A Valentine's Special

When it comes to love...

I love you because;

Whenever I am with you, I am unafraid,

You are as gentle as you are kind,

I find honesty, integrity and love wherever you are,

You are a beauty with a heart of gold,

I love you because none can compare to you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

How did Valentine's Day come to be: 

St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, beekeepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, and young people.

St. Valentine, also known as Saint Valentine of Rome, was a Roman priest who lived during the third century. He is widely celebrated on February 14 and is commonly associated with "courtly love." The real Valentinus was a Roman priest who lived from 226 AD to 269 AD and was known for ministering to persecuted Christians, commonly thrown to the lions in the Colosseum as macabre entertainment. He was decapitated on 14 February and buried at a Christian cemetery on the Via Flaminia close to the Ponte Milvio to the north of the city, and the date has been kept for the Feast of St Valentine ever since it was first inaugurated by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD in tribute to his memory. Little else is known about his life, although he is thought to have defied Emperor Claudius by performing Christian weddings, perhaps even handing out parchment hearts as a reminder of the love of God or delivering letters between jailed lovers in secret. It is for these reasons he has come to be considered the patron saint of love and lovers, a slightly contradictory notion for faith at other times that placed an emphasis on self-denial. 

It's the start of the Lenten Season on 14/02/2024

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Catholic liturgical season of Lent, which is the forty days (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. It holds significant religious and symbolic importance for Catholics and other Christian denominations. On Ash Wednesday, individuals receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their forehead or sprinkled on top of their heads. These ashes, created from the palms used during the previous year’s Palm Sunday Mass, symbolize penance and remind individuals of their own mortality. The day is not a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics, but many choose to attend Mass and mark the beginning of the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics, and it is a time for reflection, prayer, and preparation for Easter. The distribution of ashes is a universal practice among Christians to begin their Lenten journeys, and it is not limited to practising Catholics. The ashes serve as a memento mori, reminding individuals of the transient nature of life and the need for repentance and reconciliation with God. The day is an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their spiritual growth and commit to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday is a solemn and significant day in the Christian calendar, marking the beginning of a period of repentance, fasting, and awaiting Christ's Resurrection.

Buy a book of poetry by Shobana. Soulful Rhapsody ode to the enduring power of love.

It is the season of love and giving, and in this book of poetry, I share 10 beautiful poems that

will inspire and fill you with longing and awe.

Theme: Love (It's the month of Valentine)

You can get the book via Amazon Kindle here.

Or

 If you would like to read the book for free in exchange for a review on Amazon, you can send an email to: shobanagomes@gmail.com so I can add you to my email list and send you a PDF copy.

Thank you.

Have a Great Weekend.

Shobana