World Marriage Day has close ties to Valentine’s Day. Even its roots are intertwined with the lovers’ holiday. But this year, the two were even closer, as World Marriage Day was celebrated just one day before Valentine’s Day.

This year, too, Catholics showed their belief in marriage as a sacred institution, as 148 couples attended Mass with Bishop Weisenburger in Tuscon.

"Marriage Anniversary Mass 2022! 148 couples from throughout the Diocese registered to join the event on Feb. 13,” the Diocese of Tucson posted on Facebook. “In his homily, Bishop Edward J Weisenburger said to the couples, "You are the homily today." He said their witness in marriage is a prime example of what love is and that in itself reflects the cross.” 

The second Sunday of February is set aside as World Marriage Day, and it takes place during National Marriage Week, which was Feb. 7-14 this year.

The week is designed to provide “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 on Catholic Bishops said on its website. This year, Catholics were asked to reflect on the theme “Called to the Joy of Love.”

It’s related to Valentine’s Day because the church uses that day to honor St. Valentine of Rome, who is the patron saint of engaged couples and happy marriages, according to history.com. 

World Marriage Day was established in the U.S. in 1983, but the seed was planted a couple of years earlier. 

Couples in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, petitioned the mayor, governor and bishop in 1981 to proclaim Valentine’s Day as “We Believe in Marriage Day,” according to wwme.org, the website for the Worldwide Marriage Encounter group.  By 1982, 43 governors were on board with the idea, and a year later the name was changed to World Marriage Day with the second Sunday in February established as the date of celebration.