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| Saint Valentine of Terni Marrying Sabino and Serapia, stained glass window at basilica in Terni, Italy (virtualmuseum.ca) |
Saint Valentine lived in the 3rd century. He is considered the founder of the Christian community of Terni, Italy and was its first bishop. Because of his faith he was persecuted under the emperor Aureliano and beheaded in Rome on the 14th of February (around 273). His body was taken to Terni and buried there. His relics are kept in the basilica, in a silver statue in a crystal cabinet with a sign: "Saint Valentine patron of love".
It has remained the 14th of February, the day of his death.
Every year, in the church dedicated to saint Valentine in Terni, hundreds of couples of fiancées gather for the Celebration of the Promise (Festa della Promessa) before getting married, to promise each other love.
Terni is the city of Saint Valentine, the patron of lovers, one of the most famous saints, celebrated all over the world during the whole month of February!
A Valentine Prayer
"I said a Valentine prayer for you and asked the Lord above to fill your heart and bless your soul with the precious gift of love.
I asked Him for sincere love the kind that's meant to stay just like the generous love you give to those you touch each day.
I prayed for love from family and from every cherished friend, then I asked the Lord to give you His love that knows no end. Amen!"
Blessing to Magnetize True Love
"May your life be filled with the blessings of love. May the spiritual bond that unites you with your soulmate draw your closer. When you find one another, may your lives be enriched. And may you be connected body, mind, heart and soul. May your two lives soon be joined. And May God bless your union in all ways. Amen!"
Prayer for the Blessing of a Marriage
"My Saviour Jesus, Who hast united us in so indissoluble a tie by means of a great sacrament, maintain us in a spirit of union and concord, loving one another as Thou dost love the Church; give us the spirit of patience and gentleness, peacefully to bear with each other’s faults; arm us with the spirit of prudence and holiness, so that we may always remain within the limits of our duties, and in no way offend Thee by any act opposed to the profound respect due to Thy sacrament.
Send us a spirit of prudent concern and forethought, that we may with justice and charity provide for the needs of our family.
Preserve us from the spirit of the world and the love of its vanities, so that we may only seek to please Thee, our God, our Love, the true bond of our hearts.
Inspire us with a true spirit of faith, so that our home may be a school of piety, and a sanctuary where all virtue may be found.
Keep far from us, O God! far from us the misfortune of being the cause of our children’s ruin through our over-indulgence or our disedifying life. Keep far from our home whatever could be a scandal or an occasion of sin.
O Mary! to thy maternal heart we recommend our children: be to them a Mother, and form their hearts to virtue. Tender Mother, may they be pious, charitable, and always Christian; may their lives, filled with good works, be crowned by a holy death.
O Mary, may we all be reunited in heaven, there to contemplate thy glory, to celebrate thy goodness to us, and thy love, and to bless thee eternally with thy dear Son Jesus Christ. Amen."
Pray this prayer and trust in God
"O glorious advocate and protector, St. Valentine, look with pity upon our wants, hear our requests, attend to our prayers, relieve by your intercession the miseries under which we labour, and obtain for us the divine blessing, that we may be found worthy to join you in praising the Almighty for all eternity: through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
