The condition traditionally called Saint Valentine’s Malady was epilepsy. In northern Italy, epilepsy was historically associated with Saint Valentine, whose intercession was sought by people affected by seizures.
The name reflects an older pattern of giving illnesses religious or supernatural labels. Before modern neurology, seizures were often interpreted through spiritual frameworks, and particular saints were invoked as protectors or healers. Saint Valentine’s traditional patronage therefore included epilepsy as well as love, marriage, and beekeeping.
This belief is especially visible in the tradition of Saint Valentine’s Key in Padua. Small metal keys associated with the saint were given to children and were believed to protect against epilepsy. The key also acquired a romantic meaning: given to a lover, it could symbolize an invitation to “unlock” the giver’s heart.
Saint Valentine’s Malady is a historical name, not a separate medical diagnosis. Modern epilepsy refers to a neurological disorder involving a tendency to have recurrent unprovoked seizures. The older label should not be confused with gout, leprosy, or tuberculosis, which also had numerous historical names and religious associations.