May the domestic church, consisting of our Christian families throughout our Diocese of Stockton, support one another in a spirit of hope. May we be instrumental in evangelizing and empowering our brothers and sisters as pilgrims of hope. -Bishop Myron Cotta
What is the Jubilee?
“Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year; the name comes from the instrument used to mark its launch. In this case, the instrument in question is the yobel, the ram's horn, used to proclaim the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This (Jewish) holiday occurs every year, but it takes on special significance when it marks the beginning of a Jubilee year. We can find an early indication of it in the Bible: a Jubilee year was to be marked every 50 years, since this would be an “extra” year, one which would happen every seven weeks of seven years, i.e., every 49 years (cf. Leviticus 25:8-13). Even though it wasn’t easy to organise, it was 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.
Quoting the prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ mission in this way: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord,” (Luke 4:18-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus lives out these words in his daily life, in his encounters with others and in his relationships, all of which bring about liberation and conversion.
In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII called the first Jubilee, also known as a “Holy Year,” since it is a time in which God's holiness transforms us. The frequency of Holy Years has changed over time: at first, they were celebrated every 100 years; later, in 1343 Pope Clement VI reduced the gap between Jubilees to every 50 years, and in 1470 Pope Paul II made it every 25 years. There have also been “extraordinary” Holy Years: for example, in 1933 Pope Pius XI chose to commemorate the 1900th anniversary of the Redemption, and in 2015 Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Mercy as an extraordinary jubilee.
The way in which Jubilee Years are marked has also changed through the centuries: originally the Holy Year consisted of a pilgrimage to the Roman Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul, later other signs were added, such as the Holy Door. By participating in the Holy Year, one is granted a plenary indulgence.
¿Qué es el Jubileo?
‘Jubileo’ es el nombre de un año particular: parece que deriva del instrumento utilizado para indicar su comienzo; se trata del yobel, el cuerno de carnero, cuyo sonido anuncia el Día de la Expiación (Yom Kippur). Esta fiesta se celebra cada año, pero adquiere un significado particular cuando coincide con el inicio del año jubilar. A este respecto, encontramos una primera idea en la Biblia: debía ser convocado cada 50 años, porque era el año ‘extra’, debía vivirse cada siete semanas de años (cfr. Lv 25,8‑13). Aunque era difícil de realizar, se proponía como la ocasión para restablecer la correcta relación con Dios, con las personas y con la creación, y conllevaba el perdón de las deudas, la restitución de terrenos enajenados y el descanso de la tierra.
Citando al profeta Isaías, el evangelio según san Lucas describe de este mismo modo la misión de Jesús: «El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí; porque él me ha ungido. Me ha enviado a evangelizar a los pobres, a proclamar a los cautivos la libertad, y a los ciegos, la vista; a poner en libertad a los oprimidos, a proclamar el año de gracia del Señor» (Lc 4,18‑19; cfr. Is 61,1‑2). Estas palabras de Jesús se convirtieron también en acciones de liberación y de conversión en sus encuentros y relaciones cotidianos.
Bonifacio VIII, en 1300, convocó el primer Jubileo, llamado también “Año Santo”, porque es un tiempo en el que se experimenta que la santidad de Dios nos transforma. Con el tiempo, la frecuencia ha ido cambiando: al principio era cada 100 años; en 1343 se redujo a 50 años por Clemente VI y en 1470 a 25 años por Pablo II. También hay momentos ‘extraordinarios’: por ejemplo, en 1933, Pío XI quiso conmemorar el aniversario de la Redención y en 2015 el Papa Francisco convocó el año de la Misericordia.
También ha sido diferente el modo de celebrar este año: en el origen coincidía con la visita a las Basílicas romanas de san Pedro y san Pablo, por tanto, con la peregrinación, posteriormente se añadieron otros signos, como el de la Puerta Santa. Al participar del Año Santo se obtiene la indulgencia plenaria.
What are plenary indulgences?
Even though confessed and forgiven sins will not send a person to hell, consequences remain to be paid on earth or in purgatory. An indulgence frees the recipient from those consequences. Reception of an indulgence always springs from sincere repentance, the desire to live a holy life, reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion as soon as possible and prayer for the Holy Father. An indulgence cannot be bought, nor can one be obtained by going through the motions without sincerity.
A partial indulgence covers part of the punishment due for sins; a plenary indulgence removes all of it. Both kinds of indulgence come from the merits of Jesus, the Blessed Mother and the saints. These “merits” are the opposite of “demerits.” They are spiritual fruits accumulated through holy living. To grant indulgences, the Church draws on a great treasury of merits: the infinite value of Christ’s Passion, death and Resurrection, and the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints – including all of those on earth who live holy lives.
Jubilee
The Jubilee Indulgence is a concrete manifestation of God's mercy, which goes beyond and transforms the boundaries of human justice. This treasury of grace entered human history in the witness of Jesus and the saints, and by living in communion with them our hope for our own forgiveness is strengthened and becomes a certainty. The Jubilee indulgence allows us to free our hearts from the weight of sin because the reparation due for our sins is given freely and abundantly.
In practical terms, the experience of God’s mercy involves some spiritual acts indicated by the Pope. Those who cannot make the Jubilee pilgrimage due to illness or other circumstances are nonetheless invited to take part in the spiritual movement that accompanies the Jubilee year, offering up the sufferings of their daily lives, and participating in the Eucharistic celebration.
The Jubilee Logo
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The logo shows four stylized figures, representing all of humanity, coming from the four corners of the earth.They embrace each other to indicate the solidarity and fraternity which should unite all peoples.
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The figure at the front is holding onto the cross. It is not only the sign of the faith which this lead figure embraces, but also of hope, which can never be abandoned, because we are always in need of hope, especially in our moments of greatest need.
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There are the rough waves under the figures, symbolising the fact that life’s pilgrimage does not always go smoothly in calm waters. Often the circumstances of daily life and events in the wider world require a greater call to hope. That’s why we should pay special attention to the lower part of the cross which has been elongated and turned into the shape of an anchor which is let down into the waves.
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The anchor is well known as a symbol of hope. In maritime jargon the ‘anchor of hope’ refers to the reserve anchor used by vessels involved in emergency manoeuvres to stabilise the ship during storms. It is worth noting that the image illustrates the pilgrim’s journey not as an individual undertaking, but rather as something communal, marked by an increasing dynamism leading one ever closer to the cross.
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The cross in the logo is by no means static, but it is also dynamic. It bends down towards humanity, not leaving human beings alone, but stretching out to them to offer the certainty of its presence and the security of hope.
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At the bottom of the logo is the motto of the 2025 Jubilee Year: Peregrinantes in Spem (Pilgrims in hope), represented in green letters.
Logo del Jubileo
- El logo representa cuatro figuras estilizadas que indican la humanidad proveniente desde los cuatro rincones de la tierra. Abrazadas entre ellas, indican la solidaridad y la fraternidad que une a los pueblos.
- La primera figura está aferrada a la cruz. Es el signo no solo de la fe que abraza, sino también de la esperanza que nunca puede ser abandonada, porque necesitamos siempre de ella, sobre todo en los momentos de mayor necesidad.
- Es útil observar las olas que la rodean y que están en movimiento, porque muestran que la peregrinación de la vida no siempre pasa por aguas tranquilas. Muchas veces las experiencias personales y los eventos del mundo exigen con mayor intensidad el llamado a la esperanza.
- Es por esto que se debe subrayar la parte inferior de la cruz que se alarga transformándose en un ancla y que se impone sobre el movimiento de las olas.
- Bien sabemos que el ancla ha sido usada como metáfora de la esperanza. De hecho, el ancla de la esperanza es el nombre que en la jerga marina se da al ancla de reserva usada por las embarcaciones para hacer maniobras de emergencia que permitan estabilizar la barca durante las tormentas. No se olvide el hecho de que la imagen muestra cómo el camino del peregrino no es un hecho individual, sino comunitario con la impronta de un dinamismo en crecimiento que tiende cada vez más hacia la cruz.
- La cruz no es estática, sino dinámica y se curva hacia la humanidad, saliendo a su encuentro y no dejándola sola, ofreciendo la certeza de la presencia y la seguridad de la esperanza.
- Se destaca, finalmente, con color verde el lema del jubileo 2025: Peregrinantes in Spem.
Throughout the New Year, this Year of Jubilee, let us reach out to those who have lost hope: their hope in God, in the Church and the hope they have lost within their hearts! Let us truly be: Pilgrims of Hope!
-Bishop Myron Cotta