Holy Doors (cont)

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I didn’t want to go off on this rabbit trail on InquiringPerson’s thread about the Holy Doors.

Saving Grace posted an article that describes the Holy Door at the basilica in Rome. I could not help it but it reminded me of the scene in LOTR at the Wall of Moria just as Gandolf discovers the Door of Durin. He can’t remember the password. It’s Frodo who figures it out, its the Elvish word for ‘friend’, and the door opens as Frodo stands there. But woe awaits them there, it is where Gandalf meets with Shadow, and is presumably lost when he battles it.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=DgHCM68KkPY

The article goes on to describe the panels of the Holy Door in detail, scenes from the Bible,
“scenes (that) remind us of our call as pilgrims to enter the mystery of salvation and to pass from sin to grace, from separation to union with God, and from death to eternal life”. The last panel , " a picture of the Holy Father striking the Holy Door, “I stand at the door and knock”.

" our Lord stands at the door of our hearts knocking. We must open our hearts to Him and cross the threshold of hope, striving for holiness," the article concludes.

Revelation 3:14-22

14 “And to the angel of the church in La-odice′a write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. 20 **Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. **21 He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Jesus is saying He stands at the door and knocks, if we open the door, it is He who comes in unto us.

I was looking forward to going through the Holy Doors, except after reading about their history in that article. I am not sure now. Christ did knock on my heart and I opened the door as a very small child and He has been in me ever since. Now I see these Holy Doors as the Door of Durin that leads to destruction.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

For those who will mock, go ahead and leave out the reference to the LOTR scene, what about what is written in our Holy Book. The Holy Doors can be said to be a modern innovation and are rarely used. The door in the Bible is our heart.
 
Well, we know Gandalf does not die in that scene. He fights evil and is victorious, so really, it’s more of a challenge than a doorway to destruction. The road to Heaven is narrow and difficult. When we follow Christ, we are told the world will hate us and that the devil roams the world seeking whom he may devour. We truly do enter into a very challenging way of life. Tolkien was a devout Catholic, and there was much allusion to this in his writing, so there might not be as much to mock as you may think. There is no destruction to be feared in this case as the ending is already written - victory through Christ is what awaits.
 
Death’s door actually leads to LIFE,
“Death has been swallowed up in Victory”
1 Cor.15:54, Jesus turned defeat into
victory at His death on the Cross, so we
who believe His atoning death will too
have victory, yeah!!
 
I understand the metaphor, I just don’t understand the actual Holy Doors, the history behind why they actually exist and have been implemented. My husband and I searched online for sources. Why the failure of the church to teach about this. Why is it that no one I ask knows about this?

The doors are cemented over and sealed once the Jubilee year has ended? Why? I read that if not people continue to stream in. Is that a bad thing? Why or who would keep people from wanting to go through?

I just don’t envision Christ instructing Peter to build this door, but keep it locked up for half a century then open it for 12 months. I would like to understand, I don’t want to be mocked or ridiculed for not knowing.
 
Casilda said:
I understand the metaphor, I just don’t understand the actual Holy Doors, the history behind why they actually exist and have been implemented. My husband and I searched online for sources. Why the failure of the church to teach about this. Why is it that no one I ask knows about this?

The doors are cemented over and sealed once the Jubilee year has ended? Why? I read that if not people continue to stream in. Is that a bad thing? Why or who would keep people from wanting to go through?

I just don’t envision Christ instructing Peter to build this door, but keep it locked up for half a century then open it for 12 months. I would like to understand, I don’t want to be mocked or ridiculed for not knowing.
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I’m with you. This may be my Protestant background showing, but the whole “holy door” thing seems silly to me. Go to a cathedral and walk thru a special door to get a plenary indulgence? You can get a plenary indulgence by simply fulfilling the normal requirements and doing 30 minutes of serious Bible reading, or praying the Rosary in a church or a chapel.
 
It seems to me it is like many other devotions, if it helps then use it. And if it doesn’t appeal to you than you don’t need to use it. Use those that help.

We are creatures of body as well as soul. So we have things to lead us to God which appeal to us and use our bodies in expressions of our faith. Some devotions act out what we believe to make our faith come alive. To many, it is more fulfilling that way. If we love our Father, we can’t but help to want to express ourselves naturally and fully in that love, which would include our body as well as our soul. It is just treating ourselves as human and recognizing our body as important in this.

The sacraments do much the same thing. They reach us thru our body, especially the greatest of all, the Bread of Life, which we consume so that “…I live in him and he lives in me”.

The indulgences are added as a blessing for this devotion which the Church uses to show her children mercy and kindness.
 
500 more dog-nuts to eat. Who will be the first to respond to my posts? I will troll until I get a serious response.
 

I’m with you. This may be my Protestant background showing, but the whole “holy door” thing seems silly to me. Go to a cathedral and walk thru a special door to get a plenary indulgence? You can get a plenary indulgence by simply fulfilling the normal requirements and doing 30 minutes of serious Bible reading, or praying the Rosary in a church or a chapel.​

Hi. My understanding that to obtain a plenary indulgence during this Jubilee year (See Leviticus), the following is required:
  1. A purposeful intention to receive the plenary indulgence (i.e. In this case, walk through the Holy Door).
  2. You must have been to sacramental confession within the past 20 days, or within 20 days thereafter, and cannot be in a state of mortal sin.
  3. You must receive Holy Communion on the same day that you ask for the plenary indulgence and this will also remit any venial sin (CCC 1436).
  4. You must pray for the intentions of the Holy Father (at least one Our Father and one Hail Mary).
  5. Only one plenary indulgence is permitted daily; and only for yourself personally, or for a soul in Purgatory.
This is my understanding. If an apologist or forum elder would please confirm or correct me I would sincerely appreciate that. Thank you and God Bless.
 
Cincinnatus1788 said:

I’m with you. This may be my Protestant background showing, but the whole “holy door” thing seems silly to me. Go to a cathedral and walk thru a special door to get a plenary indulgence? You can get a plenary indulgence by simply fulfilling the normal requirements and doing 30 minutes of serious Bible reading, or praying the Rosary in a church or a chapel.​

Hi. My understanding that to obtain a plenary indulgence during this Jubilee year (See Leviticus), the following is required:
  1. A purposeful intention to receive the plenary indulgence (i.e. In this case, walk through the Holy Door).
  2. You must have been to sacramental confession within the past 20 days, or within 20 days thereafter, and cannot be in a state of mortal sin.
  3. You must receive Holy Communion on the same day that you ask for the plenary indulgence and this will also remit any venial sin (CCC 1436).
  4. You must pray for the intentions of the Holy Father (at least one Our Father and one Hail Mary).
  5. Only one plenary indulgence is permitted daily; and only for yourself personally, or for a soul in Purgatory.
This is my understanding. If an apologist or forum elder would please confirm or correct me I would sincerely appreciate that. Thank you and God Bless.
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The “usual conditions” are 2 through 4, along with being in a state of grace and in a state of detachment from all sin, even venial sin. ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/general_conditions.htm

Then, in addition to these four “usual conditions,” one must perform the indulgenced work.

For the holy door indulgence, the indulgenced work is passing through the door and making the profession of faith. See: m.vatican.va/content/francescomobile/en/letters/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150901_lettera-indulgenza-giubileo-misericordia.html

The intent to obtain a plenary indulgence is necessary, but traditionally has not been included in the “usual conditions.” Of course the intent must be there.

To the OP, I do not mock but I don’t understand the suspicion (if that is the right word) of this particular indulgence. Do you feel the same about the others (rosary, bible reading, etc.)?

To my mind, indulgences are nowhere near my experience of true conversion or any of the sacraments in my own life, particularly reconciliation (Lord thank you for that sacrament!!!) but instead they are an additional, optional gift from the Church to those who want to do something extra in their faith life to expedite their purgation or benefit a holy soul in accelerating towards the full beatific vision.

I can see why some might choose to skip them, but why oppose them (honest question)?
 
Tigre said:
To the OP, I do not mock but I don’t understand the suspicion (if that is the right word) of this particular indulgence. Do you feel the same about the others (rosary, bible reading, etc.)?

I can see why some might choose to skip them, but why oppose them (honest question)?
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Thank you Fred Conty and Cincinnatus, that was very helpful. Tigre, my suspicion grew when things I had read straight out of the Vatican website were questioned here by CAF regulars. Also when I asked Catholic friends, no one seemed to know anything about them (Holy Doors). Some of these friends are in their 60’s and 70’s and cradle Catholics. So it was new to them as it was to me.
 
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