November 1 - 15 , 2016 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY FAITH AND RELIGION B13
As Year of Mercy ends , Holy Doors close around the world
As Holy Doors close in churches and basilicas around the world , including in Rome , it is estimated that over 20 million people participated in the Church ’ s Jubilee Year of Mercy at the Vatican – and a billion people may have participated in churches worldwide .
According to Msgr . Rino Fisichella , President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization , it is estimated that 20.4 million people attended Year of Mercy events at the Vatican over the course of this year .
The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization was in charge of putting Pope Francis ’ vision for the Year of Mercy into practice – both in the Vatican and abroad .
The year will officially end on Nov . 20 , the Solemnity of Christ the King , when Pope Francis will close
the Holy Door at St . Peter ’ s Basilica . It was opened on Dec . 8 , 2015 , the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception .
The opening of the door is meant to symbolically illustrate the idea that the Church ’ s faithful are offered an “ extraordinary path ” toward salvation during the time of Jubilee . Pilgrims who walked through the Holy Door were able to receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions .
“ What has it taught us , the meditation of God ’ s mercy in this year ?” he asked . “ First of all that mercy is not a sign of weakness or surrender ,” but the “ strong , magnanimous ,” radiation of the loving omnipotence of the Father , who “ heals our weaknesses , raises us from our falls and urges us to the good .”
Cardinal Vallini quoted the Pope saying , “ The mercy of God is not an abstract idea , but a concrete reality .”
If we look closely , he said , we can see how the whole history of salvation until today and into the future , has been an “ economy of mercy .”
“ If we stop to consider the love
of Jesus toward sinners , the poor , the sick , the marginalized , and especially if we contemplate the passion and death on the cross , we will not find any other explanation than the manifestation of his mercy towards us .”
“ Fixing our prayerful gaze on Jesus Crucified it will be easier to follow and imitate him in our human affairs , even painful ones ,” he said .
During his address for the Angelus the same day , Pope Francis said that we must “ stand firm in the Lord ” and work “ to build a better world ;” that despite difficulties and sad events , what really matters is how Christians are called “ to encounter the ‘ Lord ’ s Day .’”
There were also many larger events which took place , including a 24-hour long period of Eucharistic adoration and a prayer vigil . Additionally , “ jubilees ” were held which centered on , among others , the sick and disabled , catechists , teenagers , deacons , priests , religious , volunteers of mercy , and most recently , the poor and homeless .
Ordinary jubilees occur every 25 or 50 years , and extraordinary jubilees are called for some momentous occasion . Two extraordinary jubilees were called in the 20th century – 1933 , to mark the 1900th anniversary of Christ ’ s redemption in 33 A . D ., and 1983 , its 1950th anniversary .
St . John Paul II also held a “ Great Jubilee ” in the year 2000 , marking the 2000th anniversary of Jesus ’ birth and the start of the new millennium .
At the start of the Jubilee of Mercy , during a general audience Dec . 9 , Pope Francis asked pilgrims , “ Why a Jubilee of Mercy ? What does this mean ?”
The answer , he said , is because “ the Church needs this extraordinary moment . I ’ m not ( just ) saying ‘ it ’ s good ,’ no ! I ’ m saying : the Church needs it .” ( Hannah Brockhaus , CNA )
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