On April 9, the Vatican crossed a key milestone in the runup to the 2025 once-every-quarter-century Jubilee with the official decree establishing the Holy Year of Hope.
Pope Francis presided over a ceremony in the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica for the reading of the papal bull, or official edict, that laid out his vision for a year of hope.
"Hope is needed by God's creation, gravely damaged and disfigured by human selfishness. Hope is needed by those peoples and nations who look to the future with anxiety and fear," Pope Francis said.
He asked for gestures of solidarity for the poor, prisoners, migrants and the earth. The papal bull also announced that he will open a Holy Door in a prison "as a sign inviting prisoners to look to the future with hope and a renewed sense of confidence."
The Holy Year is a centuries-old tradition with pilgrimages to Rome to visit the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul and to receive indulgences for the forgiveness of their sins in the process. Pope Boniface VIII declared the first Holy Year in 1300, and now they are held every 25 years. On Dec. 24, 2024, Pope Francis will open the basilica's Holy Door and formally inaugurate the Jubilee.
In 2015, Pope Francis called for an interim Holy Year devoted to mercy. I was lucky to have been in Rome in June that year. Quite by accident, as I rounded a corner heading to the basilica, the first door I came to was the Holy Door. It was discretely guarded by two plain-clothed men with earbuds.
As a convert, I knew the Holy Door was important but not much more. However, I can tell you that when I walked through that Vatican Holy Door, I had the biggest goose bumps on my arms. I was in awe of the experience and the feelings that overwhelmed me. I was thankful that no one was behind me as I actually froze for a moment. What a blessing and an awakening!
While I realize the next Holy Year begins in 2025, I wanted to share this experience as a testimony about our need to take advantage of holy opportunities that aren’t annual events. For example, we experienced a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage here in the diocese in June leading up to the National Eucharistic Congress in July in Indianapolis. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton route (one of four routes) began in Connecticut and spent the week of June 24-30 in our diocese.
From our diocesan website, Bishop Earl Fernandes wrote:
“The National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative sponsored by the Bishops of the United States, is preparing for Year Two – the Year of Parish Revival (2023-2024). The Eucharistic Revival is an historic and important national movement to help the faithful fall in love with Jesus, especially in the Eucharist, and be inspired and equipped to share that love with others…we have a tremendous opportunity to renew our parishes during the next year. In the nine days leading up to the feast of Corpus Christi, I will be offering Mass and leading Eucharistic processions throughout the Diocese and invite you and your parishioners to participate in these regional events.”
I hope and pray that you participate in these extraordinary opportunities and experience the same sense of awe and blessedness that I did walking through the Vatican Holy Door in 2015.
