Jubilee Holy Door Blessing

        We have begun our 2025 Jubilee  Year. One of the features of the Holy Year custom is the opening of Holy Doors at the Four Major Basilicas in Rome and other doors so designated. The Pope has already opened the doors at St. Peters (Dec 24), St. John Lateran (Dec 29), and St. Mary Major (Jan 1). He will open the door at St. Paul outside the Walls this Sunday, January 5th.

     These doors were walled up after the last Holy Year in 2000.  The bricks were removed in the last few months so that the faithful could pass through them only during 2025.  The act of passing through the blessed door reminds us that we are always on the threshold of eternity as ‘pilgrims of hope’ in this life.

   Jesus gave significance to the image of the door in the gospel of St. John. In his discourse on the Good Shepherd, he tells his audience in the Jewish Temple that he is the sheep gate. All those who pass through Jesus find pasture, comfort and protection. The sheep pass through the sheep gate with confidence and joy.   We can enter or exit in the same spirit if we do so through Jesus.

     We at St. Mary’s will participate in the ‘door theme’ of this Holy Year with our bulletin insert this weekend.  There is an 8 1/2 x 11 inch photo of the mural of the “Two Trinities” on the ceiling of the cathedral.  We are encouraging our families to frame and put the photo in a special place (like a family altar) where your household  (family, couple, individual) will pray throughout the year.  On the back of the photo is the Epiphany Blessing of the Door of a Home.

     We encourage everyone to use the Blessing of the Door this weekend as a way to begin this special year well.