As America embraced the celebration on romance on Valentine’s Day, the Diocese of Phoenix put out the message of a deeper love.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” the diocese shared on Facebook, with a graphic conveying the message: “We love because He first loved us. John 4:19” 

Valentine’s Day originally marked a way to honor St. Valentine of Rome. Although the accuracy of some details of Valentine’s life is in dispute, it is agreed that he died around the year 270. He was later named the patron saint of engaged couples and happy marriages, an article on history.com says. 

When the 14th century rolled around, Valentine’s Day began to be celebrated as a lovers’ festival, according to britannica.com. Much later, around the mid-1800s, a Cadbury chocolatier saw it as a marketing opportunity, and thus the tradition of giving chocolates began, history.com reports.

Valentine’s Day this year fell on the last day of National Marriage Week in the United States. The weeklong celebration includes World Marriage Day, which was marked Sunday. 

The whole week provides “an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said. This year’s theme was “Called to the Joy of Love.”