Jubilee comes from a Hebrew word “Yobel” meaning ram’s horn and it is one of the symbols used for the celebration of the jubilee year.
The celebration of the Jubilee is the 50th year, that is the year after seven Sabbatical cycles. But it can also be celebrated on the 25th, 40th, 75th year or any year to celebrate a big event like the 500 years of Christianity in our country.
In the Roman Catholic tradition, a jubilee is a year of remission of sins and punishment due to sin. At present, we start the Jubilee year by the opening of the Jubilee door which is also called Porta Sancta in Latin or Holy Door.
What’s in the Door?
In the secular world, the function of the door is to maintain privacy and safety inside the room or house when it is closed. Doors provide a connecting link between the various internal rooms of the house. It gives an aesthetic view to the house.
Open door provides lighting and ventilation to various areas in the house. The front door has the twin purpose of inviting people in and keeping people out. In the same way that a quality door can attract the attention of neighbors and buyers, it can deter the attention of the burglars. The front door remains a common point of entry for home intruders.
Read: Here’s Everything About the Jubilee Door and Why You Should Care
What do Doors Show Us?
A door or doorway symbolizes the transition and passageway from one place to another. In religion, mythology and literature, a door is often used to symbolize the passage from one world to another. According to biblical scholars, doors signify communication and agreement.
Often, when the doors are open, they are in communication with God and others. When they were closed, they did not communicate or were not in agreement. That is the foundation of the meaning of an open door. Now, open doors symbolize new beginnings, new horizons, adventure, progress, moving forward in life.
People often say that once you close some doors behind you, another door would open in front of you. Open doors stand for an opportunity, hope, positivity and motivation.
How About the Aranzazu Jubilee Door?
First, it was conceptualized by the joint efforts of Architect Agi Pagkatipunan, a sculptor and designer and I. He provided the artist’s point of view and the aesthetic value of it while I contributed to the historical and theological point of view. The concept was put into reality and we now have the Jubilee door dedicated to the Lord God in relation to our celebration on the occasion of the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines.
By opening it, I believe that abundant grace will bestow on us as we are going to receive the Plenary Indulgence. The opening of the doors will link us to the other areas of the Church.
The Concept Behind the Art of the Aranzazu Jubilee Door
The image of the suffering Christ and the image of the risen Christ encapsulate the so-called Paschal Mystery of which is the centerpoint or the apex of our Christian faith. Just like the sayings: “if there is no cross, there is no crown;” “if there is no Good Friday, there is no Easter Sunday;” “if there is no pain, there is no gain“. The paradox of our faith – it is in dying that we gain eternal life.
Now let us try to understand why there is an image of the moon and the sun. The primary reason is because of the light. That is why if we are going to have comparative study on the different religions all over the world most likely you will find the significance of light. As a matter of fact, some pagans even worship the moon and the sun. Light is an important symbol of Christ, who is described as the light of the world.That is the significance of lighting the Paschal candle during the Easter vigil celebration because His teaching illuminates our hearts and minds, and thus drives out the darkness of sin and ignorance, by bringing us knowledge of God and God’s promises and intentions for our salvation.
When His light enters us, it transfuses us and transforms us into lights pointing to Christ. This symbolism is repeated whenever the sacrament of Baptism is celebrated and whenever Baptism is recalled in the liturgical renewal of Baptismal promises.
How About the Different Colors of the Rays as Depicted by Different Kinds of Woods?
With regards to rays, you can count 12 from the left and 12 from the right which can be interpreted in the Old Testament as the 12 Tribes of Israel and in the New Testament, the 12 apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. The number can also be interpreted as the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit which are: love or charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, longanimity, mildness or gentleness, faith, modesty, contingency or self-control, and chastity.
The “fruits” are the net effects of living this life in the Spirit or resurrected life within relationships. In the language of classical theology, when infused graces transform the person’s heart, mind, soul and will, one can expect to find an ample yield of fruits of the Spirit.
The different colors symbolize the different kinds of the faithful (Ibat-ibang mananampalataya) and the diversity of the followers of Christ but despite the differences, there can also be unity. As the saying goes: “E Pluribus Unum“,that is, there is oneness in plurality. Kaya ang pumapasok sa hubileong pintuan ay ang magkakasamang banal at makasalanan. Lahat ay pwedeng biyayaan ng Diyos. For God is for everybody.
Will the Jubilee Door Lead us to Heaven?
It can be a bit misleading if we talk about the many ways of entering heaven because there is only one way to heaven, through the person of Jesus Christ . This is true if we are going to use the text in the Gospel of John 14:6, when our Lord Jesus Christ said, ” I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come through the father except through me.” There may be many ways to follow Jesus and many paths by which we come to the gate of heaven but He is the only way to eternal life. If eternal does not come from Jesus , then it is not heaven that we are entering or receiving.
This is also true if we are going to use the text in John 10:10. It says there that Jesus is the gate of the sheepfold. That is, He is the means by which the sheep or the followers of God are cared for. Now, going back to the question, whether the Jubilee door will lead us or open us to heaven or not? I guess explicitly and implicitly it is no but it will help to receive the necessary grace that will lead us to conversion and can become closer to God especially if we are going to follow His commandments.
For the Pilgrims, there are activities to do:
1) Upon entering through the Jubilee door, you need to recite the mission prayer 2021 Year of Missio Ad Gentes.
2) Then after, proceed to the Oratorio and recite the prayers.
3) Enter the Baptistry for the Apostles Creed.
4) Proceed to Retablo Mayor in honor of Our Lady of Aranzazu.
5) Enter the Perpetual Adoration Chapel for prayers in front of the Tabernacle.
6) Finally, proceed to the Parish office to offer thanksgiving mass or special intentions then have your passport stamped.
