early Church. Valentinus comes from the root-word valens, meaning strong or worthy. But here&#8217;s where things get fuzzy: Early Christian records point to at least three martyrs named Valentinus, all honored on February 14.
So, briefly, one of these martyrs was a Roman priest who lived during the third-century persecutions and was executed for refusing to renounce Christ. Another was the Bishop of Terni, also martyred around the same time. Both were said to be buried along the Via Flaminia. By the Middle Ages, pilgrims were honoring “Saint Valentine” without being quite sure which one he was. Some historians even suspect they were the same man, remembered differently by different communities. And then there&#8217;s a third Valentine, a North African martyr and his companions. This Valentine is only mentioned in passing, without a story, like so many early Christian witnesses.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/hosts/matt-fradd?elementPosition=5&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Hosts&amp;rowType=Hosts+Portrait+Carousel">Watch Matt Fradd&#8217;s Pints With Aquinas On DailyWire+.</a>
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You can see why there would be some confusion about St. Valentine. When several men share the same name, live in the same period, die in similar ways, and are remembered by different Christian communities, their stories naturally begin to overlap. What survives in the historical record is not one clear biography, but several distinct witnesses remembered under the same name. What this means is that once we move beyond the bare historical facts, we’re no longer dealing with a single, settled biography. All that survives are traditions. Some early, some later, some more detailed than others.
But there is value to be found in these traditions. Let&#8217;s look at two stories that may or may not have happened. Each, in its own way, nourishes our faith, and our understanding of what it means to live as a Christian.
<h3>First Story</h3>
In one particularly popular account, Valentine was a third-century Italian bishop from Terni, a city north of Rome. He ran into trouble for the usual reasons Christians ran into trouble back then: He kept being Christian. This did not sit well with Emperor Claudius II.
Valentine was placed under house arrest in the home of a Roman judge named Asterius, presumably so he could think about what he’d done and change his ways. Instead, he spent his time doing what Christians are famously bad at not doing. He talked about Jesus. A lot.
Eventually, Asterius, who was unconvinced and likely a bit worn down, decided to turn the situation into a test. If Valentine’s God were real, surely he could prove it by curing the judge’s blind daughter. Valentine agreed, placed his hands on the girl’s eyes, and she received her sight.
This, understandably, made an impression.
Asterius, now trembling with wonder, asked Valentine what he should do in response to such a miracle. Valentine told him to destroy the false gods in his house and be baptized. Which Asterius did. Asterius, along with his entire household, was baptized, standing, we’re told, among the broken fragments of their former idols. A strong visual.
Word of all this eventually reached the emperor. Valentine was summoned before Claudius himself, who, according to the story, found him quite charming. Sadly, charm only gets you so far when you refuse to renounce your faith. Claudius ordered Valentine executed.
And, so, Valentine was beaten with clubs and beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269. But not before writing a note of comfort to the girl whose sight he had restored, signing it, “From your Valentine.”
It’s a lovely story. Whether it’s true or not, we don’t know.
<h3>Second Story</h3>
Another story has Valentine as a Roman priest quietly helping Christians during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius decided that unmarried men made better soldiers than married ones. Wives, apparently, were bad for morale. Some things never change&#8230;which is also why I don’t buy my wife flowers. That’s a joke, a bad one, but a joke nonetheless.
Anyway, the point is that the emperor outlawed marriage for young men altogether.
Valentine, undeterred by the imperial decree, carried on marrying couples anyway, but discreetly. The side benefit was that married men could then avoid being drafted into the emperor’s pagan army. Obviously, Claudius took a dim view of this situation once he noticed. Valentine was eventually hauled before the emperor. Claudius rather liked him, found him charming, and very nearly let him off. Unfortunately, Valentine would not stop being Christian, and this proved a deal-breaker. He was sentenced to death.
From there, the stories begin to multiply, and rather enthusiastically. In one telling, Valentine refuses to worship the Roman gods, is thrown into prison, and heals the blind daughter of his jailer. In another, he leaves her a note before his execution, signed, “From your Valentine,” which is either deeply moving or suspiciously tidy, depending on your temperament.
So, what can we take away from these varying traditions?
Well, we could reflect on the certainty of death and what remains after us in this world. There may be stories told about us after we are gone — for a while — until the people telling those stories themselves are gone. A deeper reflection leads us to the truth that ultimately only one person will remember us; only one person knows the inner truth of our lives. And that person is God.
This being true, we Christians should place our stories in the hands of the only One who&#8217;s remembrance matters. As the ancient saying goes, &#8220;Preach the Gospel, die, and be forgotten.&#8221; Yes, forgotten to the world, but remembered by God. St. Valentine may exist for us in the hazy record of varying traditions. But God knows the truth. In God, Valentinus or the several men for whom he stands, is known and loved for eternity.
<h3>A Prayer to Saint Valentine</h3>
Let’s end where the Church has always ended: in prayer.
<blockquote>Saint Valentine, faithful martyr of Christ, 
you who bore witness to love stronger than fear and hope stronger than death, 
pray for us. 
Pray for those who are married, 
that their love may be patient, enduring, and rooted in truth. 
Pray for those who long for love, 
that they may seek not merely affection, but holiness. 
Pray for those who are wounded by love, 
that they may find healing in the Heart of Christ. 
Teach us that real love is not fragile or fleeting, 
but willing to suffer, to remain, and to give itself fully. 
Saint Valentine, 
martyr of faithful love, 
pray for us. 
Amen.</blockquote>
And now, if you will excuse me, I&#8217;m going to pick up some flowers for my wife!

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Valentine’s Day Talk

Catholics

Christianity

Matt Fradd

Valentine's Day

I’ve got some excellent news to share, beginning January 2026, Pints With Aquinas is partnering with The Daily Wire. We will kick off our tenth year with a bigger studio, a stronger team, and, God willing, an even wider reach for preaching Jesus Christ and inviting people to join the Church he founded (hint: The Catholic Church). You will see a special Christmas episode in December, then weekly shows begin in the new year.
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Watch me tonight on Friendly Fire at 7pm Eastern on DailyWire+ <a href="https://t.co/UqwXd5uJzd">pic.twitter.com/UqwXd5uJzd</a>
— Matt Fradd (@RealMattFradd) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealMattFradd/status/1983556821555232878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
A word from the heart. Earlier this year, while my family and I were in Austria, with a little time in Croatia, I seriously considered stepping back from running the show. I love the conversations, and I love meeting people whose lives have been changed by the podcast. What wore me out was everything around it, production, logistics, thumbnails, flights, the business of it all. When I sat down with Caleb at The Daily Wire, I told him exactly that. I wasn’t trying to sell anything. I said, “If I do this, it must stay a fully Catholic show, and I need help with the parts I am not great at.” Their response, “Keep doing exactly what you are doing, we will build the infrastructure around you.”
So here’s what this partnership means, and what it doesn’t mean: Full editorial control. I choose the guests and the topics. Our mission stays the same, to preach Christ and invite people into the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.
No paywall. If you are a casual viewer, nothing changes except you will get more Pints, same channel, better studio, higher output.
More episodes, better reach. With a world-class team handling operations, I can focus on conversations that matter, and release more content each week.
A Catholic team around the show. Melanie Pritchard, who has been with Pints since the basement days, is coming onboard, and we are adding faithful, prayerful professionals who are committed to the mission.
Why am I excited? Because the Lord seems to be opening a door I did not know how to walk through on my own. Over the years, I have seen how far this little show can travel. I have met listeners from Guatemala to Croatia, from airport kiosks to Lego stores, sharing how Pints helped them encounter Christ. Partnering with The Daily Wire lets us put holy gasoline on that fire, without diluting the faith.
If you&#8217;re cautious, I get it. If one of my favorite Catholic creators joined a big company, I would ask the same questions you’re asking. So let me earn your trust. Watch the next season. You will see the same show, just louder, clearer, and reaching more souls.
Two final requests. First, please pray for me, that I never become a stumbling block, that I stay faithful to Christ, and that every conversation glorifies God. If you are willing, would you offer a Rosary for this intention, Let me know so I can be encouraged. Second, invite someone who is Catholic curious to tune in when we launch in January. Ten years ago this began with a microphone in a basement. By God’s grace, and through your prayers, we are just getting started.
Totus Tuus Maria
Matt Fradd

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Big News For Pints With Aquinas, We’re Joining The Daily Wire In 2026

Catholic

Daily Wire

There are few things that intersect the culture as broadly as pornography. Big business, big tech, religion, law, and of course, politics.
Porn checks all the boxes &#8230; and then some.
When four Republican representatives<a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/12.6.2019-Obscenity-Letter-to-AG-Barr.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nationalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/12.6.2019-Obscenity-Letter-to-AG-Barr.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279443000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGaSZo2GfxbdGycrUINVgq98MkR3A"> recently sent a letter</a> to U.S. Attorney General William Barr urging that federal obscenity laws need to be enforced to address the explosion of graphic and often violent pornography, I winced — certainly not because I’m pro-porn, but because I feared that, once again, the real devastation that porn wreaks in the lives of individuals and families might be obscured by political posturing or other related issues.
For more than a decade, I have spoken to hundreds of thousands of parents, educators, and young people around the world about the predictable misery and despair that can come from exposure to pornography.
For many, hearing such strong language associated with porn seems extreme, perhaps exaggerated; maybe even a pretense to advance a religious agenda.
I assure you, this is not the case.
Over the last 40 years, there has been a great deal of research that states quite emphatically that pornography consumption is detrimental to the consumer, to our relationships, and to society as a whole.
Earlier this year, the World Health Organization adopted a new diagnosis called “Compulsive sexual behavior disorder” as part of the latest edition of its diagnostic manual (the ICD-11). At last, those who suffer from problematic porn use can more easily be studied and treated. There are currently 45 neuroscience-based <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/brain-studies-on-porn-users-sex-addicts/#brain" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/brain-studies-on-porn-users-sex-addicts/%23brain&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHbWQavMFuABM9gUO5UkjjYS5ot_A">studies</a> (MRI, fMRI, EEG, neuropsychological, hormonal) providing strong evidence for how porn fits into the addiction model. There are over 75 <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-to-poorer-mental-emotional-health-poorer-cognitive-outcomes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-to-poorer-mental-emotional-health-poorer-cognitive-outcomes/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEcJEfu7LQ8HgaLD77C8FlWejm5Hw">studies</a> linking porn use to poorer mental/emotional health and impaired cognitive outcomes. There are over 35 <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-or-porn-sex-addiction-to-sexual-dysfunctions-lower-arousal-and-lower-sexual-relationship-satisfaction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-or-porn-sex-addiction-to-sexual-dysfunctions-lower-arousal-and-lower-sexual-relationship-satisfaction/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEey7p5trQLmstI4dsWGzd18tzx1g">studies </a>linking porn use to sexual problems and lower arousal to sexual stimuli. And over 35 <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-to-un-egalitarian-attitudes-toward-women/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/porn-use-sex-addiction-studies/studies-linking-porn-use-to-un-egalitarian-attitudes-toward-women/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGIs3tCSzZ3k8z1qQImA-ylT9wyhQ">studies</a> link porn use to “un-egalitarian attitudes” toward women and sexist views.
As an easily accessible public figure in this fight, I am in regular contact with people who tell me about their damaged lives and often ruined relationships. These are not prudish, religious zealots who are suffering under the weight of gratuitous guilt or shame. These are good men and women who are seeing serious psychological and physiological effects as a direct result of behavior they could not control.
Just recently, I spoke to a young man who had been struggling for over five years with pornography. In that time, every relationship in his life collapsed as watching porn snuffed out his ability to love or think of anything beyond his own desires for instant, but fleeting, gratification.
Stories like this add to porn’s well-documented destructive power in communities across the country — so much so that over a dozen <a href="https://www.apnews.com/9c91cfd28a7b461b87948f36117a432e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apnews.com/9c91cfd28a7b461b87948f36117a432e&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHSDukXjg1tq0amJRxQpRlw-77Jew">states</a> have declared pornography to be a public health crisis.
In my own experience, being exposed to pornography at an early age led to deep personal and relational issues that took years to sort through.
Today, children as <a href="https://fightthenewdrug.org/real-average-age-of-first-exposure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fightthenewdrug.org/real-average-age-of-first-exposure/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHQilnD0Xo0ZNuuaS4nrpwgG_xodQ">young as eight years old</a> are being exposed to the most brutal and graphic forms of pornography. This early exposure quickly leads to a warped understanding of the gift of sexuality, often planting misogynistic seeds in the minds of second graders.
A cynical narrative is being spun on social media that the letter to the attorney general is nothing more than a political play to spur a moral panic and that neo-puritanical tribunals are waiting in the wings eager to jail sinners while violating First Amendment rights.
The concerns being raised are neither a moral panic nor religiously motivated.
Look into the heroic work of private organizations like <a href="https://ourrescue.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ourrescue.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEi_CG_WDujv98sSrV-Tw8Go2y1cg">Operation Underground Railroad</a>, who know first-hand the indisputable role pornography plays in fueling human trafficking. Estimates are that <a href="https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/resource/human-trafficking-numbers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/resource/human-trafficking-numbers&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHMmzPqrkL_SQtUL3BmoCGIzBR9fg">global human trafficking</a> is a $150 billion industry, with $99 billion of it connected with sexual exploitation.
As evidence that this is a mainstream concern, visit some of the non-partisan, non-religious organizations — like <a href="https://fightthenewdrug.org/get-the-facts/#gtf-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fightthenewdrug.org/get-the-facts/%23gtf-world&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH142aSXDRCCnlIXed-McsruTXGoA">Fight the New Drug</a> and Your Brain on Porn — who publish <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/relevant-research-and-articles-about-the-studies/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE0bWGF5jOAlxncgrZuv9Ztp0zDDw">extensive research</a> demonstrating the negative social, emotional, and psychological impact of pornography.
I’ve dedicated much of my career to researching, writing, and speaking about how to break free from porn. The good news is, it really is possible.
For example, in a recent project I’ve been a part of called <a href="https://www.cardinalstudios.org/strive" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cardinalstudios.org/strive&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHYXvopEvSVnpv0LTJEi5NwwdJwcA">STRIVE</a>, in just nine months over 12,000 men participated in an anonymous online video-based support group that yielded many success stories. As is the case for other addictions, open discussion and having accountability are vital for recovery.
Because this is once again a public conversation, there is an opportunity for all people of good will to come together and positively impact the lives of millions. The harm pornography wreaks on individual lives is undeniable. It’s time we recognize porn for what it is and protect our families, children, and society as a whole from its devastating consequences.

Matt Fradd speaks to tens of thousands of people every year. He is the best-selling author of several books, including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Porn-Myth-Exposing-Reality-Pornography/dp/162164006X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1515695511&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=the+porn+myth" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Porn-Myth-Exposing-Reality-Pornography/dp/162164006X/ref%3Dsr_1_1?ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1515695511%26sr%3D8-1%26keywords%3Dthe%2Bporn%2Bmyth&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGpa56iT7z2wlyOR5Lnr8tzKDKoww">The Porn Myth</a>, and is the author of the online course &#8220;<a href="https://www.cardinalstudios.org/strive" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cardinalstudios.org/strive&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1576387279444000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHYXvopEvSVnpv0LTJEi5NwwdJwcA">STRIVE: A 21-Day Detox from Porn</a>,&#8221; which equips men with the tools needed to quit porn for good.

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Matt Fradd

Valentine’s Day Talk

Big News For Pints With Aquinas, We’re Joining The Daily Wire In 2026

FRADD: What’s Really At Stake In The Porn Debate