It doesn't have to be your spouse, it could be a parent, sister or brother or dear friends.

The Herald News verifies and reviews all letters to the editor we receive. The letters represent the views of the letter writers, not those of The Herald News.

St. Valentine is the patron saint of love. God worked through his life to perform miracles and to teach people how to recognize and to experience true love.

As the story goes, this famous saint was an Italian doctor who became later became a priest. He performed weddings to couples when it was against the law to marry. The emperor banned weddings because he wanted the men to solely think about fighting and not about their wives. When the emperor found out that Valentine was marrying couples he had him arrested and jailed. He could have been freed but he would not renounce his faith.

While in prison he met the jailor's blind daughter and started to teach her. Just before he was stoned and beheaded, he sent this young girl a note and signed it from Valentine. When she received this note a miracle happened: This blind child could read St. Valentine's note. She was no longer blind. This is how the tradition of sending cards to loved ones began.

He was martyred on Feb. 14, 270 AD, and that is the day each year that we celebrate Valentine's Day. It is said that couples still pray to St. Valentine for the blessing of a happy marriage.

So this Valentine's day send your loved ones a card and a rose and tell them you love them. It doesn't have to be your spouse, it could be a parent, sister or brother or dear friends. We need to love each other every day, not just on St. Valentine's Day, because life is short and everyone is so busy. I lost two husbands but I have such beautiful memories. God bless us with love and happiness.

Joanne Mailloux Murphy

Fall River