Terni, Italy, Feb 15, 2013 / 12:16 pm
Nearly 120 soon-to-be-married couples promised to be faithful to one another in a special Feb. 10 ceremony at the tomb of St. Valentine in the Italian city of Terni.
Engaged couples from across Italy endured freezing temperatures to participate in the ceremony at St. Valentine Basilica, led by the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia.
St. Valentine, the third century bishop and martyr, helped Christian couples marry in secret during the time of the Roman persecution.
Archbishop Paglia told the couples gathered for the ceremony, "You are here because before getting married, you want the blessing of St. Valentine, and you want your love to never end, to be authentic, to be forever."