St. Valentine - Patron of Lovers, Happy Marriages, Young People and Beekeepers

Valentine was a priest who aided Christians being persecuted under the reign of Claudius II. Despite this, Valentine was performing marriages to Christian couples. Eventually he was caught and beaten and then jailed. Claudius, however, liked Valentine and spared his life until Valentine tried to convert Claudius to Christianity. After this, the ruler had him beheaded. The night before the execution it is said that Valentine wrote the jailer's daughter a note, which he ended by signing, "From your Valentine". He was beheaded on February 14, around 270 AD.

"O man of great heart and conviction, through your example, may we learn to love unconditionally and unselfishly. May we find great joy and be profoundly enriched by this union with our beloved."

• Material: Baltic Wood, Print
• Size: 1.5" x 2.5" x .175" 
• Origin: Taos, New Mexico
• Packaging: Story Card and Muslin Bag

Lynn Garlick Retablos Lynn started carving, painting, and producing her retablos in 1993. Her workshop is located in the high desert town of Taos, New Mexico. The retablo, or “board behind the altar”, was originally created in New Mexico in the 1800’s in response to the lack of Bibles and Icons being sent from the church in Rome. Lynn paints her originals retablos on traditional pine boards carving and then painting them with watercolor or occasionally oil and finishes them with a polyurethane. The originals are then reproduced and mounted on1/8 inch baltic birch. The backs are laser engraved with a prayer or information relating to each saint.