“The relation between religious experience and human love is very close and intimate. Understanding this properly is the first condition for a journey towards the sacramental celebration of marriage” which “sets the seal on and culminates the affective journey of a man and a woman who through the mutual gift of each other wish to fulfil the vocation for love inscribed in their heart”. This preliminary reflection provides the starting point of the aid for the celebration of matrimony prepared by the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI). Published under the title “Celebrating the great mystery of love”, the document was presented at Terni on 14 February, feast of St. Valentine, patron of the city. The aid, which provides indications for the pastoral promotion of the new rite of matrimony in use in Italian dioceses since 28 November 2004, is subdivided into four chapters, dedicated, respectively, to the significance of marriage and the life of the family; pre-marriage pastoral guidance; the celebration of the sacrament of matrimony; and the life of spouses. The presentation of the document took place in the framework of the second stage of the itinerant national process of preparation for the 4th National Ecclesial Congress, scheduled to be held in Verona from 16 to 20 October 2006. Of the five fields of reflection that punctuate the preparatory process, the second is the life of the affections, and is appropriately being hosted by the diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia. Under the slogan, “Love makes history”, the diocese in question and the national Service of the CEI for the cultural project have promoted a packed programme of events down to 5 March
