Pilgrims of Hope - Jubilee Year

“Now the time has come for a new Jubilee, when once more the Holy Door will be flung open to invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God” (Spes non confundit, 6)

24^th December marked the beginning of the Jubilee Year with the opening of the Holy Door and the Christmas Eve Mass 2024, presided over by Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica. 

Jubilee years have been a regular feature in the life of the Church since 1300AD.  But their roots go back to the Jewish tradition of marking a jubilee year every 50 years.  These years in Jewish history were “intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.”

The theme of this Jubilee is Pilgrims of Hope.  Pope Francis wrote, “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring……Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness.  For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope.  God’s word helps us find reasons for that hope.”

One of the great ways of expressing both hope and unity is through song, and there is an official hymn for the Jubilee that was chosen from a great many through an international competition.  Catholics throughout the world will be singing this during the Jubilee year.

In communion with Catholics throughout the world, we too will be signing this hymn at Holy Mass through the coming year:

Like a flame my hope is burning,
may my song arise to you:
Source of life that has no ending,
on life’s path I trust in you.

Ev’ry nation, tongue, and people
find a light within your Word.
Scattered fragile sons and daughters
find a home in your dear Son.

God, so tender and so patient,
dawn of hope, you care for all.
Heav’n and earth are recreated
by the Spirit of Life set free.

Raise your eyes, the wind is blowing,
for our God is born in time.
Son made man for you and many
who will find the way in him.

 

A recording of the Jubilee hymn can be heard by clicking here.