The Holy Door. Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of ...
Primer on the Celebration of the Jubilee Year 2025
The Holy Door.
Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024. January 1, 2025, marked the Opening of the Door of the Cathedrals, Co-Cathedrals, Minor Basilicas and approved Shrines throughout the world (Urbi et Orbi--in Rome and the whole world). The Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica will be closed to end the Holy Year on January 6, 2026.
History of the Jubilee.
The Jubilee is a Year of Grace, celebrated ordinarily every 25 years, with the purpose of reconciling the Catholic faithful to God. The name “Jubilee” comes from the Hebrew word Yobel or “Rams Horn,” which was blown every year to proclaim the Day of Atonement.
The Jubilee Indulgence.
This is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sin and requires: 1) Pilgrimage to a Jubilee Church; 2) Sacramental Confession; 3) Reception of Holy Communion; 4) Prayer for the of the Pope’s Intentions. The Jubilee Indulgence may be gained once a day, for oneself or for a Soul in Purgatory.
The Jubilee Pilgrimage.
This is an act of conversion and penance and can be done individually, as a family, or as a group, and should preferably include a portion on foot, for rediscovering the value of silence, sacrifice, and simplicity of life. Upon entering the Jubilee Door, a Pilgrim should do the following: 1) State mentally the intention of the Indulgence—for oneself or for a particular soul in Purgatory; 2) Make a good Confession, unless this has been done in the previous 20 days; 3) Receive Holy Communion while attending Holy Mass; 4) Pray for the intentions of the Pope (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be).
Sacramental Confession.
The second requirement for the Jubilee Indulgence is the individual Sacramental Confession, which should be done on the day of gaining the indulgence; otherwise, within 20 preceding days. To be worthy of absolution, the penitent must possess three essential requirements: 1) REPENTANCE: the sincere sorrow for sins committed; 2) RESOLUTION: the firm commitment not to sin again; 3) REPARATION: the determination to compensate for the injustice caused by sin.
The Jubilee Logo.
The Jubilee Logo 2025 engraves the following elements: FOUR PERSONS: They represent the whole of humanity, coming from the four corners of the Earth. They embrace each other to indicate their love for Christ. THE CROSS: It symbolizes where Jesus defeated sin and death and opened the gates of Paradise. WAVES AND ANCHOR: The waves indicate the storms and raging winds that shatter the Boat of Peter—the Catholic Church, as well as our personal life. THE WORDING: The Latin Motto Peregrinantes in Spem, meaning “Pilgrims of Hope,” gives the spiritual leitmotif to the Jubilee Year and is printed in Green, the color of Hope. The Latin inscription, JUBILAEM A.D. (ANNO DOMINI) MMXXV translates as “Jubilee of the Year of the Lord 2025.”
Holy Communion.
The third requirement is receiving Holy Communion while attending Mass. This should be done inside the Jubilee Church and on the same day of gaining the Indulgence. The Holy Mass, which re-enacts the Sacrifice of Christ, is the highest form of worship, and the “Source and Summit” of the life of the Church. 1) SOURCE: The Mass is the Source of Christian life because it contains the whole spiritual wealth of the Church, which is Christ himself. 2) SUMMIT: The Holy Mass is the summit of the Church life because her sacraments and prayer, preaching and teaching, pastoral and charitable works are directed to the celebration of the Eucharist as their final cause.
Prayer for the Pope.
The fourth and last requirement is to pray at least one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the intentions of the Pope, inside the Jubilee Church, on the same day of gaining the Indulgence.