Celebrating the Jubilee of Mercy by discovering historical Jubilee Years

Last updated on: May 5, 2016 at 12:02 pm by CNA Daily News

Celebrating the Jubilee of Mercy by discovering historical Jubilee Years 2016-05-05T12:02:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, May 5, 2016 / 06:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- To observe the Jubilee Year of Mercy and to connect it with past Jubilee Years, the pilgrimage office of the Diocese of Rome is displaying historical documents proclaiming the jubilees dating back to 1300.

“Holy Pilgrimage: The Jubilee Bulls from the Vatican Secret Archives” is an exhibition of the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi which displays papal bulls of indiction of the Jubilee Years from 1300 to 2000.

The bulls are normally not available to public view, and are restricted to scholars and conservationists who work with the Vatican Secret Archives – the historical archives of the papacy.

The exhibition also features bulls from the archives of the Chapter of St. Peter kept in the Vatican Library, as well as incunabula – books printed before the year 1500 – stored at the Biblioteca Casanatense.

Beginning today, the exhibition is on display daily through July 31, from 10 am to 9 pm, at the Palazzo del Vicariato Vechio on the Via della Pigna, a two-minute walk south of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Each bull is accompanied by explanatory texts in English and Italian which provide historical context for the jubilees.

Papal bulls are a kind of letter, named for the lead seal, or bulla, which were appended to the letters to verify their authenticity.

Jubilee years were historically established by papal bulls. The practice of jubilees has biblical roots, as the Mosaic era established jubilee years to be held every 50 years for the freeing of slaves and forgiveness of debts as manifestations of God's mercy.

The practice was formally re-established in 1300 by Boniface VIII. Pilgrims to Rome were granted a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions. Between 1300 and 2000, 29 jubilee years were held in Rome.

Pope Francis opened the Jubilee of Mercy, an Extraordinary Holy Year, Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The Holy Year will close Nov. 20, 2016, with the Solemnity of Christ the King.
The Jubilee was officially inaugurated by the by the Pope when he opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica. Pilgrims who pass through the door – which is only opened during Jubilee years, ordinarily every 25 years or when a Pope calls for an extraordinary Jubilee – can receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions.

The current Jubilee of Mercy was opened by Pope Francis Dec. 8, 2015, and will close Nov. 20, 2016.

The Jubilee was officially inaugurated when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica. Pilgrims who pass through the door – which is only opened during Jubilee years – can receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions.

Europe

Previous Post

May 5, 2016

Christians in Nigeria are essentially 'target practice' – here's one bishop's response

Next Post

May 5, 2016 NC governor: Separate men and women's restrooms is a matter of privacy

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, 'The Lord gives and the Lord takes away'?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Solomon Moses David Job