Church urges lovelorn singles not to pray to St Valentine
If roses won't do the trick, try Saint
Raphael suggests the Catholic Church
St Valentine 'not saint of love'
Britain's Roman Catholic Church is advising lovelorn singles to direct their
14 February requests for love to St Raphael, rather than St Valentine.
Over the years St Valentine has come incorrectly to be associated with
finding love, the Church says. He is the patron saint for those who have
already found their soulmate.
St Raphael is the patron saint for happy encounters and it is to him those
fearing the Valentine's post should properly direct their prayers.
Divine intervention
Clare Ward, spokeswoman for the Catholic Enquiry Office, the official body
providing information on Catholic life, said that while the distinction between
the saints has always been clear within the Church it has, over the years,
been blurred outside.
"Saint Valentine passed a note to his jailer's daughter, whose sight he is
thought to have cured," she said. "The note had no romantic content, but it's
from this story that the tradition of sending notes of appreciation has come
from. "If tomorrow you are still looking for your soul mate, the actual patron
saint is St Raphael. "He's the person you should dedicate your day or pray to
if you are looking for Mr or Mrs right."
St Raphael, according to legend, helped Tobias enter into marriage with Sarah,
who had seen seven previous bridegrooms perish on the eve of their weddings.
It is he within the canon of Catholic saints who is properly associated with
helping to forge partnerships.
St Valentine is said to have been martyred in Rome in 269. While his exact
history is unclear, Valentine is thought to have existed as archaeologists have
unearthed an early church dedicated to someone of that name. One theory is
that he was a priest in Rome who continued to marry Christian couples in
defiance of the law of the day. On the eve of his execution, he is said to have
signed a note to his jailer's daughter: "From your Valentine."
The oldest known Valentine's
message, dating from 1477
Spiritual networks
Those hoping for divine intervention to help their love lives may well appreciate
the correction in target for their prayers, but Miss Ward also had some more advice.
"There is a lot of evidence to suggest that young people who have tapped into prayer
groups have found partners," she said. "Those who have exhausted traditional routes
like online dating should try spiritual networks.
"Why not come along to a prayer group - it could be your lucky night."
:hearts:
