Vatican Holy Doors

[last_niceguy]

A question was asked by a student as to the purpose of the Vatican Holy Doors.

I understand that in 2000 the Holy Father open the four doors of the basilicas in Rome. Was it because he opened the four in the basiclicas that it was such a great event?

I understand that they Holy Doors are opened every 25 years. What is the purpose of this?

If you could please respond ASAP as I need the information before the end of the day to help this student.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Jubilee Years.

Here’s some info; hope it helps.

In addition to the special emphasis on the alleviation of the eternal effects of sin through the Sacrament of Confession, the temporal effects of sin are a focus of Jubilee Years, too. A plenary indulgence can be gained, under the usual conditions, by making a pilgrimage to the four primary patriarchal churches in Rome and walking through their Holy Doors (portae sanctae, above), which are symbolic of Christ. This is the standard requirement for the Jubilee indulgence, but the exact requirements (published when the Jubilee is announced) may vary from Jubilee to Jubilee and usually include provisions for visiting local churches, doing charitable works, or fasting, etc.

The four primary patriarchal churches are those churches that are associated with the Patriarchates of the West, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch. They are:

* The Church of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the Pope and associated with him as Patriarch of the West
* St. Peter's Basilica is associated with the Patriarch of Constantinople
* The Church of St. Paul-without-the-Walls Basilica is associated with the Patriarch of Alexandria
* The Church of St. Mary Major is associated with the Patriarch of Antioch

At each of these patriarchal churches are holy doors which are kept sealed except in Jubilee Years, their unsealing takIing place on Christmas Eve and lasting until Christmas Day of the following year (or the following Epiphany). The Holy Doors are opened, and later re-sealed, with great solemnity. The traditional rites for doing so are as follows:

Opening the Holy Doors

*

  The Pope vests in a room of the Apostolic Palace and then, together with the Cardinals, proceeds to the Sistine Chapel. There the sending of the Cardinal Legates for the opening of the other Doors and the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place.
*

  The procession makes its way to the Holy Door accompanied by the chanting of the Iubilate Deo or the Veni Creator Spiritus.
*

  The Pope says the prayer Deus qui per Moysem.
*

  He then takes the hammer, recites the verses Aperite mihi portas iustitiae and strikes the wall covering the Holy Door three times.
*

  The Pope returns to his seat and says the prayer Actiones nostras.
*

  The masons continue the work of opening the Door to the chanting of the Psalm Iubilate Deo omnis terra.
*

  The Pope genuflects at the threshold of the door. - The Pope is the first to pass through the Holy Door as the choir chants the Te Deum laudamus.
*

  The procession moves towards the altar for the celebration of Vespers.

 

[pazdziernik]

last_niceguy:

A question was asked by a student as to the purpose of the Vatican Holy Doors.

I understand that in 2000 the Holy Father open the four doors of the basilicas in Rome. Was it because he opened the four in the basiclicas that it was such a great event?

I understand that they Holy Doors are opened every 25 years. What is the purpose of this?

If you could please respond ASAP as I need the information before the end of the day to help this student.

For the Great Jubilee Year 2000, local dioceses also had “Holy Doors.” Parishes were also encouraged to have “Holy Doors” as well. Not all could go to Rome so they were on the local level as well. Some local parishes did; some didn’t. In addition some local churches were designated as official Jubilee Year 2000 sites in which one could obtain the Jubilee Year 2000 indulgence because not all could make the trip to Rome to obtain the indulgence. The doors are symbolic of the motto “Do not Be Afraid. Open Wide The Doors to Christ” which is a favorite of JP II.