Openning of the Jubilee Door at Santiago de Compostela
Holy Year of St James ushered in on the eve of new year 2010
“A Pilgrimage Toward the Light”
Starting on New Year’s Eve, 2010, at 16:00 hrs, with the opening of the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago, the Jubilee Year of St James was ushered in. In the afternoon of the last day of 2009, in one of the most beautiful places in Europe ―the Plaza del Obradoiro de Santiago de Compostela, a symbol of the European continent’s identity―, the Archbishop of the City, Monseñor Julián Barrio, and the President of the Galician Board, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, inaugurated the St James Holy Year 2010.
Año Santo Jacobeo (or in Galician language Ano Santo Xacobeo) is the holy year of St. James. It takes place the year when the 25th of July (day of St. James) falls on a Sunday.
This happens with a fixed period of 6-5-6-11 years which implies that there are fourteen Años Santos Jacobeos every century.
During the St. James holy year, Catholics can get the Jubilee indulgence. In order to obtain it they must:
1. Visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, where St. James the Great was buried.
2. Pray some prayer (at least the Credo, Our Father and pray for the Pope’s intentions). It is recommended to attend to mass.
3. Receive the Sacraments of Penance (it may be between 15 days before and 15 days after) and Communion.
In summary, the Jubilee grace consists of a plenary indulgence for the forgiveness of the eternal punishment due to sin.
The first Año Jubilar or Jubilee Year was granted by the Pope Calixtus II in 1126, although, there are some doubts on the beginning of this tradition: For more information, see: Holy Years in Santiago de Compostela – AMAWALKER Blog
The last Jubilee Years were in 1993, 1999 and 2004. The next ones will be in 2010 and 2021.
The tradition for pilgrims is to walk the road, frequently from Roncesvalles to Santiago.
At the Cathedral, they will “hug the Apostle”, from the back…
Here are a couple of images:
St. James
"Hugging" the Apostle
El Camino de Santiago - The Jacobean Road
The Puerta Santa (Holy Door), which gives access to the Cathedral from the Plaza de la Quintana is opened on 31st December on the eve of each Holy Year, and walled up again a year later. As in the past, pilgrims reaching Santiago during a Holy Year, and fulfilling the conditions for it, are granted a plenary indulgence. (This means that you can get remission for all of your worldy sins). The plenary indulgence is given, not only in Holy Years, but also in ordinary years on Easter Sunday; 21st April (the anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral); and on St James’s three feast days. (25th July, 30 December and 23 May).
On the eve of St. James’ Day (the 24 July) a magnificent firework display is held on the Orbradoiro facade of the cathedral called the “Fuego Del Apóstol”. An impressive statue of St. James as a warrior is taken from the cathedral and carried through the streets. Further celebrations are held to commemorate the removal of the remains to Spain on 30 December.
Over 12 million pilgrims are expected to visit Santiago in 2010.
Hundreds of thousands (250 000 has been suggested) of pilgrims are expected to walk to Santiago in 2010 – not only because it is a Holy Year but because the next Holy Year will be eleven years later.
Thanks for posting!
Happy Feast of St James!
25th of July is a very important date for me. St James is my patron saint. Thanks.
The feast day of St James is celebrated on 25 July on the liturgical calendars of the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and certain Protestant churches. He is commemorated on 29 April in the Orthodox Christian liturgical calendar (for those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar, 30 April currently falls on 13 May of the modern Gregorian Calendar).
In the early middle ages the 30 December was St James’ Feast day, based on the old Hispanic (Mozarabic) rite. In the 11th century King Alfonso VI abolished the Hispanic rite in favour of the Roman rite and July 25 became the principal feast day to commemorate the martyrdom of St. James. December 30 was incorporated into the present liturgical calendar as the Feast of the Translation of his relics.
And, just to confuse matters more, although we celebrate his Feast Day on 25th July using the Roman Rite calendar, it was formerly on the 5th August on the Tridentine Rite calendar.
Confused? Never mind – 25th of July is just fine!
The plenary indulgence is given, not only in Holy Years, but also in ordinary years on Easter Sunday; 21st April (the anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral); and on St James’s three feast days. (25th July, 30 December and 23 May).
Wow, that’s wonderful info! Thanks, Sil!
April 21st, 2011 marks the 800th anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral. So, if you can’t make it to Santiago this year, next year April will be pretty special too!