Jubilee Year concludes in particular Churches
By Don Paweł Rytel-Andrianik
The solemn opening of the Jubilee Year in particular churches took place on Sunday, 29 December 2024. Bishops designated churches or chapels where the faithful could obtain Jubilee indulgences within the territory of their dioceses, just like those who made pilgrimages to Rome.
Pilgrims of Hope
The motto of the Jubilee 2025 Peregrinantes in Spem, “Pilgrims of Hope”.
In the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis expressed his desire that everyone would have hope. “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring.” The Pope emphasized that we often meet discouraged people who look to the future with skepticism and pessimism, as if nothing could bring them happiness. In this context, Pope Francis expressed his hope that the Jubilee would be an opportunity for everyone to rekindle their hope.
Closing of the Holy Door in the Papal Basilicas
The closing of the Holy Door in the papal basilicas of Rome is a visible sign of the last days of the Holy Year. On Christmas Day, Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas presided at the rite of closing the Holy Door of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
“The heart of God remains open,” emphasized the archpriest of the Liberian Basilica, who asked people to open themselves to listening to the Word, to welcoming others, and to forgiveness. Hope is a light to be translated into prayer and attention to the poor in order to be a Church “with the Gospel in our hands and our brothers and sisters in our hearts,” said Cardinal Makrickas.
The Holy Door at the Lateran was closed on 27 December, the feast of St John the Apostle and Evangelist. “Today, as we close the Holy Door, we raise a hymn of thanksgiving to the Father for all the signs of His love for us, while we keep in our hearts the awareness and hope that remains open to all peoples: His embrace of mercy and peace,” said Cardinal Vicar Baldassare Reina, Archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, who presided at the closing ceremony.
On Sunday, 28 December, the feast of the Holy Family, Cardinal James Harvey, Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, celebrated the Holy Mass with the rite of closing the Holy Door.
Epiphany 2026: The end of the Jubilee Year
Pope Leo XIV will conclude the Ordinary Jubilee by closing the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. This will take place on 6 January 2026, the Solemnity of the Epiphany.
Announcing the closing of the Holy Door, Pope Francis expressed his hope: “may the light of Christian hope illumine every man and woman, as a message of God’s love addressed to all! And may the Church bear faithful witness to this message in every part of the world!” (Spes non confundit, 6).
No comments:
Post a Comment