Jubilee
THE JUBILEE
WHAT IT IS , RITES AND WHEN CALLED
It is a special time of grace dedicated to forgiveness of sins , reconciliation and conversion . It can be ordinary and extraordinary . The last Holy Years extraordinary on twentieth century were those of 1933 , proclaimed by Pius XI , and 1983 , convoked by John Paul II .
Below John Paul II inaugurated the Holy Year of 1983 , on March 25 .
The Jubilee , also called Holy Year , is the special period of the remission of sins , reconciliation and conversion . It can be ordinary and extraordinary

The ordinary one is bound to fixed deadlines , while the extraordinary is held in connection with certain events of particular importance and its duration varies from a few days to one year . The custom of calling extraordinary Jubilees dates back to the sixteenth century , and the last Holy Years extraordinary twentieth century were those of 1933 , proclaimed by Pius XI for the nineteenth centenary of the Redemption , and 1983 , convoked by John Paul II for the 1950 years of Redemption .
Wojtyla inaugurated it with the bull Aperite portas Redemptori 25 March 1983. Objective : to emphasize the centrality of the mystery of the Redemption as an engine of faith and solemnly open the Church's journey to the Great Jubilee of 2000 .
The jubilee year was extended to all the dioceses in the world and while in St. Peter opened the Holy Door , in all the cathedrals of the world was celebrating a special rite of penance and prayer .
The practice of extraordinary jubilees , proclaimed to get a special divine help in difficult or sensitive issues of the universal Church and the local churches , or on occasions of special solemnity as the beginning of a pontificate , is old , and dates back at least to the sixteenth century . The extraordinary jubilees are celebrated in some places , for example in Santiago de Compostela in the years when on July 25 , feast of St. James the Apostle , falls on a Sunday .
ORIGINS IN THE SCRIPTURES
The origins of the Jubilee date back to the Old Testament. In fact the word " jubilee " comes from Jubilaeum which in turn is derived from the three Hebrew words Jobel ( ram ) , Jobil ( call ) and Jobal ( remission ) . In Chapter XXV of Leviticus , in fact , the Jewish people are encouraged to sound the horn ( Jobel ) every forty-nine years to call ( Jobil ) people all over the country , declaring holy the fiftieth year and proclaim remission ( Jobal ) of all residents.Below John Paul II on the occasion of the Great Jubilee of 2000

So today the Jubilee refers to the mission of Christ and his followers . In this way Christianity give the Hebrew Jubilee fuller and deeper meaning . This fact is a general pardon , indulgence open to all , that the Pope grants under certain conditions to the faithful . It is therefore based on the value of indulgences and the power that the Church has to give . Throughout the history of the Church 26 Jubilee have been celebrated including the last in 2000 .
The best-known rite of the Jubilee is the solemn opening of the Holy Door : This is a door that is opened only during this time , while in other years remains walled . They have a Holy Door the four major basilicas of Rome : St. Peter, St. John Lateran , St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major . The rite of the holy door , symbolically expresses the idea that , during the Jubilee , " extraordinary journey " toward salvation is offered to the faithful.
WHEN CELEBRATES JUBILEE OF MERCY ?
Proclaimed by Pope Francis through the papal bull Misericordiae Vultus . Previously announced by the pope March 13, 2015 , began the December 8, 2015 and ends November 20 , 2016. The Pope said the Jubilee , during the fiftieth anniversary of the end of Vatican Council II , it will be dedicated to Mercy .

Here is the announcement made by the Pope : "Dear brothers and sisters , I have often thought about how the Church can make clear its mission of being a witness of Mercy . It is a journey that begins with a spiritual conversion . So I decided to hold a special Jubilee that is focused upon the mercy of God . This Holy Year will start the forthcoming Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will end on November 20, 2016, Sunday of Our Lord Jesus Christ , King of the Universe and living face of the Father's mercy . I entrust the organization of this Jubilee to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization , so that it can animate it as a new stage of the journey of the Church in its mission to bring everyone the Gospel of Mercy "
HOW TO OBTAIN THE JUBILEE INDULGENCE ?
We must confess , take communion , pray for the intentions of the Pope and make a choice from the following works
1 ) make a pilgrimage to the Holy Door ;
2 ) perform a work of mercy or charity ( visiting the sick , the imprisoned , the elderly living alone , financial support to religious and social works ... ) ;
3 ) devote time to volunteer work ;
4 ) carry out a work of penance ( abstain from unnecessary consumption , fast ... ) .