WHAT IS AN INDULGENCE?
To answer this we must begin with purgatory. A soul in purgatory will go to heaven. Purgatory is where we
are cleansed of the guilt and temporal punishments of our sins. Even though our sins were already forgiven
and absolved in the sacrament of reconciliation (penance), an indulgence is the remission (pardoning) before
God of the temporal punishment from these sins.
“The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.
‘An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the
faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the
minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.’
‘An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.’ The
faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.” (CCC 1471)
WHAT ACTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO GAIN THE JUBILEE YEAR PLENARY INDULGENCE?





Make a pilgrimage to one of the designated Churches of Pilgrimage during the Holy Year and pass
through the Holy Door of Mercy.
Participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (penance) in any church at any time during the Holy
Year.
Attend a Mass in any church at any time during the Holy Year that includes a reflection on mercy.
(E.G. Penitential Rite, Agnus Dei, Act of Mercy, etc.)
Make a profession of faith, such as the Nicene or Apostles Creed, at any time during the Holy Year.
Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father at least once during the Holy Year. These intentions are
titled “Apostleship of Prayer” and can be found at www.apostleshipofprayer.org
WHAT IS A JUBILEE AND WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOLY DOOR?
In the Roman Catholic tradition, a Holy Year, or Jubilee is a great religious event. In 1300 Pope Boniface
VIII declared the first Holy Year and a Holy Year has been regularly celebrated every 25 years since 1470.
The origin of the Christian Jubilee goes back to Bible times. The Law of Moses prescribed a special year
for the Jewish people (see Leviticus 25:10-14). The trumpet with which this particular year was
announced was a goat's horn called “Yobel” in Hebrew “billy goat”, and the origin of the word “Jubilee”.
The Jubilee is the year of the remission of sins and of suffering from sin, of reconciliation, of conversion
and of sacramental penance. 365 days of solidarity, hope, justice and commitment to serving God in the
spirit of joy and peace with everyone.
A Jubilee can be "ordinary" if it falls after the set period of years (generally 50 or 25), and
"extraordinary" when it is proclaimed for some outstanding event. The Jubilee is called “Holy Year”
because it is celebrated with sacred rites and also because its mission is the holiness of human life. It
was actually convoked to strengthen faith, encourage works of charity and brotherly communion within
the Church and in society and to call Christians to be more sincere and coherent in their faith in Christ,
the only Savior.
The start of the Jubilee is marked with the opening of the Holy Door. This door is only opened during the
Holy Year and remains cemented shut the rest of the time. All four major Basilicas in Rome have a Holy
Door: St. Peter’s, St. John the Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major. The rite of opening
the Holy Door symbolizes the fact that faithful are offered an “extraordinary path” towards salvation
during the Jubilee.
The major aspects of a Jubilee are to, make a pilgrimage to Rome, make reparation (amends) for sin, and
renew the conversion of one’s life. A very important symbolic act performed by each pilgrim is to pass
through the Holy Door. In the past, the Holy door was only ever found at the four Major Basilicas of
Rome, hence the reason for the pilgrimage to Rome. For the first time ever, with the Extraordinary
Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis stressed his wish that the Jubilee be celebrated not only in Rome but in
all local churches around the world. Therefore, Holy Doors have been opened in each diocese of the
world, either in the main cathedral or in local historic churches so all the faithful may make a pilgrimage
and receive the graces of this Extraordinary Jubilee year.
Christ identified himself as “the door” and to enter through the Jubilee Holy Door is to pass from sin to
grace. Jesus himself testifies that he alone is the absolute way to salvation, that no one comes to the
Father except through Him. Jesus opens wide the entrance to a life of communion with the Father. To
Him can the words of the Psalmist be applied “this is the door of the LORD where the just may enter”
Psalm 118:20.
In the Old Temple of Jerusalem, the High Priest, on the feast of Yom Kipper, the Day of Atonement,
would pass through the veil in the Temple, which covered the Holy of Holies, to offer atonement. Like
the High Priest passing through the veil, to pass through the Holy Door is to pass from this world into the
presence of God. Entering through the Jubilee Holy Door is to confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, Our Lord and Savior who suffered, died and rose for our salvation. In the New Testament, Jesus
presents himself as the One who brings the old Jubilee to completion, because he has come to "preach
the year of the Lord's favor" (Isaiah 61: 1-2).
With courage, then, we cross the threshold of the Kingdom of this world to enter into the grace of the
Kingdom of God.