A Holy Year of Mercy December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016 (from Sadlier Religion.com and related sources)

A Holy Year Of Mercy  What is a jubilee year?  The Catholic Church only calls jubilee years every 25 or 50 years. Jubilee years have existed since the 1300s. Extraordinary jubilee years are more rare but are called from time to time for similar celebrations.

A Holy Year of Mercy  What is a Holy Year of Mercy?  Pope Francis announced a jubilee year, a very special event in the Catholic Church, called the Holy Year of Mercy. A jubilee year is called by the Church to receive a blessing and pardon from God. This jubilee year celebrates being a witness of mercy and invites us all to follow the example of God as His merciful, forgiving and loving followers.

A Holy Year Of Mercy  What is “mercy”?  Mercy is acts of love by which we care for the bodily and spiritual needs of others. We can use the Corporate and Spiritual Works of Mercy as a starting point. Being merciful frequently includes forgiveness of others, just as God the Father demonstrates forgiveness of our sins through love.

A Holy Year Of Mercy  What does Scripture teach us about mercy?  Luke teaches us to “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)  The Parable of the Lost Sheep shows us the mercy of God. (Luke 15:1-7)  James teaches us that mercy triumphs over judgement.  Matthew teaches us, “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

A Holy Year Of Mercy  A major aspect of a Holy Year is a pilgrimage to Rome to make reparation for sin and to renew the conversion of one’s life.  A very important symbolic act performed by each pilgrim is to pass through the Holy Door. (The Holy Door was sealed after the last Holy Year and is only opened again by the pope to begin a new jubilee year. It is located in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.)

A Holy Year of Mercy  Christ identified Himself as “the door”. In his bull, Pope John Paul II stated that the Holy Door symbolizes the passage from sin to grace which every Christian is called to accomplish.

A Holy Year Of Mercy  Jesus said, “I am the door.” (John10:7) He made clear that no one can come to the Father except through Him.  Jesus alone is the Savior sent by the Father. There is only one way that opens wide the entrance into this life of communion with God: This is Jesus, the one and absolute way to salvation.

A Holy Year Of Mercy  T herefore to pass through the door from the outside of St. Peter’s into the basilica is to pass from this world into the presence of God. Holy Door

A Holy Year Of Mercy  Although everyone is not able to go to Rome to pass through the Holy Door, everyone is invite to practice Mercy and know Jesus.  When the “door” opens, the obstacles of passage to our Lord are removed so that we will have a holy union with God.