jubilee pilgrimage

On the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2015, the Church began celebrating a Holy Year of Mercy, also known as a Jubilee. During this time, many devout people emphasize the spiritual side of life by making a jubilee pilgrimage to a holy site.

Jubilee years mark a time set aside for the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God and others. The word jubilee comes from the Latin iubilatio, which means “shouting” or “rejoicing” and refers to loud and full-voiced celebration or rejoicing. In this Jubilee or Holy Year of Mercy, we’re called to rejoice in the mercy of God.

The word pilgrimage comes from the Latin peregrinus, meaning “foreigner” or “traveler.” A pilgrimage is a trip to a holy site. This year we’re asked to consider making a pilgrimage to a holy site as a part of our celebration of the mercy of God. Traditionally, a Jubilee is held every 50 years and dates back to the law of Moses in the twenty-fifth chapter of the book of Leviticus. The last Catholic Jubilee was in 2000.

related topics: mercy; Ordinary Time

you also may like our study of the book of Exodus
You Shall Have No Other Gods: The Book of Exodus, a 28-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, provides an in-depth look at how significant events in biblical history that occurred thousands of years ago to descendants of Jacob remain relevant and even critical for present-day Christians to understand. The deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and the giving of Ten Commandments are examined along with the development of Moses’ relationship to God. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

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