Today I want to invite you to walk together as pilgrims, to begin a year of conversion and spiritual renewal. This Ministry is my response to a call born a long time ago, and that God has been revealing step by step in his infinite love… before his greatness and my smallness I could only answer: Your grace is enough for me! In April of this year, I began to read about the upcoming Jubilee, I share with you details that increased my desire to pilgrimage by the hand of God in a more consistent and intimate way.
Jubilee 2025, under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” will be a celebration of profound spiritual, social and ecclesial relevance. This event, convened by Pope Francis, invites millions of faithful to reflect on God’s mercy and to renew their faith in a world that seeks to heal in the wake of recent global challenges.
What is the Jubilee?
The Jubilee, also known as the “Holy Year,” has roots in the Scripture. According to the Bible, the jubilee is the “year of freedom” and the “year of the Lord’s favor” (Leviticus 25:8-13). It is a time dedicated to re-establishing righteous relationships with God, people, and creation. Originally, it included the forgiveness of debts, the freeing of slaves, and the resting of the land. In Christ, this concept translates into deliverance from sin and the restoration of fellowship with God.
This celebration has evolved since Pope Boniface VIII called the first Jubilee of the Church in the year 1300. Although it initially followed a cadence of 100 years, it later adopted the biblical model of 50 years and was finally established every 25 years.
Purpose of Jubilee 2025
Pope Francis stressed that this Jubilee seeks:
- Renew hope and confidence in a world marked by the effects of the pandemic.
- Listen to the voices of the poor and restore equitable access to the fruits of the earth.
- To promote spiritual conversion, celebrate with faith, hope and charity.
- To foster unity in diversity, highlighting the gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit.
Key Events and Symbols of the Jubilee
- Opening of the Holy Door: This symbolic act takes place on December 24, 2024 in St. Peter’s Basilica. The door will remain open during the Jubilee, symbolizing the path to salvation in Christ.
- Plenary Indulgences: Pilgrims will have the opportunity to receive this special gift of grace by fulfilling spiritual requirements.
- Lenten Retreat and Community Activities: Initiatives that seek to strengthen faith and unity among participants.
The Jubilee logo also has a profound meaning: it represents humanity united in solidarity and fraternity, advancing as a community towards the cross, which is symbolically inclined towards humanity.
The Spiritual and Pastoral Dimension
The 2025 Jubilee is not only a celebration, but an opportunity for the new evangelization. Pope Francis, in the Opening of the Jubilee entitled “Spes non confundit” (“The hope that does not disappoint”), invites the faithful to a personal encounter with Christ, who is the “door of salvation.” In addition, he suggests studying the letter to the Romans as a community, reflecting on faith, hope and love.
The pilgrim walks with a clear purpose and searches towards the highest, the sublime and the divine. Pilgrimages are a way of expressing popular religiosity (CCC 1674), of drawing closer to God and the sacraments. In this religiosity we see the wisdom of a Christian humanism that affirms the dignity of every person as a child of God. The pilgrim wants to see the world as God sees it.
Jubilee Prayer
The official Jubilee prayer expresses the desire to live as “dedicated cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel,” working toward a world transformed by God’s grace. It is a call to hope, joy and peace that only Christ can bring.
The 2025 Jubilee promises to be a time of grace and renewal for the Church and the world. Whether as a pilgrim in Rome, from the local community, or with a virtual community like this one. This celebration offers a unique opportunity to experience God’s mercy and contribute to building a more just and supportive world.
Invitation
Our Ministry seeks precisely to offer a spiritual pilgrimage that brings us closer to the Word, helps us to find our mission and to have a more intimate relationship with God. I want to be a Walker of God, as St. Teresa of Jesus has been described! We invite you to walk along the different paths… spiritual direction, Bible studies, paths that connect with the very heart of God.
Go ahead, let us know what you would like to see on our blog. Share in your comments upcoming topics, Bible passages, questions, and spiritual exercises that interest you or would like to know more about. In the meantime, may the Lord bless you and help you see the world as He sees it.
