we are pilgrims of hope
We have entered into the Jubilee Year of 2025. The theme for the Jubilee Year is Pilgrims of Hope.
What is this jubilee year stuff? Every 25 years, the Church celebrates a jubilee. The pope inaugurates the jubilee with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. He did this in a ceremony on Christmas Eve, before the Christmas Eve Mass. On the Feast of the Holy Family, Dec. 29, he opened the Holy Door at St. John Lateran (the Cathedral for the Diocese of Rome, and the Mother Church of the entire world). On Jan. 1, which is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, he opened the Holy Door of St. Mary Major. On Jan. 5, he opened the Holy Door at St. Paul Outside the Walls. These are the four major basilicas of Rome. On Dec. 26, breaking with Jubilee tradition, for the first time he opened a Holy Door at a prison in Rome.
The Opening of the Holy Door not only opens the Jubilee itself but is a symbolic invitation to the world to come and find welcome in the Church. For the prison, the open door is a sign of hope to the prisoners of finding freedom from their sins, and that many of them will find release and return to family, friends and society.
As we make our way through the Jubilee Year, I will write more on its significance and how we can participate.
What is this jubilee year stuff? Every 25 years, the Church celebrates a jubilee. The pope inaugurates the jubilee with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. He did this in a ceremony on Christmas Eve, before the Christmas Eve Mass. On the Feast of the Holy Family, Dec. 29, he opened the Holy Door at St. John Lateran (the Cathedral for the Diocese of Rome, and the Mother Church of the entire world). On Jan. 1, which is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, he opened the Holy Door of St. Mary Major. On Jan. 5, he opened the Holy Door at St. Paul Outside the Walls. These are the four major basilicas of Rome. On Dec. 26, breaking with Jubilee tradition, for the first time he opened a Holy Door at a prison in Rome.
The Opening of the Holy Door not only opens the Jubilee itself but is a symbolic invitation to the world to come and find welcome in the Church. For the prison, the open door is a sign of hope to the prisoners of finding freedom from their sins, and that many of them will find release and return to family, friends and society.
As we make our way through the Jubilee Year, I will write more on its significance and how we can participate.