Marian Jubilee
07 October 2016 - 09 October 2016 (Save to calendar)
St. Peter's Square
FRIDAY, 7 OCTOBER
18:00 Solemn Mass in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major
Ore 19:00 Recitation of the Rosary in Saint Peter’s Square, followed by the Prayer to the Queen of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii
From 20:00 to 24:00 Night of Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation
The Jubilee Churches will remain open for Confessions
- Santa Maria in Valicella (Chiesa Nuova)
- San Salvatore in Lauro
SATURDAY, 8 OCTOBER
From 7:00 to 12:00 Pilgrimage to the Holy Doors of the Four Major Basilicas
Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions in the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia
14:00 Entrance into Saint Peter’s Square with prayer and Marian hymns
16:30 Procession of Marian Delegations from national communities and Shrines
17:30 Prayer vigil in Saint Peter’s Square with Pope Francis
SUNDAY, 9 OCTOBER
10:30 Holy Mass with Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Square
Friday, 7 October
Groups of pilgrims and individual participants may choose to take part in the following activities planned for the evening of Friday, 7 October, the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary:
- Solemn celebration of the Eucharist in honor of Our Lady at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, at 18:00. Pilgrims may also cross through the Holy Door of the Basilica. No tickets are needed to enter. We suggest arriving early to allow time for security checks. Please also be aware that there are a limited number of seats in the Basilica.
- Recitation of the Holy Rosary. During the Jubilee of Mercy, the Rosary is prayed every evening in Saint Peter’s Square. On Friday, 7 October, as part of the Marian Jubilee, the time of the Rosary has been changed to 19:00. The Pontifical Delegation for the Sanctuary of our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii will lead the Rosary. They will be coming to Rome bringing the image of Our Lady under this title that is very dear to the Italian people. After the Rosary, they will lead the traditional Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Entrance to the Square will be open to all, and no ticket is needed.
- Between 20:00 and 24:00 pilgrims are invited to go to one of the three Jubilee Churches designated for the Holy Year by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, where there will be the opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and time for Eucharistic Adoration. The presence of confessors in various languages, ready to welcome pilgrims, is guaranteed in each of the Churches. Every group or individual participant is free to plan how to spend this “night of reconciliation”. The following are the Jubilee Churches:
- Santa Maria in Valicella (Chiesa Nuova)
- San Salvatore in Lauro
Saturday, 8 October
On the morning of Saturday, 8 October, groups of pilgrims or individual participants are free to organize their own pilgrimage to the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, or to one of the other Major Basilicas. The celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration will continue in the Jubilee Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia (Via dei Penitenzieri 12)
In the afternoon, all participants are invited to gather in Saint Peter’s Square for an intense period of prayer. Pilgrims, carrying the correct tickets, can enter the Square beginning at 14:00.
This time of prayer will begin with Marian songs and prayers, during which there will be a procession of delegations from national communities in Italy and from Marian Shrines. The procession will conclude with the icon Salus Populi Romani. The Prayer Vigil will follow, at which the Holy Father will be present.
Sunday, 9 October
The Marian Jubilee will conclude on Sunday, 9 October with the solemn celebration of the Eucharist by the Holy Father in Saint Peter’s Square, at 10:30. Pilgrims, carrying the correct tickets, can enter the Square beginning at 7:30.
Priests who want to concelebrate are asked to follow the instructions on their concelebration ticket.
EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
St Peter's Square
Sunday, 9 October 2016
This Sunday’s Gospel (cf. Lk 17:11-19) invites us to acknowledge God’s gifts with wonder and gratitude. On the way to his death and resurrection, Jesus meets ten lepers, who approach him, keep their distance and tell their troubles to the one whom their faith perceived as a possible saviour: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (v. 13). They are sick and they are looking someone to heal them. Jesus responds by telling them to go and present themselves to the priests, who according to the Law were charged with certifying presumed healings. In this way, Jesus does not simply make them a promise; he tests their faith. At that moment, in fact, the ten were not yet healed. They were restored to health after they set out in obedience to Jesus’ command. Then, rejoicing, they showed themselves to the priests and continued on their way. They forgot the Giver, the Father, who cured them through Jesus, his Son made man.
All but one: a Samaritan, a foreigner living on the fringes of the chosen people, practically a pagan! This man was not content with being healed by his faith, but brought that healing to completion by returning to express his gratitude for the gift received. He recognized in Jesus the true Priest, who raised him up and saved him, who can now set him on his way and accept him as one of his disciples.
To be able to offer thanks, to be able to praise the Lord for what he has done for us: this is important! So we can ask ourselves: Are we capable of saying “Thank you”? How many times do we say “Thank you” in our family, our community, and in the Church? How many times do we say “Thank you” to those who help us, to those close to us, to those who accompany us through life? Often we take everything for granted! This also happens with God. It is easy to approach the Lord to ask for something, but to return and give thanks... That is why Jesus so emphasizes the failure of the nine ungrateful lepers: “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Lk 17:17-18).
On this Jubilee day, we are given a model, indeed the model, to whom we can look: Mary, our Mother. After hearing the message of the Angel, she lifted up her heart in a song of praise and thanksgiving to God: “My soul magnifies the Lord…” Let us ask our Lady to help us recognize that everything is God’s gift, and to be able to say “Thank you”. Then, I assure you, our joy will be complete. Only those who know how to say “Thank you”, will experience the fullness of joy.
It also takes humility to be able to give thanks. In the first reading we heard the singular story of Naaman, the commander of the army of the King of Aram (cf. 2 Kg 5:14-17). In order to be cured of his leprosy, he accepts the suggestion of a poor slave and entrusts himself to the prophet Elisha, whom he considered an enemy. Naaman was nonetheless ready to humble himself. Elisha asks nothing of him, but simply orders him to bathe in the waters of the River Jordan. This request leaves Naaman perplexed, even annoyed. Can a God who demands such banal things truly be God? He would like to turn back, but then he agrees to be immersed in the Jordan and immediately he is cured.
The heart of Mary, more than any other, is a humble heart, capable of accepting God’s gifts. In order to become man, God chose precisely her, a simple young woman of Nazareth, who did not dwell in the palaces of power and wealth, who did not do extraordinary things. Let us ask ourselves – it will do us good – if we are prepared to accept God’s gifts, or prefer instead to shut ourselves up within our forms of material security, intellectual security, the security of our plans.
Significantly, Naaman and the Samaritans were two foreigners. How many foreigners, including persons of other religions, give us an example of values that we sometimes forget or set aside! Those living beside us, who may be scorned and sidelined because they are foreigners, can instead teach us how to walk on the path that the Lord wishes. The Mother of God, together with Joseph her spouse, knew what it was to live far from home. She too was long a foreigner in Egypt, far from her relatives and friends. Yet her faith was able to overcome the difficulties. Let us cling to this simple faith of the Holy Mother of God; let us ask her that we may always come back to Jesus and express our thanks for the many benefits we have received from his mercy.
