THE CATHOLIC CHURCH has come up with a new campaign to help couples celebrate St Valentine’s Day “in a more meaningful way”.
Free gift tokens that can be exchanged between by people in return for favours are now available in cathedrals across the country.
Examples of tokens include: “Loads of tender hugs”, “A technology-free evening to do an activity of your choice”, and “Set aside time to pray together”.
Each token also contains tips from Pope Francis on the secrets to a successful relationship.
More than 150,000 thousand of the tokens are available all across Ireland.
The initiative took its cue from a document The Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia) released by Pope Francis last year which calls on couples to celebrate their love by spending time together rather than relying on commercial gifts.
The tokens were produced by the World Meeting of Families 2018, a three-yearly event which will be held in 2018 in Ireland.
The event focuses on the role of the family in the lives of Catholics and will be held over five days in Dublin.
Fr Tim Bartlett, secretary general of the meeting, told the Irish Catholic:
[The] tokens encourage simple little gestures, and help us to appreciate that these simple gestures are also moments of grace and expressions of selfless love for another which mirror the love of God for use, and are to be celebrated.
Single people may be wondering where they fit into the mix with these gift tokens, but fear not. For anyone not yet coupled up by 14 February, a special “Prayer for those seeking a spouse” is also available in cathedrals and shops.
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