St. Valentine, bishop and martyr, is the Saint of the gods par excellence lovers. All over the world Valentine's Day is celebrated on the fourteenth of February; but perhaps few know the romantic story of the bishop of Terni.
Legend has it that today's celebrations are linked to rites of the ancient Romans who celebrated the fifteenth of February; in honor of the god Pan, Fauno and Luperco, and the purification of the fields was celebrated with fertility rites. These propitiatory rites were later prohibited by Augustus and then suppressed by Gelasius in 494; however, life, love and rebirth were still celebrated clandestinely.
The Christian church celebrates love
The Christian Church, in fact, Christianized the pagan rite of fertility by establishing it on the fourteenth of February. The patron saint of lovers, imprisoned under the Emperor Aureliano was martyred in Rome February 14, 273. His body was transferred to Terni, consecrated by San Feliciano bishop of Foligno in 197.
For centuries, the patron saint has been Saint Valentine martyr of Terni protector of engaged couples and lovers to symbolize the anniversary par excellence dedicated to love. A story linked to Valentine's Day tells that the saint, a lover of roses, gave them to his boyfriends as a good omen. Today in Terni there is the "San Valentino Foundation", which enhances the cult of the saint throughout the month of February with many events, not only religious, but also of art, and entertainment. A legend also says that it was St. Valentine who managed to get a Christian girl to marry a Roman soldier.
From Vienna to Terni with love
In countries such as France, Belgium, Germany and Austria, the XNUMXth of February is very much felt and celebrated since the Middle Ages. Suffice it to say that in Austria alone, the land of edelweiss, in the month of February alone, more than one hundred and ten million roses are sold. Several Austrian dioceses, such as those of Eisenstadt and Linz, Salzburg with Graz-Seckau and Innsbruck, following the example of Terni, organize party and reflection events for couples in love.
Among the initiatives, the "Letters of love from God", distributed in the parishes, and also around the city by volunteers. On the letters there is a biblical sentence on the love of a couple, willed and blessed by God. In the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Vienna there is a solemn blessing lovers with the laying on of hands at the end of a romantic concert, a bit like in Terni.
Valentine's Day in Terni to celebrate love
Every year in Terni the promise of engaged couples is renewed towards marriage who come from all over Italy to pray in front of the Valentine's urn. The rite of the promise of lovers is celebrated, and thus the religious celebrations for the feast of the patron saint of Terni come to life.
Generally there are one hundred and twenty couples, gathered in the basilica of San Valentino, in the solemn celebration presided over by the bishop of Terni Narni Amelia. A ceremony that further establishes the bond between Valentine's Day and the boyfriends who will say their "yes" within the year. Betrothed couples pray in front of the saint who speaks of faithful and patient love, attentive, generous and respectful; he who is the protector of love, and of the Christian family. At the "Feast of the Promise" couples from all over Italy participate. Beautiful, sometimes touching, are the stories of the many couples, more or less young, who bind their love to Valentine's Day.
Valentinian romance
It is striking that so many men decide to participate, making a surprise for their partner. Alongside young engaged couples, couples celebrating twenty-five or even fifty years of marriage are also celebrated. A couple who celebrated their seventy-five years was recently celebrated wedding , as a testimony of the longevity of conjugal love for younger couples; a touching and romantic moment.
Today that there are so many crunches in the family and in the folds of society, it is beautiful to rediscover the value of family and love. All this is witnessed every year by an ever-increasing number of engaged couples, which for twenty-five years "They promise" in the basilica of San Valentino. Generally, around XNUMXam on Sunday, couples are welcomed into the Valentine's Day nursery with a floral gift for women. On this occasion, breakfast is offered by the organizing committee of the parish of San Valentino.
Romantic promise
At eleven o'clock the couples go in procession to the basilica of San Valentino for the celebration of the promise; at the end of which a parchment is donated in memory of the romantic day.
The promise of love speaks of fidelity and patience, of an attentive, generous and respectful love. “In every time of life we need God's help, said the prelate, even you engaged to feel the need. We ask God to accompany you in this time of engagement with his blessing, so that you may grow in Love and live it as a gift of grace for you and for the community ”. These recently were the beautiful words of the bishop of Terni. Later the boyfriends exchange the promise: “I wish and promise to give you my love and I ask you to give me and promise me yours, so that we can soon celebrate and live the sacrament of marriage in the name of the Lord”.